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How can I help my ADHD child in school? Parents of children with ADHD often get to know the school team very quickly, wanted or not. This is important because, on school days, your child will spend about forty percent of their waking hours in classroom. To learn social skills, kids with ADHD need a community of people to cue and reinforce positive social behavior. To get a good education, students with ADHD need more support from adults. Canadian schools have a legal duty to

The financial cost to raise a child with ADHD is more than 5 times greater than a neurotypical kid – not including the cost of medications or medical treatment. Here are some of the extra costs (no one told me about) for an ADHD child: Private tutoring or summer classes Specialized assistive software (e.g., voice to text) Replacement for lost or destroyed school supplies, phones, clothes, personal belongings, and electronics Abandoned sports, music lessons, and camps due

ADHD and anxiety are two different mental health conditions that can exist alone or together. ADHD is a neurobiological disorder. Untreated ADHD can cause chronic anxiety as a result of critical comments from others about behavior or inattentiveness, increased conflict with others, the inability to control impulses, and not function well in certain situations. Anxiety is a by-product of physical and mental tension, excessive worry, and negative thoughts. It is mental and phy

Emotional dysregulation is not part of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, emotional meltdowns can be a regular part of daily life for individuals on the spectrum. At least one out of four children with ASD will struggle with severe emotional and behavioral escalations throughout early to middle childhood. Outbursts for individuals with ASD might seem not to have a direct cause but can be a result of accumulated frustration that has suddenly b

Art can be a powerful outlet for children, adolescents, and even adults with ADHD. The creative process can improve thinking skills, channel excessive energy, regulate emotions, and feel highly rewarding to ADHD brains. Art encourages mindfulness and calming. The repetitive, hands-on nature of art (e.g., coloring, painting brushstrokes) can have a calming effect similar to meditation. Many individuals with ADHD benefit from structured art activities such as mandalas or patte

Art is a bridge to the unconscious mind, which holds feelings, urges, memories, and thoughts that influence our behavior and actions, even if we are not aware of them. You can learn about yourself and improve self-control through painting, drawing, sculpting, building, playing, or movement. No artistic skill is required - just openness. In 25 years, I have learned that this approach is especially effective for neurodivergent youth (e.g., with ADHD, autism, learning disabiliti

After returning to university to get my doctorate, I wanted to share my personal and clinical experience (including 17 years working on a pediatric mental health unit) so that parents could feel empowered with strategies that were practical and proven effective. When I first started my book " The ADHD Plus Phenomenon: When ADHD Isn't the Only Problem ", my goal was to publish the results of my doctoral research in a way that would be helpful to parents and front-line workers