For millions of
families across the country, they share something very difficult and very near
to the heart – ADHD children. Because ADHD children have such a difficult time
in school, more and more parents are now turning to home schooling, which can be
a challenge but also beneficial. If you are interested in home schooling your
child, or perhaps working with several ADHD children, then you need to
understand some of the challenges with which you will be faced. Now, these are
not impossible obstacles but they do require a firm hand, a kind heart, and a
tremendous amount of patience. Therefore, as you can imagine this is not for
everyone.
For starters, home
schooling ADHD children means you will have to work with a lot of distraction.
These children have a difficult time keeping on task when given an assignment to
do. Therefore, you have to provide them with a structured environment and
excellent guidance. ADHD children also become very frustrated for several
reasons. First, they often find assignments confusing. However, they also do
not do well with repetition and because they live with low self-esteem, they
easily become frustrated. Next, ADHD children become bored easily. Again, when
asked to write, work with mathematical tasks, or spelling, they can only handle
the repetition for five to ten minutes. That means as the home schoolteacher,
you have to be willing to make changes when the child needs it.
Another common
problem seen with ADHD children is that they reach a point during the
teaching where they no longer understand. It has nothing to do with the child
being dumb, just hat he or she cannot push the mind as far as children without
ADHD. Next, you will find that work in school as well as homework is often
messy, filled with careless mistakes. Although frustrating for the teacher, you
cannot fault the child but praise the positive and shorten the assignments so
the student can concentrate better. Additionally, you want to make study time
enjoyable. If ADHD children are having fun, they will usually pay attention
longer.
ADHD children also
struggle with concept of time. For them, this means that the work will be done
but in an odd schedule. For example, if you were to give ADHD children six
spelling problems, it might take him or her two hours to complete them. As you
can imagine, there are times when even the best teacher in the world feels as
though he or she is going insane. The teacher often feels as though he or she
is simply not getting through to the child. However, remind yourself that this
is an incredible opportunity to give ADHD children a chance at life, healthy
relationships, and successful careers.
As a teacher of
ADHD children, you have a huge role in the child’s developmental process. You
are the one that must maintain consistency, keep noise and distraction levels
down, and remain calm. In other words, you cannot take everything seriously and
you must learn to roll with the punches. Additionally, you want to make sure
the parents of the child are getting the proper treatment. You could teach all
day but if the child is not on proper medication and in therapy, it is a mute
point. Therefore, the parent’s role coupled with your role is what will help
ADHD children.
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