Transitioning from the school routine to the summer can be hard on kids with ADHD. A little planning goes a long way so you welcome summer with less frustration and more fun!
Why are transitions hard?
Kids with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning. This includes managing time, planning, and organizing. They rely on predictability and routine to feel safe. A change in their daily routine increases anxiety until they adapt to the new schedule.
What should you be doing as summer break approaches?
First, recognize that this could be a challenging couple of weeks. Mentally preparing yourself is more than half the battle. Your child may sleep less, act out more, and be more emotional than normal. Keep some extra white space in your schedule to for decompression and extra meltdowns.
End-of-year activities mean that the school routine is being disrupted. As much as possible keep your home routine stable and predictable.
Create visuals to help your child better understand what is going on. We often make paper chains to countdown to a transition. A picture schedule for each day can also help reduce anxiety.
Transitioning from the school routine to the summer can be hard on kids with ADHD. A little planning goes a long way. Read more . . . #parenthacks #adhd Click To TweetUse Stabilizing Essential Oils to Help with the Transition
Stabilizing essential oils help steady the nerves. In other words, they encourage a person’s feelings and emotions to go from a rocking boat to solid ground. [1]
These oils have the chemistry that stabilizes feelings and mood:
Vetiver
Cedarwood
Sandalwood
Patchouli
Tumeric
Spikenard
Have your child choose one of the stabilizing essential oils to carry around in a personal inhaler. He can sniff it as often as he wants to help calm and ground his emotions. While you’re at it, choose one for yourself, too!
Summer Tips for Kids with ADHD
Summers have a reputation for being fun and carefree. However, kids with ADHD need structure to function well and feel safe. Consider adding simple routines and rituals to your summer. You can create daily routines such as breakfast, playground time, lunch, rest time, dinner, bedtime. Or weekly routines such as library on Mondays, playdates on Tuesdays, swimming on Wednesdays, and so forth. Planning a weekly meal calendar is helpful, too.
Be sure to include plenty of food, water, and sleep in your summer routine. I have to set a timer to make sure we eat and hydrate at least every 2 hours.
Lastly, be sure to schedule breaks for yourself. Have a list of accessible ways you can refill your bucket. Pair up with a friend to watch each other’s kids once a week. Hire a mothers helper. Plan some date nights.
You can’t control how your child will react to the upcoming transition to summer, but you can make sure you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.
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References
[1] Hill, David, editor. The DoTERRA Essential Oil Chemistry Handbook. 2nd ed., view.joomag.com/ebooks-doterra-essential-oil-chemistry-handbook/0164882001518721621?short.