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ADHD Handwriting Help for Kids

November 30, 2017 by Selena Robinson 10 Comments

Children with ADHD often have trouble with handwriting. Use these suggestions to offer ADHD handwriting help to your kids!

Do your kids with ADHD struggle with penmanship? You’re not alone. Many, many kids need ADHD handwriting help from an early age. And, once again, it all goes back to the unique struggles of the ADHD brain.

Executive function is what helps us organize our thoughts and carry them out. Because that is sporadic in kids with ADHD, they may have trouble understanding the process of handwriting, including how to hold the pencil, how to form the letters, and how to copy what they see in a book or on a chalkboard.

Tigger has struggled with her handwriting for the past couple of years. On occasion, it would look perfect – identical to the models in her handwriting book. At other times, though, it was barely legible. For the longest time, I did not understand why handwriting seemed to be so difficult for her until I started reading about all the ways ADHD affects children.

Now that I have a better understanding of how ADHD works, I’ve adjusted my teaching style to offer her more help with handwriting. Here are a few tips I’ve been using.

Children with ADHD often have trouble with handwriting. Use these suggestions to offer ADHD handwriting help to your kids!

How to Offer ADHD Handwriting Help for Kids

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1. Adjust your expectations.

We’ve mentioned this a few times in the past, but when it comes to developing handwriting skills, we have to adjust our expectations of our kids. They may not develop the fine motor skills to write well at the same time or age as their peers, which means their handwriting skills may develop slowly.

If that’s the case, having them write pages and pages of copywork is not going to help them develop these skills any faster. It will, however, make them hate handwriting.

Let your kids write to the best of their ability and then have them do a small amount of daily copywork. After a few weeks, you’ll see their handwriting improve. It may not look like the D’Nealian model, but it will improve…in time.

Fall Playdough Mats

2. Don’t rush to teach cursive.

There’s a minor debate going on in public school right now about the value of teaching cursive writing in the modern age. Personally, I love cursive and I teach it to my kids. But, I don’t insist that they use it at a certain age.

Cursive is generally harder to master than print handwriting. So if your child with ADHD is already struggling with handwriting, don’t insist that he master cursive simply because he is at the grade level when cursive is taught in school.

We introduced cursive to Tigger in third grade, but I noticed that her print was getting sloppier by the day. So, I stopped teaching cursive and we went back to print. Now she’s learning cursive again, but without letting her print penmanship slide.

Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks

3. Let kids use alternate methods for composition.

Some kids who dislike handwriting or have sloppy handwriting are actually excellent storytellers. Don’t insist on them writing their work by hand. Let them use other methods to compose their stories, papers, and responses. Try teaching them to type. In fact, learning to type can actually build fine motor skills that will improve handwriting in the long run.

You might even want to let your kids dictate their stories or draw pictures to express their thoughts. Let them know that there are several ways to tell a story. That way, the frustration of trying to master penmanship won’t poison their love for writing.

ADHD Handwriting Help for Kids

Do your kids with ADHD struggle with handwriting? How do you help them develop good penmanship? Let us know in the comments!

This post is part of the 31 Days of ADHD Homeschooling series! See plenty of ways to make homeschooling kids with ADHD easier!

These 31 tips for homeschooling kids with ADHD are a lifesaver for parents of kids who have ADHD or ADD!

Get even more tips and suggestions for parenting kids with ADHD by following my ADHD Tips board on Pinterest!

You can get plenty of tips for homeschooling and parenting kids with ADHD when you sign up for our email newsletter!

Don’t miss these other great posts!

ASL Alphabet Flashcards The Grouchy Ladybug Printables Sleep Tips for Kids with ADHD Middle School Coding Projects for Beginners

Filed Under: 31 Days of ADHD Homeschooling, ADHD Learning, Special Needs Homeschooling Tagged With: adhd, adhd and handwriting, adhd handwriting, adhd handwriting help, adhd handwriting help for kids, handwriting, handwriting help, handwriting help for kids, kids, parenting, special needs, writing

ADHD Sleep Tips for Kids That Actually Work!

November 2, 2017 by Selena Robinson 32 Comments

Sleep Tips for Kids with ADHD - Look! We're Learning!

