Free Time and ADHD
| July 7, 2009 | Posted by Brenda under ADD |
For those of us here in North America (and maybe other places – I’m not so good at geography) – this time of year is summer break. Our kids may have as much as 3 months without school.
When you have long stretches of time with no school, how do you handle it in terms of your ADHD child?
Do you continue medication or not?
Do you let the routine stay relaxed or add structure?
Is break time an easy time for you or one you dread?
In some ways, a little free time is good for kids – ADHD or not. They need a chance to refresh their batteries and just relax.
Kids with ADHD can benefit from times like summer break: they can get more sleep, live more closely to their own circadian rhythm, and spend more time outdoors. All of these things tend to benefit anyone with ADHD.
Summer break can also present it’s own set of problems. With so much unstructured time, you could end up with (at best) a kid who’s bored to death or (at worst) one who gets into trouble as a means of relieving boredom. Those troubles can be compounded when the child is home alone.
Adding in some structure while also allowing free time seems to be the best answer. Summer is about being laid back and easy, so some time to just chill by the pool is perfectly OK.
However, that free time should be balanced by some more structured time. There are all kinds of sports leagues and lessons available in the summer, even things like dance camps or drama camps. Some cities still have Parks & Rec come out and do programs in the parks for the younger kids, and libraries are great for summer reading programs.
Giving your child the space they need to be more like who they really are can be a valuable gift in the summer; just remember to balance it with a little structure as well.
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