The end of summer vacation brings up a lot of ambivalence in the hearts and minds of parents. We all remember the carefree days of summer but also enjoy the structure of the day and the growth of the children during their work weeks. The conflict is most intense for parents of children who are diagnosed with ADHD or other various learning challenges.
Children with ADHD and learning challenges spend 2-4 times the amount of cognitive energy than their classmates just to do the same tasks and get through the average school day. The happy and energized (albeit sometimes unmanageable) summertime kid can often turn into an unhappy and angry school year kid. How do we, as parents, deal with the summer letdown and help them to gear up for a seamless re-entry into school?
First, make sure that expectations of their specific educational environment are appropriate for your child's individualized needs. If you notice an obvious change in mood or behavior during the school year, find out what is wrong. Do not accept that your child should be unhappy in school. Get a thorough psychological evaluation so you know what he or she needs to succeed and be an advocate for your child. A change in accommodations, environment, or medication might unlock his or her success and sense of self-satisfaction/happiness. Be out in front of what is happening in the classroom and become a presence in the school. Also, manage his extracurricular needs. If he needs activity, make sure he is involved in plenty of athletics/karate. If she needs downtime, be protective of that.
When your have a thorough understanding of your child's strengths and weaknesses, you can be the best advocate for your child. In return, instead of being depressed during the school year, you and your child can just be mildly conflicted. Just like everyone else.
