#steemiteducation -- ADHD -- Tips for parents and teachers.

Bringing up a child who has ADHD is hard enough but when school is involved it can quickly become overwhelming handing your child over to someone who firstly doesn't know them and secondly may not have a clue about ADHD.

Things are better now than they used to be when my daughter was first diagnosed in 1997. ADHD was new to me never mind the teachers. A lot of people said it was poor parenting. I had fights with Drs, Psychologists and teachers, some knew about ADHD others didn't.

What I did was spend hours on the internet researching this, I also wanted to make sure when I handed my daughter over to a teacher they knew exactly how to handle her.

I found an online support group that had so much information I could print out. I decided to make a file so I could read in my own time, I also made a file of all the advice for teachers, hoping I could pass it to them to give them at least something to refer to.

1. Make Guidelines and borderlines. Stick with them.
   Stick to timelines for everything, Bedtimes, fun time, wind down time, TV time,
   Sticking to times give these children the routine they need, they will know what's happening and what is next. As i found with my daughter saying we would go out at a certain time then be 5 minutes late would cause so many problems. I soon learned to say, we will be left the house by a certain time, giving me extra time to play with and not putting any pressure on her.

2. Praise, Praise and more Praise.
   Giving these children praise for everything they do right gives them the boost they need as they are continually getting in trouble. The praise really matters.
   Well done for getting ready on time
   Well done for clearing there plates
   Well done for playing nice

3. Ignore the little things, punish the bad.
   As in my daughters case she was very angry, violent and swore a lot. For me I put the swearing to one side, I ignored it. I did punish her for the violence and anger. As she would breaks things when she got angry. She would be violent towards us and friends when she got angry, they were things I needed to punish the swearing wasn't a big problem that hurt anyone.

4. Giving instructions
   Don't give to many instructions, one at a time letting them follow that instruction before giving another as this can mess with there heads. To much information at once will cause problems.

5. Raising your voice.
   Talking to them without raising your voice will help them to listen more, raised voices will confuse them plus possibly get them angry.

A structured home life with strong guide and borderlines will give help your child follow a routine making there life a lot easier to deal wit.

1. Sitting a child in class.
   Do not sit the child next to a window or door as there is far to much distraction. They are better sat in the front where the teacher can keep them involved in what's happening.

2. Create a quite area.
   Creating a quite area (not for punishment) if the child is starting to get restless, a little quite time, reading, colouring in etc for a break could settle them enough to later involve back in class.

3. Giving instructions.
   One instruction at a time, once that is completed then give another. Clear and precise instructions.

4. Using signs.
   This really helps remind children what is happening.
   Shhhhh or Quiet time signs will remind the child every time they look up what they should be doing.
   Listen or Work Time signs will remind them to focus on the teacher.

5. Praise & Punishment
   When the child does something right don't forget to praise. If you notice the child is starting to become restless, placing your hand on there shoulder will help them settle.

6. Do not raise your voice to them
   A raised voice sounds like a telling off voice, this will upset them. Go to them, have a quiet word or again settle them with a lace of your hand on there shoulder.

7. Keep the class active
   A dull boring class with nothing happening will make there minds wander make them restless but a class that is active with lots of interaction will keep them interested and focused.

ADHD children are very intelligent children, they need constant stimulation at home and at school. A great day at school makes a big difference at home, a bad day at school leads to frustration.

I gave a pack of Teacher Information to my daughters first teacher. She was over the moon with the information. I asked her to hand it to Jessica's new teacher but she decided to reprint them for every teacher in school. So every class she went to the teacher had already read the notes then they were prepared for her.

Thank you @son-of-satire