Readers Respond: Tips for Helping Children Succeed in School

Responses: 4

What are some of the ways in which you have helped your child (or if you are a teacher, your students) succeed despite -- perhaps even because of -- his or her learning differences?

If you are an adult with ADHD, what was most helpful for you as a child?

Getting Help

It is vital that children with ADHD are given the expert help and environment they need to develop and succeed at a pace that is suitable for them. No two children develop and learn exactly the same. This needs to be understood all the more with this special group of learners.

—livechatcounselor

Nuture Talents

As an adult diagnosed in recent years with inattentive ADD, I know only too well what it is like to grow up feeling different, having to try harder to achieve than others, even though you have this gut feeling you are brighter than others, and the low self esteem that comes with it! I suspect my 6 year old son has inattentive ADD. Through my own experiences as a child I am able to really understand where I can assist him in keeping a healthy self esteem. I intentionally put him in childcare as soon as he was old enough, only for a day or two a week, just so that he learned to socialize. For him individual sports are where he excels, he daydreams in team sports and doesn’t like being the centre of attention - say by kicking a goal! He does have mild problems reading but I know that is not an intellectual thing but an ADD thing. We focus on what he is good at, such as his incredible artistic flair, feel for music and his ready sense of humor. Focus on their strengths and nurture them!

—Guest Caroline Pontello

Validation

As an adult, I am painfully aware of the self image problems that come with learning disabilities. Since childhood, I have known that my mind simply did not function as well as my school mates. To explain this to parents and teachers, eventually employers was impossible. I knew I was trying my best, I did not doubt that, but came to accept the assessment of others, that I was lazy and just not trying. After years of depression and alcohol abuse, I was diagnosed. "It" was not my fault. I came to realize that "I" am a valid person. "I" do not need to apologize for what I have accomplished. I would not want to be anyone other than who I am. Nor do I need to have the approval of anyone. But, if I had that validation, it all would have been so different. A little encouragement would have gone a long ways. Validation is essential for little boys and girls as they grow up. Little hearts and spirits are too easily crushed. Fifty years is far too long to wait.

—nethinim

Tips for Helping Children Succeed

We find it best to keep our ADHD child in environments he can succeed in. If a traditional classroom is too much, we look for other options available at school. If a particular subject is too much, we look for ways he can meet the requirements in other ways. It's best to work with the school on alternatives. And, ask your child what he needs to be successful. He'll usually have the answer!

—Guest Mom (NJ)