Providing Daily Structure for Kids with ADHD
Kids under 10 or 12 years of age need ten hours of sleep
and a consistent bedtime.
The routine should begin two weeks prior to start of
school.
There needs to be coordination
among the various caregivers to maintain consistency of structure.
Parents
should coordinate with the Teacher before school starts and ask the Teacher to join with the Parent and
other Caregivers and be involved with structuring the Child’s time while in
school to give him the best opportunity for success.
Ask to have the Child
seated at front of class near the Teacher to minimize distractions.
Ask the Teacher to make daily 1-to-1 time with the Child—whenever
she can focus on him for a few minutes—a
priority.
Note: This helps both the Child and the Teacher in the long run.
ROUTINES HELP KIDS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
After-school Routine:
Snack
Fun Play
Time 30 Minutes
Homework:
1-to-1
with Parent/Caregiver to help keep the Child on task
Start
with subject the Child is least interested in
Intersperse
with 10- to 15-minute breaks between subjects-tasks, or as needed
No
screens (tv/games/computer) on while doing homework
Dinner
Bedtime Routine:
Lights
Lowered, Sound (tv/radio/computer, etc.) Off
Fun Play
Time
Bath/Brush
Teeth/PJs on
15-30 Minute
story 1-to-1 with Parent/Caregiver
Lights
Out, in Bed, by 8:30 p.m.*
*If (when) the Child gets out of bed, tell him,
“It’s bedtime now” and take him back to bed.
If (when) the Child gets out of bed again,
say nothing and take him back to bed without eye contact.
Repeat till the Child stays in bed.
This may (will) take a while; but, eventually, he will stay in bed.
The Parent must be patient and
determined to outlast the Child, no
matter how long it takes,
to make the point that
bedtime is non-negotiable. Once the Child understands this and
the Parent is consistent in reinforcing the bedtime, he will understand
the limit set and comply.