ADDitude Editors

• A Parent's Guide to ADHD School Accommodations
  Federal law requires public schools to provide educational accommodations to students with ADHD and learning... more »
• The ADD/LD Glossary
  Explaining the acronyms, abbreviations, and terms associated with special education... more »
• ADHD at School: Channeling All That Energy
  Many children with ADHD are in constant motion. Here’s how to direct excess energy into... more »
• ADHD Medication at School
  Guidelines to follow if your child needs a dose of ADHD medication during the school... more »
• A Homework System That Works
  How to devise consistent routines to help children with ADD and learning disabilities complete and... more »
• How to Give Good Instructions to Children with ADHD
  Expert tips for helping your child or student with ADHD better listen to, understand and... more »
• How to Focus the Attention of ADHD Children
  Creative ways to keep distracted children with ADHD and learning disabilities focused and engaged in... more »
• Play To Their Strengths: Accommodating Unique Learning Styles in ADHD Children
  How teachers and parents can accommodate and encourage unique learning styles in school children with... more »
• Better Language Skills for Children with ADHD or Learning Disabilities
  Expert strategies for bolstering language skills – reading, writing, and speaking – in children with... more »
• Clutter-Free Backpacks and Bedrooms
  Work with your child to organize a system for keeping homework papers and school supplies... more »
• Helping ADHD Children with Impulse Control: Smart Discipline
  Help children with ADHD think before they act by establishing clear expectations, positive incentives, and... more »
• Know Your Child's Educational Rights
  Does your child qualify for an Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan? Find out here... more »
• Organization Help for ADHD College Students
  Expert advice to help ADHD college students get organized, study better and succeed at school... more »
• College Survival Guide for ADHD Students
  Practical, essential tips for college students with ADD or learning disabilities like dyslexia... more »
• ADHD Symptom Checklist
  Do you have ADD? Use this checklist to understand common ADHD symptoms and test your... more »
• How to Write an IEP: ADHD Accommodations that Work
  How to draft an individualized education program that will provide the ADHD accommodations your child... more »
• Essential School Information for Parents
  Ensure your child gets what he needs with these six steps to success – and... more »
• ADHD Medication for Children at School
  Guidelines for ensuring your child gets her ADHD medication at school... more »
• Is Your Child Socially Immature?
  How to improve behavior and social skills at home and at school for children with... more »
• ADHD at School: Helping Children Follow Directions
  Strategies to help children with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) focus and sustain attention in... more »
• Does Your Child with ADHD Disrupt the Classroom?
  Help children with ADHD reign in impulsive behavior with these strategies for at school and... more »
• No More Lost Books or Papers: Helping School Children Get Organized
  Your child with ADHD can get and stay organized at school — with help from... more »
• Stop Interrupting! Classroom Discipline for ADHD Children
  Impulse-controlling exercises to help ADHD children behave better at school... more »
• ADHD at School: Turning in Assignments
  How to provide the structure that your ADHD child needs to complete and submit homework... more »
• Sample Letter to Request ADHD Accommodations at School
  Use this letter to get ADHD school accommodations for your child with ADD or learning... more »
• ADHD Experts: 8 Ways to Focus at Work & Home
  8 simple ways for adults with ADD to reduce distractions on the job and with... more »
• Advocate for Your Child: Getting ADHD Accommodations
  Six steps for meeting your child's educational needs with ADHD accommodations at school... more »
• 7 Myths About ADHD... Debunked!
  The truth about attention deficit disorder in children and adults - ADHD experts disprove seven... more »
• How to Get ADHD Accommodations at School
  Start collaborating with teachers and school administrators on ADHD accommodations for your child before the... more »
• School Guidance and Gizmos
  High-tech gadgets and low-tech resources to help parents and children with ADHD or learning disabilities... more »
• Help Your Child! Know the Law!
  Federal laws require schools to provide your child with special-ed services and accommodations for ADD... more »
• A System for Better Classroom Behavior
  Reinforce good behavior with clear guidelines, rewards, and consequences for children with ADHD... more »
• The Daily Report Card: Tracking School Progress for Children with ADHD or Learning Disabilities
  Use this powerful parent/teacher tool to monitor the academic progress of your child with ADHD... more »
• Shape School Behavior with a Daily Report Card
  Teachers and parents of children with ADHD can use this method to spark better behavior... more »
• Common Comorbid Conditions Associated with ADHD
  Roughly half of all children with ADHD suffer from a condition like anxiety, depression or... more »
• Simplify Holiday Planning
  Download this handy form to organize a family discussion on holiday priorities. You can't... more »
• Day-Planner or PDA?
  Need organization help? How to choose the right solution for adults and children with ADHD... more »
• Get Organized: Best Resources for ADD Moms
  ADDitude picks: Must-have books and websites on household management for moms with attention deficit disorder... more »
• Introducing Your ADHD Child to His Teacher and Securing ADHD Accommodations
  A sample letter you can use to introduce your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD... more »
• Exercise: An Alternative ADHD Treatment Without Side Effects
  Physical activity may be good for focus. Plus, it’s an inexpensive, self-prescribed, and accessible alternative... more »
• The Facts About Fish Oil
  How this common supplement can improve your mental focus... more »
• Fitting In
  Expert tips for helping your child make friends and really thrive in social situations... more »
• Improving Classroom Behavior: Help ADHD Children to Stop Fidgeting
  How teachers and parents of children with ADHD can help them fight the fidgets and... more »
• Distractibility
  How to keep your child on task, whether at home or at school... more »
• Morning Checklist for High-Schoolers
  Design a morning checklist to get your day off to a great start... more »
• Where Does the Time Go?
  Create a smarter schedule – and stop wondering where the time went... more »
• Reaping Rewards from Community Service
  Children who help others learn to recognize their own strengths... more »
• Putting Kids in Charge of Their Learning Needs
  Students taught to speak up for themselves learn a lesson that extends beyond the classroom... more »
• Sample Letter: Introducing Your Child
  Use this sample letter as a model when drafting your own letter to the teacher... more »
• High-Tech Writing Helpers
  Gadgets, software and other technologies to help students compensate for writing difficulties... more »
• Meds: Starting Out
  New school year, new meds? Help your child thrive in-and out-of the classroom... more »

