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ADHD experts and caregivers present tips for managing ADHD during the summer. www.adhdsupportstrategies.com
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Table of Contents
Advice: Helpful tips from our leaders
Leaders: Get to know our moms and their stories
Mom-Bassadors(TM): Read about how our moms advocate for their children
Boxes: Get engaged by taking our poll and checking out the results
Resources: Looking for more information? Check out these helpful Web sites
ADHDMoms(TM) Moments
Welcome to ADHDMoms™ Moments! This is your chance to share your ADHD caregiver insight. For a limited time you will be able to provide your thoughts on the topic listed below.
Our ADHDMoms™ community wants to share moments of ADHD caregiver pride with, by and for you. Simply answer below to share your story.
All submissions will be reviewed and must be approved by McNeil Pediatrics™ before being posted. Comments that do not directly relate to the event topic will not be posted. Please note that we will not post comments about any specific products or treatments, whether they are sold by McNeil Pediatrics™, affiliated companies, or competitors. Product-specific questions should be directed to the companies that sell them. The comments contained on this site come from members of the public, and do not necessarily reflect the views of McNeil Pediatrics™ or its affiliated companies, and no endorsement or approval of their content should be implied. Comments that contain links to third-party or commercial Web sites may not be posted; please note that any Web sites that may appear in comments are not endorsed or supported by McNeil Pediatrics™.
Please see Terms of Use for Submitting Comments and Privacy Notice and Consent for more information.
How do you help your child manage his or her ADHD symptoms during the summer months?
I was just thinking of letting my 12 year old son off his meds for the summer. After reading all the comments from other moms, I'm having second thoughts. I've been trying to change things in his diet like going organic and staying away from processed foods. I'm crossing my fingers that this helps! |
My son is 9 and he chooses not to take his meds. in the summer, so he can eat! He goes to a sports camp and really seems to enjoy it. It is very structured, which as you all know is what these kids need. I do have to schedule time for him to keep up with his math. |
Becky Chase
We keep him on meds. He is 9 and he has a schedule, behavior management system and chores. He loves to play with his friends and tries to fight the structure, but it helps him to be successful. |
My son now 16 always stays on his medication in the summer by choice, we tried medication holidays when he was young and it made everyone unhappy. He would still struggle even with a part time job so he keeps as active as possible running and swiming mostly and I give him a list of jobs to do but he still spends more time than I would like playing computer games and on facebook! |
I keep my son Nick age 8 on his medication and also try to mantain the same structure everyday at home as he had in school. Also I try to set aside and hour each day to have him keep up on his math skills which he seemed to struggle with this past year. |
We have kept our 7 yr old son on his medications. He prefers it, and the child care teachers appreciate it. Also, our son is going to 1/2 day afternoon school to help him with his social skills. This is a very exciting aspect of special education that we hope will help him to better communicate, and socialize. |
We keep our son on his medication, but summer is really hard. He doesn't get many playdates because he has trouble interacting with the other kids. He doesn't like sports so keeping him busy is a real challenge. All he wants to do is play video games and watch TV, which we have strict limits on so it's a constant battle of "I'm bored". Even on a schedule he has trouble keeping it all together. It's a long summer. |
My 10-year-old son has to stay on his medication during the summer. If he is off of it, he is so hyper that he is miserable. We are actually in the process of getting him checked for Asperger syndrome. We just make sure that we have plenty of activities around for him so that he can "keep his mind busy". We also make sure that he keeps to his routines. |
We maintain all meds - We continue trips to the psych every other week - I schedule camps, tennis lessons, pool visits, and trips to a hands on museum... he does better without the stress of school... summers are much easier! |
He's in 3 weeks of sports camps this summer. He is 12 & the H part of his ADHD is much better w/little medicine. His attitude toward camp has changed this year- used to be he hated "all the rules," now he's more interested in games and being active. I did assist with this change by having him stay home for 1st week. So he sees it both ways at his current age and stage in life. I"m so glad he likes group activities now!! He's an excellent athlete and is only now realizing it. |
The summer can be very busy, so I try to have down time for my son so that he can unwind and deflate from all the stimuli. This may be an afternoon, a couple of hours or an entire day. He and I come out refreshed and ready for the next busy moment. |
My 10 year old son has more of an issue with the 'HD' symptoms during the summer. He has a need to get the wiggles out so we keep him physically active. He plays tennis, golf and baseball...all by choice. He only takes his meds when he needs to concentrate for an extended period of time. It can be tiring for mom and dad but he eats well and sleeps well all summer long and can recharge his batteries.
