|
A+ Advice for Parents
Summer an education for students with learning disabilities
Q: My third-grade son, Trevor, diagnosed with AD/HD, had a wonderful
teacher this year. She helped him make progress socially and academically.
We don't have as many "meltdowns" and life is much easier.
She sent a note home saying "to enjoy the summer break, it's
important that Trevor maintain routine." I understand what
she's driving at, but it will be hard. We have short trips planned.
He will also spend time at camp. Will this lack of structure destroy
the progress he's made in school?
A: Students with AD/HD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
who settle into a successful school-year routine can be tossed
into a tizzy when that routine stops. While you don't have to adopt
a strict school-year schedule, you should establish a summer routine
and give special thought to planning summer trips.
"We tend to think of summer break as a well-deserved reprieve
from schedules, but if your child has learning and/or attention
problems, it's important to recognize that the shift from school
year to summer break -- however welcome -- represents a transition
phase and may pose special challenges," says Kristin Stanberry,
an expert from SchwabLearning.org, a site for parents whose children
have learning difficulties.
Stanberry offers these tips for planning a summer for children
diagnosed with AD/HD.
-- Revamp, but don't eliminate, the child's routine. A daily routine
offers sense of structure and security, says Stanberry. "Certain
tasks, like doing homework, can be dropped during summer, but new
ones, such as packing for daily swim lessons, can be added. You
might loosen up on certain chores during the summer, like designating
every Friday as Don't Make the Bed Day!" While traveling,
you can establish a routine, such as writing in a Travel Journal
or phoning a special friend or relative each night.
-- Rehearse shifts in routine. Trips inevitably mean changes in
routine. Prepare your child for them. This may be as simple as
mentally rehearsing a new routine, such as getting used to a new
daily wake-up time, says Stanberry. It's helpful to talk about
the transitions. "Next week at this time, you'll be with your
cousins, and every morning we'll go to the beach." Show pictures
of where you'll be. The more you can you can help children with
AD/HD anticipate special events, the smoother they'll ease into
them.
-- Involve kids in keeping the family's calendar. Together, mark
key dates (e.g., camp starts, community pool opens, July Fourth
barbeque, trip to shore with cousins, and so on), Stanberry suggests.
A summer calendar review can be part of your daily routine.
-- Prepare your child for scheduled activities. If your child
is camp bound, visit in advance if possible. Have him talk with
counselors and other kids who have attended. If you're flying to
a destination, consider a "field trip" to the airport
so your child is not experiencing it for the first time on the
day of the flight.
-- Involve children in trip preparation. Encourage kids to use
their school skills to help you map out driving routes or make
a list of the clothing and recreational gear you'll will need on
the trip. These activities will help kids learn what to expect.
-- Enlist a trusted adult's support. During trips, ask another
adult your child respects to be a "buddy" to help explain
new experiences, or hang back with someone if he needs to. This
will make life easier when your daughter and cousin want to go
to one more exhibit at the Smithsonian, or one more shop at the
mall, and your son has had it for the day. Look at the things you
might do on a trip, then decide which activities you expect your
child to participate in and which he might sit out.
Prepare the child for the situation, and prepare the situation
for the child. Stanberry advises parents to embrace this adage.
While routines are important, and you should establish some for
the summer, you can't always maintain them when you're traveling.
Remember, things will go better if you help your child anticipate
special events -- whether the hassle of a flight delay or the joy
of a trip to watch a favorite sports event.
Summer Fun Tip
Summer trips present opportunities for kids to learn about the
world and build knowledge they can use during the school year.
Look for "teachable moments," and encourage children
to read, take photos, collect postcards and write about the family's
adventures. These informal lessons can boost the self-esteem of
a child who might struggle in school.
Editor's note: For more tips from Stanberry, read "Helping
Kids with AD/HD Behave during Holidays and Vacations" at SchwabLearning.org.
For summer surfing, have Trevor check out SparkTop.org, the first
Web site created expressly for kids with learning difficulties.
Copyright 2007, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
A-PLUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS 6-25-07
Submission inquiries? Contact Dave Gladney at
856-241-7772 or dgladney@AEPweb.org.
|
