Tutoring for Children with ADHD: Tips and Tricks

Techniques and Tips for ADHD Tutoring

Working with a Child with ADHD

If your child suffers from ADHD, then there's a number of possible symptoms that he or she might exhibit that can affect a tutoring session. The three main symptoms to look for are hyperactivity, inability to concentrate and impulsive behavior. The most common type of ADHD combines all three of these symptoms. It will probably be necessary to consult education professionals and a doctor to determine what the best course of action is when it comes to educating your child. The goal is to help your child sustain his or her attention long enough to retain new information and organize thoughts.

Structuring a Tutoring Session

Minimizing distractions and clutter during a tutoring session can be helpful because many children with ADHD get easily distracted. Find a quiet space to work and clear it off so that your child doesn't have any visual distractions. The workspace should have few decorations and should also be well stocked with learning supplies. Keep the space free of television sets, computers, phones and other devices that may draw your child's attention.

Structure your tutoring sessions into small segments so that your child doesn't lose focus. Give your child short, meaningful tasks that help him or her maintain focus and gain a sense of accomplishment. You can help your child practice the same skill for an entire lesson by incorporating several different types of activities.

Tutoring Tips

When explaining a concept to your child, keep the explanation short and then let him or her practice the concept with a hands-on activity. Remember, many children with ADHD are kinesthetic learners, which means they learn best when interacting with materials rather than listening or reading. Don't be afraid to be creative when designing your tutoring lessons and always keep in mind what does and doesn't interest your child. If you need help, there are a plethora of online resources for tutoring that you can use, including lesson plans, games, activities, worksheets and more.