6 Teaching Tips For Children With Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) can be an obstacle for many students when it comes to learning, but it doesn’t have to be. Understanding what ADD is and the common behaviors it can cause, and then utilizing strategies to help those with ADD to flourish, can lead to successful outcomes for everyone involved.

Read on for some teaching tips for children with Attention Deficit Disorder you can put to work now to help children with ADD reach their full potential – and maybe even have a little fun in the process.

What Is Attention Deficit Disorder?
Attention deficit disorder, often referred to as simply ADD, is a neurological issue. It can cause a variety of behavioral challenges, including problems focusing, following verbal directions, keeping up with work, interacting with others, and completing assigned tasks.

ADD can also involve a hyperactivity component, often referred to as ADHD. Those without hyperactivity may not have behavioral issues in class. However, ADD can also come with learning differences for some students that can translate into disciplinary issues at school because they may become frustrated and act out.

Having ADD can be very difficult for the child, as their difficulties concentrating or paying attention may lead others to think they’re lazy, disobedient, or don’t care about completing their assignments. But for many students with ADD, it’s not that they don’t want to do the same work as every other child in their class; it’s simply that they may need to change the way they do it, or the way information is presented to them.

What Are The Characteristics Of A Child With ADD?
It’s important to remember that no two children are alike, including those with ADD, but the disorder does have common symptoms. Children with ADD often appear as if they’re disinterested or bored in the classroom. They can be forgetful and appear to be off in their own little world. Often, work is done slowly and/or turned in without being fully completed.

Assignments from children with ADD can also appear to be disorganized. Their lockers and desks may seem quite messy, too. They may lose things or misplace work. For teachers, parents, and students alike, this can be quite frustrating.

Some other things you may notice about a child with ADD in the classroom include:

• Restlessness
• Easily distracted
• Seems to act impulsively
• Tends to procrastinate
• Difficulty shifting attention from one task to another
• Often forgets things
• May have other learning disabilities such as dyslexia
• Odd study habits
• Poor performance on timed tests

Effective Teaching Strategies For Students With ADD
Children with ADD can thrive in many different types of learning environments. Some may do really well in a homeschool setting, while others can thrive online. Still others may do best in a classic school setting.

In the end, it doesn’t make any difference how or where a child learns, because some teaching tips can work for a child with ADD no matter their educational environment. These include:

• Meaningful instruction. If you can avoid giving a child with ADD “busy work”, you’ll have a better shot at keeping their attention focused. You have to be flexible with lesson planning and make an effort to customize learning to fit children who may need a different approach.
• Get them moving. A multi-sensory approach to learning is something a lot of kids, not just those with ADD, can appreciate. If you provide children with items they can use when they’re feeling fidgety, such as stress balls or toys that stretch, this can help them to sit still when they need to. Other strategies can also be winners, such as letting them act out their spelling words or having them sit on a bouncy ball instead of a chair. Get creative!
• Give breaks frequently. A brain break can help a child to feel re-energized after they’ve been focusing (or trying to focus) for a while. Provide them with frequent breaks to help them feel refreshed and you may have better luck getting them to do more throughout the day.
• Implement rewards. Working toward rewards can help a child with ADD to establish better habits, even at a young age. Something as simple as a chart with stickers can help to set expectations and clearly define when the reward will take place and what it will be.
• Start the day off heavy. The most mentally taxing work should be done at the start of the day. This way, students can get the big stuff, or stuff they don’t like as much, out of the way early, leaving the rest of the day free for things they find more enjoyable.
• Have a classroom routine. Children are creatures of habit, and setting up and maintaining a good routine is crucial for students both with and without ADD. However, for kids with ADD, a really solid routine can help to reduce the frustration they may feel when it’s time to switch activities.

When teaching a child with ADD, the most important thing you can do is educate yourself about the disorder and what it means for the child. This way, you can help them to see more clearly the things they excel at and understand what may need more work. Then, you can set upon working on those things together, reminding them that they have someone in their corner, cheering them on.

Featured image by Ryan Wallace on Unsplash