Supporting Your Child with ADHD: Essential Strategies for School Success

For parents of children with ADHD, ensuring their child thrives in the classroom can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. ADHD can affect a child’s focus, impulse control, and ability to manage their time. As a parent, you might have already figured out what works best for your child at home, but supporting them in a school setting often requires additional strategies.

Classrooms can be fast-paced environments that demand attention, organisation, and self-discipline, which are areas where children with ADHD may struggle. However, with the right tools and communication, parents and teachers can work together to create a more supportive learning experience. Below are eight effective strategies that can help your child thrive in school:

1. Creating a Structured Environment

Children with ADHD often find structure comforting and essential for their success. School environments are typically structured, but it's vital to ensure that routines are clear, consistent, and predictable. ADHD children, like all students, perform better when they know what to expect throughout the day. This can involve setting regular classroom schedules, giving advance notice of changes, and helping them mentally prepare for transitions such as moving between activities or subjects.

Structured routines don’t just help your child understand what’s coming next; they also reduce anxiety and provide a sense of security. When instructions and activities are predictable, children with ADHD are less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to focus on their tasks.

2. Preferential Seating

Where your child sits in the classroom can have a significant impact on their ability to concentrate. Preferential seating involves placing your child away from potential distractions, such as windows, doors, or high-traffic areas. Sitting closer to the teacher can also help your child stay engaged and make it easier for the teacher to provide gentle reminders and support as needed.

This seating strategy is particularly important for younger children who may not have developed strong self-regulation skills yet. By sitting close to the teacher, they are more likely to stay focused and on task, reducing the likelihood of their attention wandering.

3. Using Visual Information

Children with ADHD often struggle with following multi-step verbal instructions, which can lead to frustration and confusion. Incorporating visual aids can help make the school day more manageable. When a teacher gives instructions verbally, it’s easy for children with ADHD to forget the steps, especially if they involve multiple tasks. However, when instructions are presented visually—such as on a task card, checklist, or classroom board—students can refer back to them when needed.

For example, a daily schedule posted on the wall or a task list on their desk provides a point of reference, helping children stay on track without having to rely solely on their memory. Visual aids offer constant reinforcement of the task at hand and can make abstract ideas more concrete, allowing your child to better understand and follow through with assignments.

4. Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement

Children with ADHD often respond exceptionally well to positive reinforcement. This can be something as simple as verbal praise when they complete a task or follow instructions. Immediate positive feedback is highly motivating for children with ADHD because their brains process rewards differently, and they tend to benefit from shorter, more frequent doses of encouragement.

Reward systems can also work wonders in keeping your child motivated throughout the school day. These could be token systems where children earn points or stickers for good behaviour, which can then be exchanged for rewards. The key is to provide reinforcement as soon as possible after the desired behaviour to create a clear link between the action and the reward.

Encouragement should also come in the form of recognising effort, not just achievement. Praise your child for trying their best, even if they don’t always succeed. This helps build resilience and reinforces that making an effort is just as important as the outcome.

5. Organisational Tools for Success

For children with ADHD, keeping track of materials, assignments, and deadlines can be a daunting task. Simple organisational tools can go a long way in helping them stay focused and reduce stress. For instance, teachers can provide checklists for tasks, especially for longer or more complex assignments like writing a paragraph or completing a project.

Colour-coding systems can also help ADHD children keep their materials organised. This could involve assigning different coloured folders or notebooks for each subject, making it easier for your child to find the correct materials quickly. Reducing the mental load of remembering where everything is can free up cognitive space for focusing on learning.

6. Incorporating Movement Breaks

One of the most common challenges for children with ADHD is their need for physical movement. Sitting still for long periods can be incredibly difficult, and children often get into trouble for fidgeting or leaving their seats. Rather than trying to suppress this need, incorporating regular movement breaks throughout the school day can actually improve their focus and behaviour.

Teachers can offer short, structured breaks where children are allowed to get up, stretch, or move around for a few minutes. Movement breaks can be as simple as letting them walk to the back of the classroom, hand out materials, or even perform a quick exercise. This short break allows them to release pent-up energy and return to their work with a clearer mind.

7. The Power of Fidget Tools

While many fidget toys like spinners or cubes can become distractions in the classroom, fidget tools can be beneficial when used appropriately. The key is to choose tools that are subtle and don’t draw attention away from learning. A great example is blue tack—a simple, inexpensive tool that children can mould and manipulate quietly under their desks without creating noise or distraction.

Fidget tools help children with ADHD channel their energy in a way that allows them to focus on the task at hand. The act of fidgeting can also provide a calming effect, allowing children to regulate their emotions and stay grounded during lessons.

8. Supportive Communication and Clear Expectations

Effective communication between parents, teachers, and the child is essential. Children with ADHD often have a heightened sensitivity to criticism, so it’s important to use positive language when addressing challenges. Instead of saying, "Why can't you do this?", a more constructive approach would be, "I can see you're trying really hard. Let's work through this together." Such supportive language not only builds self-esteem but also fosters resilience and a positive outlook on learning.

At the same time, it’s crucial to set clear expectations. Children with ADHD need to understand the boundaries and guidelines of acceptable behaviour. By ensuring that instructions are clear and consistent, your child is more likely to meet these expectations and succeed in the classroom.

Open and Ongoing Communication is Key

One of the most critical elements of supporting your child in school is maintaining open communication with their teachers. Establishing regular updates, either through emails or meetings, helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and adjustments can be made as needed. If your child is receiving additional support from a psychologist, occupational therapist, or another professional, involving them in discussions with the school can further enhance the support your child receives.

It’s also essential to regularly review your child’s progress and adapt strategies as they grow and develop. What works well for a primary school student may need to be adjusted as they move into secondary school and gain more independence.

No two children with ADHD are the same, which means there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, by using a combination of the strategies outlined here and maintaining an open dialogue with your child’s school, you can help create an environment where your child can thrive. Remember, patience, communication, and understanding go a long way. And always celebrate the small victories—whether it’s sitting still for a few extra minutes, completing an assignment, or simply trying their best.