ADD Student

June is here, and for most kids in North America, that means the end of school. For those of you in other parts of the world who may still be in school, keep these tips in mind for when school is out in your area.

My 5 tips for a better summer:

1. Encourage reading for pleasure. Most kids, even those without ADHD, lose a good portion of their reading skills during the summer break. And believe it or not, that reduced ability come fall means teachers have to back track a little to get them up to speed. Poor reading skills can also affect other subject areas such as math or science.

2. Improve their diet by taking advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables summer has to offer. Rely less on packaged or processed foods, and take the words “drive through” out of your vocabulary. Concentrate on good proteins, fruits and veggies and less on grains.

3. Let them live by their own rhythm for a while. Let them stay up later and sleep in if they choose (within reason, of course). You can’t save up or bank sleep, but the extra rest and relaxation will do them good.

4. Encourage time spent outdoors. Time spent in nature seems to soothe the ADHD soul, so take advantage of the weather and go outside. Put up a basketball hoop, or a pool. Join the community pool if you have one, or start riding bikes or roller blading. Camping is an excellent idea that most kids enjoy. Plan your vacation around an outdoor setting or spend more time in the park.

5. Find activities they enjoy and use them to teach them skills they need. For instance, if focus or paying attention is a problem, look for times when they do focus well. Perhaps they love to play baseball or tennis and are good at concentrating on the game. Talk to them about that, ask questions, figure out how you can use that in other situations. And remember, the most important thing to do is to approach this in a casual, friendly let’s-get-together-and-figure-this-out way instead of a you’re-going-to-spend-all-summer-learning-to-do-better-in-school way.

Above all, spend time with all of your kids and enjoy every moment you can.

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