Getting enough sleep is a major problem for kids and adults with ADHD. I’ve been a light sleeper for years, but I had no idea it was related to ADHD until I started researching symptoms.

Personally, I CANNOT go to sleep without reading first. If I try to just lie down, my mind will race with a thousand “I need to” and “I really should” thoughts, and eventually I’ll jump up and start doing stuff. Not good if I expect to be a relatively happy mom the next day.

Our kids tend to be light sleepers too. Tigger and Roo take a very long time to fall asleep, and poor Pooh has struggled with night terrors ever since he was an infant. The irony is: The less sleep kids with ADHD get, the worse their symptoms are. So we’ve had quite a few rough homeschooling days due to lack of sleep.

I’ve been reading lots of information about establishing good sleep habits, and today I’m sharing three ADHD sleep tips for kids (and adults)!

If this post is helpful, be sure to read my list of the best ADHD homeschooling tips around!

Does your child with ADHD toss and turn every night? Here are some ADHD sleep tips for kids that really work!

Image: Deyan Georgiev / Dollar Photo Club

ADHD Sleep Tips for Kids

1. Provide plenty of physical activity during the day.

For years, my husband has done manual work. On days that he works, he rests well at night because he’s so exhausted from the day. On weekends, though, he tends to stay up late into the night.

Turns out that’s related to ADHD! When kids and adults with ADHD exert themselves during the day, they sleep more soundly at night. Make time for your kids to get up and move vigorously during the school day and they should rest better.

Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks

2. End screen time a few hours before bed.

It’s no secret that kids tend to get excited after watching television, but that is true to an even greater degree in kids with ADHD. And it’s not just TV. Any kind of screen time, including computers, tablets, and smartphones, can be overstimulating and make it harder for kids to go to sleep at night. Of course, as I write this, it is 11:38 p.m., so this is a “Do as I say, not as I do” moment. 😉

We’ll be talking more about screen time limits later in the series, but it is critical that we minimize (and even eliminate) screen time when possible to avoid sleep problems and loss of focus. That’s where adding in physical fitness can help, because it gives kids an outlet for their energy instead of adding more stimuli.

3. Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it.

We’ve used a set bedtime in our family for years. But that’s not all that’s involved in establishing a bedtime routine. You know how doctors encourage you to create a routine of bathing, reading, and singing to help babies learn to sleep at night? We should keep that going with our kids long after babyhood.

We covered the importance of routines for ADHD yesterday, and those same points apply to the bedtime routine. That means that consistency is critical. Once you establish your bedtime routine, stick with it every night. Over time, your kids’ bodies will learn that nighttime is for winding down and resting.

Note: I’ve been hearing good things about melatonin. My daughter’s pediatrician actually recommended it to us during her last visit. But I’ve been hesitant to try it, because I’ve heard that it gives some kids nightmares. So if any of you have any thoughts or experiences with melatonin, please tell me about them! (Disclosure: I am not a medical professional. Please consult a doctor before deciding how to treat ADHD in your family.)

Have you struggled with helping your kids with ADHD go to sleep? Do you have any ADHD sleep tips for kids that work in your family? Tell us about them in the comments!

ADHD Sleep Tips for Kids That Actually Work

Need more help parenting and teaching kids with ADHD? Read these posts for ideas!

Teaching a child with ADHD at home? You've got to read this list of the best ADHD homeschooling tips around!

15 Homeschool ADHD Schedule Ideas - Awesome for teaching active kids at home!

Math Activities for ADHD Students

For more help parenting kids with ADHD, follow my ADHD Tips board on Pinterest!

Don’t miss these other great posts!

ASL Alphabet Flashcards The Grouchy Ladybug Printables ADHD Handwriting Help for Kids Middle School Coding Projects for Beginners


Filed Under: 31 Days of ADHD Homeschooling, ADHD Learning, Special Needs Homeschooling Tagged With: adhd, adhd kids, adhd sleep tips, adhd sleep tips for kids, adhd tips, kids, kids with adhd, parenting, special needs

Homeschooling with ADHD eBook

November 30, 2015 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’ve been writing about homeschooling with ADHD here at Look! We’re Learning! for quite a while, but I (in typical ADD fashion) have been procrastinating with this eBook.

