Balancing Fun and Learning: Summer Tips for Students with ADHD
By Grace Friedman, ADHD Coach
Summer break is a much-anticipated time for students to relax, play, and enjoy a break from the rigors of the academic year. For students with ADHD, this break can be a double-edged sword. The freedom and unstructured time can be both a blessing and a challenge. Here are some tips to help students with ADHD have a fun-filled summer while maintaining academic momentum.
Create a Balanced Routine
While summer should definitely be a time for relaxation, maintaining some structure can help students with ADHD thrive. Create a balanced daily routine that includes time for fun activities, learning, and relaxation. This can help prevent the overwhelming feeling of too much free time and ensure that there's still some academic engagement. Oftentimes it is much easier for kids and teens with ADHD to finish non-preferred tasks before preferred tasks, such as taking out the dishes from the dishwasher or clearing up their room before hanging out with friends. Maintaining a routine in which you take care of your responsibilities before having fun is a win win, and leaves more time to hang out and enjoy your free time.
TIP! Visual schedules and timers can help students with ADHD understand the flow of the day and manage their time effectively. Use a calendar to mark special activities and keep a visual timer for tasks to help them stay on track.
Incorporate Fun Learning Activities
Learning doesn’t have to be confined to textbooks. Incorporate educational activities that are fun and engaging. This could include:
Reading Adventures: Choose books that are interesting to you, or your child, and set aside time each day for reading. Join a summer reading program at the local library for extra motivation.
Educational Games and Apps: There are many apps and games designed to make learning fun. These can be particularly useful for keeping math and language skills sharp.
Science Experiments and DIY Projects: Hands-on activities like science experiments or DIY crafts can be both educational and entertaining.
Encourage Physical Activity and Balancing Breaks
Physical activity is crucial for managing ADHD symptoms. Run around, bike, dance, or swim! Participate in sports, hiking, or even just playing outside. This helps them burn off excess energy and improve focus and mood. On the other hand, summer is also a time to unwind. Make sure to schedule downtime where you can relax and enjoy their favorite activities without pressure. Balance is key to preventing burnout and keeping summer enjoyable
Set Small Academic Goals
Set small, achievable academic goals for the summer. This could include completing a workbook, mastering a new skill, or writing a short story. Breaking tasks into smaller steps can make them more manageable and less daunting. Working on academic tasks during the summer is important to keep your brain sharp, and it also can be hard to motivate yourself or your child to engage in school-related tasks during the summer. To increase motivation and focus, it is helpful to tie in a reward or a small treat after completing your academic task to have an idea of what you’re working towards.
Take Away
With a bit of planning and creativity, students with ADHD can enjoy a fun and productive summer. By incorporating a mix of structured activities, learning opportunities, and relaxation, you can help your child, or encourage yourself, to maintain academic momentum while making the most of their summer break. Remember, the goal is to create a balanced environment where fun and learning go hand in hand!
At the Hallowell-Todaro ADHD Center, we are hoping your summer is off to a fantastic start! We offer ADHD coaching and summer workshops to support children and teens's efforts to strengthen their ADHD superpowers! Interested? Check out our services here.
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