• Behavior Therapy for Children with ADHD
  Seven parenting strategies guaranteed to improve the behavior of your child with attention deficit disorder... more »
• The Parent-Teacher Partnership
  Expert strategies for working with your ADHD child's teacher on an effective classroom plan and... more »
• Support Groups 101
  Would you benefit from joining a support group? Find out where and how can you... more »

• ADDitude Talks to Karen O’Donnell
  A director and mother shares what inspired her to make a film about ADHD... more »
• Evaluating Teen Programs
  Considering a wilderness program or therapeutic boarding school for your child?... more »

• Growing Out of ADD
  "My 15-year-old has been fine without medication for the past two months. Is it possible... more »
• Bilingual Resources for Parents
  "Where can I find reliable information in Spanish about the educational rights of children with... more »

• FAQ About Alternative Medicines
  What are alternative therapies, and which ones help – or harm? ... more »
• FAQ About ADHD Coaching
  The ADD Coach is like having a personal trainer for your brain. Is this something... more »
• Who Can Diagnose ADHD?
  Titles and job descriptions can be confusing, especially in the alphabet soup of PhDs, M.D.s,... more »
• How to Pick an ADHD/LD Camp for Your Child
  6 questions to ask when selecting a camp for your child... more »
• How to Pick an Academic Program for Your Child
  7 questions to consider when picking a summer academic program for your child... more »
• Job Hunt Tips for ADHD Adults
  Five steps for landing the interview... more »
• The Stoplight System for Better Behavior
  Teachers can use this system to endure good classroom behavior... more »
• 5 Keys for Improving Parent-School Communication
  How to communicate better with your child's school... more »

