Does Exercise Improve ADHD and Related Challenges?

This research UPDATE responds to the question of whether exercise improves ADHD and related challenges. The first study is an overall analysis of existing studies regarding the influence of exercise in treating ADHD. The second study investigates the effects of high and low exercise intensities in children with and without ADHD. The first study provides preliminary…

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Help Your Child with Screen Resistance or Anxiety in Distance Learning

Virtual learning leads to challenging circumstances and struggles for many children and teenagers with ADHD. While some are doing well, others suffer mightily. Despite the hard work of dedicated teachers and loving, committed parents, many students are resisting, avoiding, or shutting down in the face of virtual learning demands. As a family therapist, I have…

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Teaching in a Pandemic: Upheavals, Adjustments, and Moving Forward

When COVID-19 first closed our schools in March, many teachers asked, “Now what?!” Teaching special education is immensely rewarding, but oftentimes challenging even under normal circumstances. It takes a deep understanding of how the mind works along with patience and perseverance to adapt lessons, content, and tasks for multiple individuals daily. Then, we were forced…

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Going to College Online with ADHD

Online classes can be even more challenging than in-person classes for college students with ADHD. The lack of immediate structure and feedback often found in such classes can make it so easy to put off the work. Without the daily reminders from being in class and working with other students, they may need to recreate…

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Teaching Executive Skills in Middle School

The Barriers & strategies protocol In 2019, based on thousands of opinions from community members, parents, teachers, and students, the York Region District School Board in Ontario, Canada, formulated a multi-year strategic plan. While these plans can be difficult to achieve, the board recently piloted a classroom approach that moved both teachers and students in…

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Executive Functioning Disorder and Mathematics

Three Strategies to Implement Evan is a likeable fourth grade student who has a lot of friends but struggles in school, especially with math. He was diagnosed with ADHD last year because of his attention-related behavior. Evan thinks he understands the material, but then struggles at home with completing his homework. He feels most defeated…

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What Is School Readiness and Why Is It Important?

The capacitY TO FORM POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS is an essential aspect of healthy child development. Children’s relationships and daily interactions with their parents contribute to developing a set of skills that help children succeed in the classroom once they start kindergarten. Collectively, these skills are referred to as “school readiness.” They generally include children’s language and literacy…

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Keep Up Academic Skills During This Challenging Time

Zach sat at his desk with a math worksheet in front of him. He put his head down on the desk. He drew a rocket. Then he got up to get a snack. His mother, Jane, muted herself from her Zoom meeting. “Zach, that is the third time you got up in the last ten…

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