How can I help my 13 yr with ADHD with all classes online now?

[Missymora]

My 8th grade son i(ADHD) s falling apart with all classes being zoomed ,online classes now in Ca. It is a fight to get him to stay on the camera, so teachers can see him, to do anywork at all. I need to do a new 504 plan , but haVe no idea what can I ask for to help him. He talks back to me everytime I try anything.

[Onthemove1971]

I think we are all thinking the same thing, What is the best way to help our children through this distance learning process.

The first thing for us is to have the 3 tools in place. These tools help them in all aspects of life: educational plan, thearpy/behavior training and medication. Children with ADHD have a number of issues that need all tools.

As far as the educational plan (504 or IEP) is concerned it would be great to look at the ( additude newsletter) website for all the advice in writing the plan. You might be able to write in the plan Camaras off ( but on during testing) so he can move and walk around and fidget. If you can assist him in take medication to help with focusing im school without it, it will really be a challange. Just like kids who have vision issues and can't see, we get them glasses, children with ADHD have executive functioning issues which greatly impacts all the parts that help them be successful in school.

The talking back will decrease also with medication and thearpy.

Here is the link-

additudemag.com/webinar/dis...

Good luck!

[ADHD_DAD]

Hi. My son is back live this year, but last year what helped us was to set up a daily schedule with everything "time boxed" (including motion breaks every 20 minutes). He would get up at the same time, eat breakfast, get ready and start school just like if live. We would set up a regular schedule with time for learning each course (same length as live classes but with motion breaks every 20 minutes) including lunch and study halls. Timers with a "count down" clock would track "class times" and breaks etc and help provide the time management his brain could not. We had to help him outline how his "study halls" would be spent and to calculate how much time to be spent on "homework" on each topic (all the executive function stuff) and the timer helped keep him on track. Sometimes the motion breaks couldn't wait 20 minutes and the timer would stop for extra breaks. End of the day reward was videogame time. Made sure to work in about 2 miles of walking too because exercise is important to us. Everyone finds their own way, but this made life more manageable for us. Does he have to be on screen? My son got distracted looking at himself alot so we'd turn the camera off. That helped. Just some ideas. Every kid is different of course. Hang in there. This won't be forever and plenty of people in the same boat. Be well.

[bamagirl65 in reply to ADHD_DAD]

can you give me more information on that timer?

[ADHD_DAD in reply to bamagirl65]

Go to Amazon and search "timers for school." There are lots and you can pick the best fit/ style for your child. Ours goes from Green to Red (no distracting sound) when the time is up and can be stopped or started just by mashing the top. Good luck.

[penn_adhd in reply to bamagirl65]

This sounds similar to the pomodoro timer technique. I'd look up information on that and maybe find a pomodoro timer app to help.

[bamagirl65]

You are not alone. My 8 year old is the same way. Been a battle every since they started this. Thank GOD she starts school 2 days a week this week and returns to full time in 2 weeks. Nothing we have tried is working.

[RichSeitzOceanNJ]

thecounselingcenter.zoom.us...

The link is for a zoom meeting for parents dealing with the virus on line. It is not ADHD specific but it may contain helpful information. I tried to copy and paste the original email but I couldn't.

[RichSeitzOceanNJ]

And look for Pax Tools on You tube.

Pax Tools intro

youtube.com/watch?v=t952q7_...(Not working as expected?)

Pax Breaks

youtu.be/0KgkB8LOgAg(Not working as expected?)

Working from home

youtube.com/watch?v=DYsx5FB...(Not working as expected?)

[MomtoE]

I understand. My son is 15 and it’s a challenge with him schooling virtually. He feels once classes are done and it’s time to work on class work it’s his time! I work so he’s home alone and I’m going crazy! Trying to keep up with his assignments and getting him to do work is making me nuts. I have a 27 year old daughter that comes over 2x a week and she sees him differently. I am aggravated that he’s telling me he did do his work only to find out he didn’t. My daughter says it’s only a couple assignments but the point is he has time to do them and won’t.. I’ve tried printing out what needs to be done, set a schedule for him so he can have free time and school time but nothing works. My husband does nothing to help and my oldest daughter says he needs guidance.I’m so stressed and feel like a failure that I can’t help my son.