ADHD in the Classroom: Tips for Teachers and Parents
Helping children with ADHD to thrive takes a village. Words First’s ADHD specialist, Chevonne, highlights key ways you can support them both in the classroom and at home.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects your ability to concentrate, regulate and manage your emotions, and regulate and manage your behaviour.
It can have a tremendous impact on success at school, as well as social and family life and the challenges often extend into adulthood where it can affect staying on top of ‘life admin’, relationships and work performance.
Life with ADHD can at times be extremely challenging for the individual and for their loved ones too. But there are also many ways in which people with ADHD can be extremely successful when they harness their strengths and talents in productive ways.
For a child or young person with ADHD, it’s essential for families and schools to work together to form a village of support for that child, to manage the challenges, celebrate their successes and enjoy seeing them thrive.
Every year, the month of October is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about ADHD. The initiative was started to address some of the misconceptions and the stigma around ADHD and has grown into a global awareness campaign to improve the lives of individuals with ADHD. This year, the ADHD Awareness Month Theme is “Awareness is Key!”
Chevonne Du Plessis, a Clinical Specialist and Speech and Language Therapist at Words First, has a special interest in ADHD and supporting children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. For this year’s ADHD Awareness Month, Chevonne has distilled her knowledge and experience into some practical insights for teachers and parents/carers.
Top Tips for Teachers
Plan and consistently implement a system to support emotional and behavioural regulation at school
This could include:
- Regular movement breaks with clearly designated time limits and identified ‘breakout spaces’ for students to access, aiming for independent use when appropriate.
- Exploring with all students the different ways we each need to regulate ourselves.
- Creating a toolkit that includes fidget tools, quiet corners, and an agreed plan for what to do when someone needs help. This not only prepares children with ADHD to access support when needed, but also involves all their peers in the process, helping every child learn about and understand their own needs for regulation.
Plan and help students organise themselves
This could include:
- Creating set stations within the classroom to help complete tasks.
- Setting mini-deadlines to check on progress with longer tasks.
- Ensuring that the child understands what is expected at each step.
- Having a consistent routine within the classroom for setting up, starting, finishing, and packing away materials to manage time effectively and prepare for transitions to the next lesson.
- Using colour-coding alongside other visual information, such as colour-coded folders or dividers for different lessons, materials, or assignments.
Advice for Parents
Children with ADHD can sometimes struggle with significant anxiety and other mental health challenges, especially when emotions feel overwhelming.
The following tips aim to encourage self-reflection, increase awareness of emotional wellbeing, and establish helpful routines at home that will support your child as they grow.
- Encourage quiet time: When your child first comes home, encourage them to take some ‘quiet time’ to think about their school day, how they responded to it, and how they feel now. When they’re ready to rejoin family time, they will feel more regulated and able to engage.
- Normalise talking about feelings: Create an environment where everyone in the family feels comfortable talking about their feelings. Give all family members space and time to share their emotions, and respond with interest and care. Show that it’s okay to ask for comfort and support, even for adults. Seeing these conversations take place will encourage your child with ADHD (and any other children) to seek comfort or talk about their worries when needed.
- Build healthy routines: Establish consistent routines for the entire family. This includes regular times for getting up, going to bed, mealtimes, and planning events in advance. Creating a weekly routine can help children with ADHD know what to expect and prepare for what’s coming next. Simple adaptations like labelling alarms (e.g., 06:45 wake up, 07:00 get dressed) can also support children with ADHD in setting and keeping to a healthy routine.
- Make time for praise: Reflect on and celebrate successes, no matter how small. For children with ADHD, immediate rewards are the most effective way to encourage positive behaviour. Use plenty of verbal praise for specific achievements, and consider any other reward system that works for your family.
Did you know?
The colour for ADHD Awareness Month is orange. Orange blends the passionate energy of red with the bright happiness of yellow. It’s a powerful choice, symbolising strength and endurance, and represents the resilience of individuals with ADHD. Orange is also believed to stimulate mental activity, making it a fitting match for the active minds of people with ADHD!
The rainbow butterfly is the symbol for ADHD. The rainbow, a universal symbol of diversity, is combined with the butterfly, which represents the fluid nature of ADHD experiences—thoughts, growth, and change.
Where can I access information and support for ADHD?
Follow our Words First social media accounts for more information on ADHD.
The following websites also have useful resources and information on ADHD:
