Students with ADD, ADHD & Executive Functioning deficits will get burned-out by the end of the year. Even if the performance is coming into question, to even keep up is a challenge. That is why many of my clients can feel the summer is for relaxing and doing very little. It is hard to blame him or her for that mentality. But, this type of thinking isn’t the best method.
I work with a young man named Richard. He’s going into fifth grade and is transitioning from a learning disabilities program to a regular private school. I’ve stressed to his parents the importance of preparing him for this transition, but the response has been met with resistance. The parents view this as a potential volatile subject with their son, so they’ve decided to side with him and not force him to do anything to address his ADHD and Executive Functioning.
Professionally, this presents a difficult conundrum. On the one hand, I try to empathize with my families. I totally understand the difficulty in dealing with a difficult child. As awesome as I would like to think I am, there are a million other things a client would rather be doing than discussing Executive Functioning or how to better approach a task. On the other hand, the summer is the best time to address issues in a low-pressure setting. I try to present both sides of this to the families and let them make the decision. I may not always agree with it, but I certainly give my reasons why it’s important.
Here’s what I recommend to families looking to get help over the summer. Three very simple steps…
- Identify the problem and its source.
- Talk with several professionals to identify a course of action.
- Stick with the plan.
If you haven’t done this already, I would make it a priority. The summer is such a huge time for growth, so do not pass on this moment.
For more information on my ADD, ADHD and Executive Functioning coaching, please visit www.adhdefcoach.com. In addition to working with clients in-person, I also work with clients all over the United States and World online, please visit www.onlineadhdcoach.com for more information. To learn more about my other services, please visit www.carrolleducationalgroup.com & www.iepexperts.com. I can be found on Twitter at ADHDGuru. You can also find me on Facebook, Google Plus and Tumblr. Feel free to email me at [email protected] or call 877.398.ADHD (2343) with any additional questions.