I’ve wanted to write it for months, but it seemed overwhelming and just..impossible. I did mention I have ADD, right?

But here it (finally) is! This eBook “Homeschooling with ADHD” is the resource you’ve been looking for! If you’re teaching kids with ADHD at home or if you’re even considering it, this ebook is for you!

And *for a limited time*, I’m giving it away FREE!

DHD eBook @ Look! We're Learning!

Homeschooling with ADHD eBook

This eBook is divided into six chapters beginning with a discussion of what ADHD is and ending with detailed suggestions for how you can continue homeschooling, even when ADHD-related problems arise.

What if you’re a parent with ADHD? You can still homeschool your kids with ADHD! (Trust me, I’m doing it.) There’s a special section in the book just for you – with tips and tricks to make homeschooling something you love, not simply something you endure.

And, because I really want you all to benefit from these tips, I’m giving the ebook away for FREE for 48 hours! It’s normally priced at $5.99, but you can get it for nothing until December 2!

If you decide to download the ebook, please share your thoughts about it with me at selena@lookwerelearning.com. Grab your free eBook from our store using the link or image below!

DHD eBook @ Look! We're Learning!

Homeschooling with ADHD eBook – Look! We’re Learning! Store


Filed Under: ADHD Homeschooling, Special Needs Homeschooling Tagged With: adhd, adhd homeschooling, homeschooling with adhd, special needs

How to Manage Sensory Processing Disorder at Home

October 13, 2015 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Are you living with a child who has sensory processing disorder? At least two of our children do and we’ve been working with them at home.

In a perfect world, they would be seeing an occupational therapist, but that’s not in our budget or covered by our insurance. So if you’re trying to learn how to manage sensory processing disorder at home (like we are), here are a few tips from the book Sensory Processing 101 that are working in our family.

*Note: I am not a medical professional. If you are concerned that your child may have sensory processing disorder, please consult a doctor or occupational therapist for advice.*

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.*

How to Manage Sensory Processing Disorder at Home - Look! We're Learning!

How to Manage Sensory Processing Disorder at Home

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

Learn all you can about SPD.

You’ll need to begin by learning everything you can about sensory processing disorder. For example, SPD consists of several different aspects, including trouble with vestibular, oral, or proprioceptive senses. Plus, you can have a child who has problems in more than one sensory area. Since some books on sensory processing disorder are a little complex, be sure to choose one that is written for parents, not therapists.

Watch your child for sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding behavior.

Does your child deal with over-responsiveness to sensory input or under-responsiveness? If your child shies away from sounds or textures in food or clothing, then he or she might have auditory, oral, or tactile over-responsiveness. On the other hand, if your child deliberately does things in a loud or forceful manner, then he or she might be under-responsive to sensory input.

In our family, our youngest son crashes into the floor (on purpose!), stomps around the house (even when he’s happy), and speaks extremely loudly. Sometimes he doesn’t even feel when he bumps into things. Learning about SPD and observing him has helped us to recognize his specific sensory needs.

The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks eBook

Include sensory activities in your daily life.

Okay – so you know about SPD and you’ve learned which aspects are affecting your child. Now it’s time to put together a “sensory diet”: a routine of sensory activities for your child to do everyday. Believe it or not – sensory therapy consists of activities that you can easily adapt and do at home.

Once you know which areas your child struggles with, you can make a list of daily activities (even chores) that allow them to get more sensory input through the day. Some of our favorites for our sensory-seeking kids include chewing crunchy foods, heavy work (pushing objects around), and wrapping up in tight blankets.

The ebook Sensory Processing 101 is a super resource for learning about SPD, recognizing the signs in your own child, and ideas for sensory activities you can do around the house! If you haven’t gotten a copy of the book yet, check it out below!

Sensory Processing 101

Are you living with a child who has SPD? Do you have any tips for how to manage sensory processing disorder at home? Let us know in the comments!

Sensory Fix™ for Everyday Sensory Needs

Filed Under: Parenting, SPD Homeschooling, Special Needs Homeschooling Tagged With: parenting, sensory processing disorder, spd, special needs

Hi! I'm Selena, a veteran teacher and homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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