Create routines around the “school day”
Good schools involve a predictable rhythm and a lot of caring adults engaging with children. They have very consistent routines at the start of each day, and families can create their own to offer structure and cues to their children.
Start the day with a consistent wake up time and routine plus a healthy breakfast. Take advantage of the extra time that no commute to school or bus ride allow, whether by supporting more sleep, cooking a hot breakfast together, or by letting the children engage in a beloved activity, such as listening to music, reading a comic book, or working on a craft before the computer goes on.
The routine should be centered on the rhythm of the school, and realistic for parents. It matters most that it is consistent, incorporates nutritious food and exercise, and is pleasant and even fun.
Set the stage
Teachers will often put their students with ADHD in the front of the class, so they can offer prompts and so the students are less distracted by peers. Consider where in the home is a good spot for the children, one that minimizes distractions and where a parent is near enough to support and monitor them.
Parents might want to avoid rooms with a lot of toys or games that may tempt children, and children will need to be apart from (noisy) siblings. If they forget to mute themselves or are tempted to open another window on their computer, it is helpful for a parent to be near enough to be unobtrusively following along. Parents will hear the sounds of trouble and be able to help if their children get lost in an assignment or are otherwise off-track.
Create reasonable expectations and positive rewards
Reassure parents that this adjustment is going to be hard for all children and families. Now is not the season for perfectionism or focusing too intensely on mastering a challenging subject.
Reasonable goals for the first month might be for the child to get some enjoyment from school and to get better at specific tasks (being on time, managing the technology, asking for help when needed).
Parents may even set this goal with their children: “What do you want to be better at by the end of the first month?” If children with ADHD improve at managing the distractions of a virtual class, they will have accomplished a great deal cognitively. It will be hard work for them.
So parents should think about what reward can come at the end of each school day, whether a walk outside together, a game of Uno, or even an afterschool treat together, so children get a sense of success for even incremental adaptation.
Build in breaks from the screen
Spending much more than an hour in a virtual interaction is taxing even for adult attention spans. Parents should feel empowered to speak with their children’s teachers to find ways to build in regular 10- to 15-minute breaks during which their children can have a snack, take a bathroom break, or get their wiggles out.