Surviving Summers as an ADHD Parent

Summers as a parent of a child with ADHD are no joke.

When your child is in school, at least they are occupied with activities throughout the day that tend to keep some structure in their life.

When summer hits, parents of kids with ADHD can feel at a loss. They’re left having to entertain their kids for hours on end. Plus, longer days with less structure can often mean more meltdowns and stress as a parent. Keep reading for ideas on how to best support your child with ADHD.

Include Some Structure

I know that it can be hard to find structure during summer when there’s more travel and plans are frequently changing. It can be helpful to add a small amount of structure into your child’s life. You might not be able to stick to their entire bedtime routine, but being able to stick to one piece of the routine can help keep you and your child sane.

For example, maybe you stick with reading a book before bed each night, or maybe you keep the same wake-up time each morning.

Manage Expectations

It is normal around holidays and summer breaks for kids’ behaviors to be a bit less than perfect. Summer is exciting and there are so many fun things going on that can lead to more meltdowns. Because of this, it’s important to offer yourself and your child some grace during this period. Focus on praising the small positives that you notice.

Be Less Directive

When you’re around your child more often, you might feel like a drill sergeant constantly giving reminders of what to do. The more commands you give your child, the less likely they are to listen to you. Especially if you are giving them commands that aren’t necessary.

For example, here are some common commands that parents give that aren’t actually necessary: “Look over there”; “Hold my hand”; “Hand me that Lego.” If you catch yourself giving too many commands, notice it and then try to limit them except under the situations in which you need them most. 

Transition to Summer

The summer will go by fast, and it’s helpful to keep that in perspective with all of its challenges. The summer is a great time to help your child learn new skills or for you to learn new skills as a parent. My next group parenting program starts on 8/1 and will give you all the tools you need to support your child through the rest of summer and into the next school year.