• Treatment for Adults with ADHD
  Doctors once thought ADHD disappeared when the child became an adult. Research is proving otherwise... more »
• IDEA or Section 504?
  Both laws apply to ADHD — so which fits your child?... more »
• General Questions about Comorbid Conditions
  Answers to common questions about comorbidities, conditions that appear together in the same patient... more »
• Myths About ADHD
  Fight ADHD misinformation with the bright light of truth... more »
• FAQ About ADHD
  Everything you ever wanted to know about ADHD... more »
• FAQ About ADHD Medications
  Everything you need to know about starting an ADHD medication — from dosage and possible... more »
• Talking With Your Child's Teacher
  Tips for communicating with your child's school... more »
• Finding A Doctor or Therapist Who Works For You
  Helpful criteria for choosing a doctor, therapist, counselor or other ADD professional... more »
• Make Summer Safer
  A how-to guide to summer safety... more »
• The ADHD Book of Lists
  Written for parents, as well as for teachers, counselors, and other school personnel... more »
• Otto Learns About His Medicine
  The tune-up metaphor offers a non-threatening way for children to learn about medical check-ups... more »
• Overcoming Winter Depression
  Six tips to fight depression during the winter season... more »
• Marriage Experts Say to Hang In There
  Divorce is a common side effect of ADHD. But getting one doesn't mean you'll live... more »
• Driving Contract
  A simple agreement between you and your teen can help enforce rules, encourage responsibility and... more »
• Too Tired To Pay Attention
  Treating sleep disorders may help ADHD adults and children. Here's how... more »
• Depression and ADHD
  How ADHD's connection with depression can affect you and your child... more »
• Driving with Distractions
  Take these steps to ensure safety behind the wheel for your young driver... more »
• Holiday Safety
  The American Academy of Pediatrics reminds parents to keep the holidays happy by remembering these... more »
• Biofeedback for ADHD
  Therapy can help relieve symptoms in children after they stop taking ADHD medication... more »
• Do ADHD Students Qualify for Special-Education Accommodations?
  Children with ADHD may qualify for special-education accommodations, depending on the degree of severity of... more »
• FAQ About ADHD and Disability Benefits
  In some cases, children and adults with ADHD may qualify for disability benefits... more »
• Do Residential Programs Work for Kids with ADHD?
  How keeping families together can improve symptoms of ADHD, depression, and anxiety... more »
• Stress: Keeping Your Cool at School
  How to help stressed-out students... more »
• Sleep Problems May Point to ADHD
  Research compares problem sleepers to those who sleep soundly... more »
• What You Need to Know About the Americans with Disabilities Act
  The Americans with Disabilities Act includes ADHD as a disability. Find out what it means... more »
• What Can A Teacher Do?
  The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) offers recommendations for teaching children with ADHD... more »
• Recommended Web Sites About Special Ed
  These top ADHD and LD Web sites will immerse you in the world of special... more »
• Shelley, the Hyperactive Turtle (Revised)
  A book that teaches young children what it means to have ADHD and helps them... more »
• Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention
  Plenty of activity pages to support the process of positive change... more »
• Affluent Teens Prone to Depression, Alcohol and Drug Use
  Pressure can take its toll on adolescents, making them susceptible to problems later in life... more »
• Doctors Warn of the Lasting Damage of Shame
  A new report tells parents: Lighten up!... more »
• What Does IDEA Mean to You and Your Child?
  Parents and students have specific rights under the Individuals with Disablities Education Act (IDEA). Find... more »
• Schools Get Failing Grades When Teaching ADHD Kids
  A national survey shows schools are not meeting the needs of ADHD children... more »
• Should Teachers Help?
  A law in Connecticut prohibits teachers, counselors and other school officials from recommending psychiatric medications... more »
• Self-Esteem Must Come From Within
  The cost of achieving "good self-esteem" may be higher than you think... more »
• Study Finds ADHD Meds Don't Affect Brain Size
  Research confirms safety and efficacy of ADHD medications on the brain... more »
• Inaccurate Gender Stereotypes Hindering Treatment
  Gender stereotypes could be preventing some teens with ADHD from getting the help they need... more »
• ADHD in Girls Can Be Serious, But Is Often Overlooked
  New studies show the ADHD diagnosis is frequently missed in girls... more »
• Alcohol and Teens with ADHD
  Teens are drinking more — and earlier — than parents may want to believe... more »
• Overspending on Learning Disabilities: A Bad IDEA?
  A high number of minority students are labeled as having learning disabilities due to legislation... more »
• People Don’t Understand
  A mother shares frustration about "defending" the ADHD diagnosis to naysayers... more »
• Fast Food
  Meal prep made easier... more »