Summer is my favorite time of year but for my kiddos, that means switching up the routines of my ADHA babies. For summer we have a totally different schedule than for school. But it is really important to have a routine even during summer.
Sleep in
Sleep is so important for kids for Adhd. Enough sleep can make or break a day. In the summer I let my son sleep late, usually 10 or 11. Not getting enough sleep can affect your child’s mood, emotions and ability to focus and retain information. Just remember that the later they sleep in the later they will be up.
Plan Activities
have a few activities planned for each day. Be sure to have a few different activities for each day. The same activities everyday will get boring so mix it up a bit.This will keep your child from saying what are we doing today or asking every minute what we are going to do.
Routine
have a daily routine.For example, wake up, brush your teeth, make your bed. This will ensure your child knows what is expected of him and what you expect. If your child struggles with this write out a list of what he or she should do when they wake up each morning. Maybe while they do these tasks you make breakfast.
Break down long tasks
If the task will take longer than 10 to 15 minutes break them down into small steps. It’s summer so we don’t put a lot of pressure on my boys to do long tasks. The key is to know how long your child can focus on a particular task. Pushing your child past that point to quickly can cause unnecessary stress. If you do need to
Use a timer
We use a timer when doing specific things like cleaning or doing summer work. We use the time to tell us when to stop, not when we have to be finished. For kids with ADHD using the timer as a measure to determine when something needs to be done can be stressful. Instead the time as a reminder to stop no matter where you are in the process.
Patience
This is the most important skill you will need. Patience is critical. Raising a child with ADHD can be a struggle and there are times you wanna scream. But patience is key, your child is learning how to behave and how to react from you so you have to keep your cool. Check out these websites when you a break.
Sleep in, plan activities, have a routine, Break down long tasks, use a timer and most of all have patience. Raising kids is a tough job and raising kids with ADHD can be even harder. But you can do this. You are the parent God chose for your exceptional child and He will give what you need. Some days will be better than others, on the bad days remember, you were built for this. Be Blessed.
