Support Your ADHD Child This Summer

As summer approaches, it's an exciting time for children to embrace the joy of vacation. But for kids with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the break from routine can present unique challenges. 

In my private practice during this time, I start to get questions about how parents can support their children throughout summer while ensuring that they still have fun.

Some of the biggest questions that come up are:

• How can I keep my child occupied for most of the day while I’m working?

• How do I help them continue to learn social skills even during summer?

• How do I limit screen time during the summer?

In this week’s blog post, I’m answering all of these questions to support you. 

How do I keep my child occupied for most of the day?

Spoiler alert: you can’t. And boredom is good for them. It’s much more helpful for kids to learn how to manage their own boredom rather than having their parents always jumping in to support them.

One of my favorite ways to help kids learn how to stay busy during summer is called the busy box.

A busy box is a box of activities/items reserved ONLY for when your child expresses that they are bored. When your child lets you know that they are bored, you can tell them to go get their busy box so that they can entertain themselves or provide them with their busy box.

Some helpful activities to include in a busy box might be: crossword puzzles, a list of favorite activities, special books, easy craft projects.

Here’s an example of some busy boxes for younger kids. If kids are involved in the process of creating their busy box (e.g., decorating it, picking out the supplies), they’ll be more excited to use it.

How do I support my child with social skills during the summer?

Without the regular social interaction from school, some parents may worry about how their child’s social skills may fare during the summer.

If your child is involved in summer camps, that’s already a win where they will be interacting with other kids. If your child isn’t involved in any camps or those aren’t accessible to you, Outschool (not affiliated, just a great resource) is a great option for virtual groups based on a variety of topics.

They even have ADHD/Executive Functioning groups for kids. And if your child has siblings, that’s another great time to work on social skills. 

With all of these different social skills opportunities, practice praising and acknowledging your child when they are using social skills such as sharing, taking turns, complimenting others, and being helpful.

Whatever social skill your child is struggling with, it’s important to notice all of the small times that you see them doing the opposite of that.

For example, if your child struggles with waiting their turn before talking and is often interrupting others, you might praise them for waiting their turn by saying “Great job waiting your turn” when they are able to do so. The more that you praise, the better their self-esteem.

How bad is it if my child is getting extra screen time during summer?

It depends. For most kids, it’s important that they have a mix of activities and that screen time isn’t the only activity they have.

So if your child is on screens but they’re still playing with friends, going outside, and doing other activities for a lot of the time, screen time won’t be all that bad.

Plus, it’s important to recognize that during summer most kids get more screen time in general. It’s more important to look at what your child is using screen time for.

• If your child is using Mightier (code DRCARRIE for 10% off) to learn coping skills, that’s a helpful use of screen time that can reduce their anger and meltdowns.

• Or if your child is using their tablet to Facetime friends and family members, that’s also a helpful use of screen time for them.

• If you feel like their screen time is skewed towards mostly unhelpful activities, try to plan a few throughout the week that are non-screen-time focused (e.g,. going to the park, zoo).

Summers can be hard for any parent. Remember that connecting with other parents who can support you is just as important.

I hope this blog was helpful for you!

If so, let me know by sending me an email at carrie@drcarriejackson.com