ADHD in school: Recognizing behavior, supporting learning

When dealing with school-age children, it's important to recognize the signs of ADHD early. According to the DSM-5, here are some behaviors that may indicate ADHD in the classroom, provided they occur consistently over a period of at least six months:

Inattention:

• Attention to detail is often lacking, which makes it easy to make mistakes in schoolwork and other activities.

• The child has great difficulty staying focused on tasks or games for a longer period of time.

• Often appears not to listen when spoken to.

• Instructions are usually only followed half-heartedly, and homework or other tasks remain incomplete.

• Organizational skills are often underdeveloped .

• Avoid tasks that require prolonged mental effort.

• Often loses or forgets items needed for class.

• Easily distracted by external stimuli.

• General forgetfulness (names, rules, roles, etc.)

Hyperactivity:

• Frequently fidgets with hands or feet or slides around in the chair.

• Stands up in inappropriate situations and moves around aimlessly.

• Excessive running or climbing .

• Seems unable to play quietly.

• Talks excessively and quickly.

Impulsiveness:

• Answers are often given without thinking and without being asked .

• Difficulty waiting for your turn.

• Often interrupts and disturbs others.

Additional features:

• General lack of concentration.

• Problems with fine motor skills .

• Distractible and dreamy.

• Hears well according to hearing tests, but often reacts slowly.

• Difficulties in filtering information.

• Emotionally unstable and tends to cry frequently or quickly.

• Reacts quickly and is easily offended.

• Often feels unloved and misunderstood.

• Works very slowly, may spend hours on tasks.

• Fears and feelings of guilt are present.

These symptoms can serve as indicators of ADHD if at least six or more are observed over the specified period. If there is reasonable suspicion, the case should be discussed with the classroom's specialized teacher. After a thorough analysis, a parent-teacher meeting will be organized to discuss whether a medical examination would be appropriate. The focus should always be on the child, their learning success, and smooth classroom instruction.

How ADHD children can master their homework

Various strategies lead to more discipline and academic success in children with ADHD. Threats and increasingly draconian punishments are not among them. Here are 20 effective tips:

1. Provide support

Children with ADHD often need support with their studies. Many are unable to complete their homework independently for extended periods of time. Preparing for tests and exams is also often a challenge for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Offer your child support or consider someone who could take on this responsibility.

2. Supervise without patronizing

Because children with ADHD tend to be forgetful, they often don't remember their homework. Therefore, encourage your child to check their homework book daily. If they don't have one and you suspect they still have homework, your child should contact classmates and ask. Encourage your child's independence. They should develop their own solutions. Otherwise, your child will continue to rely on your help in the future.

3. Keep distractions to a minimum

Before homework time begins, you could put a "Please do not ring the doorbell!" sign on the front door and turn off the phone. Remove toys and other things that could distract your child. A seat directly by the window is not suitable if the view overlooks a busy street or playground. Younger siblings should be kept away if possible. Some children with ADHD are even bothered by a noisy budgie or a conspicuous writing pad. Consistently turn off distractions.

4. The "homework curve"

Have your child start with an easy task, follow with a more difficult one if necessary, and then add another easy task at the end. This way, your child will leave the homework situation with a positive feeling.

5. Give a boost

Your child should understand exactly what is required of them. Have them read the problem aloud and summarize it in their own words. Children with ADHD often cannot complete problems because they jump to the answer before they fully understand the question. Most children with ADHD are also visual learners . Visualize problems so your child can better imagine the problem, grasp its meaning, and find a solution.

6. Gentle pressure

Many children with ADHD need some time to get used to homework. Loving pressure can be the best catalyst here. Avoid pleas, threats, or tirades, as these only lead to complete refusal in most children. Treat homework as a matter of course. Avoid unnecessary discussions.

7. Rewards

Children with ADHD often live in the here and now. Threatening punishment or luring them with long-term rewards is therefore usually ineffective. Both are quickly forgotten. It's better to surprise your child with something at the beginning of homework and occasionally during the homework. Attractive stimuli stimulate the frontal lobe and make your child more receptive.

8. Divide large tasks into smaller parts

Break large tasks into smaller chunks. Two equations are more motivating than ten. Plan time for exercise or a small reward between chunks. Important: Breaks shouldn't get out of hand! Before the break, decide when work will resume. An acoustic signal (e.g., a visual timer) can be helpful. Gradually increase the size of the task bundles.

9. Maintain consistency

Homework should generally be completed on the day it is assigned. Agree on a fixed timeframe with your child for this work. If necessary, create a weekly schedule and stick to it.

10. Suitable environment for homework

Some children prefer not to do their homework alone in their room. Respect this decision. Having your child study near you will also help you bring them back to reality more quickly if they get distracted.

11. Allow movement

Severely hyperactive children, in particular, struggle with long periods of sitting. Allow your child to study for only 20 minutes at a time. Afterward, they should be allowed to move around. Some children even benefit from being allowed to walk around the room or chew gum while studying.

12. Music as a learning companion

Many children with ADHD report that they learn better and concentrate more effectively when music plays in the background . Some prefer soft melodies; others prefer more powerful sounds. Both are acceptable as long as learning outcomes are not diminished.

13. Constant encouragement

Check in regularly and praise your child to encourage them to continue with their homework. Recognize not only their achievements, but also their effort. Avoid criticism for mistakes or slowness. Show genuine joy when a task is completed, rather than just expressing relief.

14. Ignore protests if possible

Whining and distraction tactics will certainly occur. Your child may try to provoke you with certain questions, a noticeably bad posture, or listless doodling. Consistently ignoring these behaviors will initially intensify them, but then become less frequent. Not reacting to provocative behavior can eliminate the problem behavior: Your child will realize that it's not achieving anything and will therefore stop.

15. Establish rituals

Children love rituals – children with ADHD, on the other hand, need them. Give learning at home a fixed framework: the same time, the same place. Some parents have their children light a candle at the beginning of homework; others keep a talisman in their pocket. Children with ADHD appreciate predictable routines.

16. Find a study partner

Is there a child in the class who could do homework with your child? Invite them and observe what happens. Studying with a friend can significantly increase motivation.

17. Create order

Your child's desk should be tidy and organized. Each school subject, along with its corresponding notebooks and book covers, should have its own color. Set up a correspondingly colored tray for each school subject so your child spends less time searching. The school bag should be prepared for the next school day immediately after homework is done.

18. Show interest and encourage

Children need praise, recognition, and words of encouragement. Help your child develop confidence in their own abilities. Provide regular experiences of success. Focus on what your child does well and call it by name. Assume that your child will be successful as long as they keep at it.

19. Understanding discontinuity

Children with ADHD may have better concentration and self-control on some days than on others. What a child seems to be able to do today, they may forget tomorrow. Accept your child's fluctuations in performance. Don't blame them or assume they lack the willpower ("You could if you only wanted to!").

20. Communication with the teacher

If you feel the amount of homework is overwhelming for your child, talk to the teacher. Perhaps you can agree that your child will do homework for a maximum of one hour a day. Many teachers are willing to work on individual solutions if you approach them politely.