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I get him involved in summer sports...camps...workshops...and alot of outdoor time...where he can run off his energy...keep them busy...and just watch his diet. |
We stay on our medication, keep up a regular routine and I maintain my regular 3 month consultation visit with the pediatrician to make sure everyone's on the same page. |
Share Your Moment See All Comments
Mom-bassadors (TM)
Are you a Mom-bassador™?
A Mom-bassador™ is someone who is passionately committed to ADHD care giving, and believes in doing everything she can for her child with ADHD. ADHD Moms™ encourages our thousands of ADHD caregiver fans to share their personal words of wisdom and experiences in how they have helped care for, celebrate and support their children to overcome the daily challenges of ADHD year-round.
Selection Process
Periodically throughout the year, the ADHD Moms™ community leaders and community sponsor McNeil Pediatrics™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., will review Mom-bassador™ entries and select a caregiver to highlight as a featured Mom-bassador™. If your submission is chosen, McNeil Pediatrics™ or a member of its affiliated companies will contact you for development of a personal Mom-bassador™ column describing how you made a difference in your child's life. Additionally, you will also be invited to contribute to other community features throughout the year, which may include articles, podcasts or other tools sharing your experiences as an ADHD caregiver. In an effort to provide a variety of perspectives, Mom-bassadors™ will be chosen by the following criteria: (a) the uniqueness and creativity of the caregiver's efforts to support their child or advocate for other ADHD children, (b) the type of challenges their child faces with ADHD and (c) the nature of the caregiver's story as it applies to seasonal events or milestones throughout the year.
Participation Guidelines and Policies
All Mom-bassador™ submissions will be reviewed and a select number will be chosen by the ADHD Moms™ community leaders and McNeil Pediatrics™. As a Mom-bassador™, your personal column and any other features you help develop in partnership with the ADHD Moms™ community leaders and McNeil Pediatrics™ may be archived on the site permanently. Comments that do not directly relate to the topic will not be accepted. Please note that we will not post comments about any specific products or treatments, whether they are sold by McNeil Pediatrics™, affiliated companies or competitors. Product-specific questions should be directed to the companies that sell them.
By submitting your story to the Mom-bassadors™ application, you are agreeing that your story may be published and a member of McNeil Pediatrics™ and/or its affiliated companies may contact you through your Facebook profile message inbox to request more information about your role in serving as a caregiver for a child with ADHD.
Please see Terms of Use for Submitting Entries and Privacy Notice and Consent for more information.
As a fan of ADHD Moms™, perhaps you've read how our four ADHD Moms™ community leaders serve as Mom-bassadors™ for their children, and now you too can share your insight into the realities of an ADHD caregiver. If you are interested in being considered to become an ADHD Moms™ Mom-bassador™, let us know how your role as an ADHD caregiver for your child or children has made a difference.
Share Your Story
Monthly Poll Results
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News from Your ADHD Moms Leaders
Thank you from Dr. Quinn:
As I look over the wall of comments made by moms just like you, I am struck by your love and acceptance of your children and how you take such great pleasure in small everyday accomplishments. While they may not be winning gold medals – yet! – your child may now be reading a book by himself for the first time, getting a star every day at school for a week, adapting to a sudden family relocation or playing the clarinet in the school band… and you are loving every minute of it. As one mom said, “Everyday is an achievement.” As difficult as it may be at times, your belief in and support of your child will be the engine that propels him or her into the future: a future filled with achievement and many more days of “I did it!” On behalf of the ADHD Moms community, thank you all for sharing your special ADHD Moms Moments.
*Dr. Quinn is a paid consultant and speaker for McNeil Pediatrics™. She provides content for the ADHD Moms™ community, shares insights into the issues of greatest concern to parents of children and adolescents with ADHD and discusses her personal story of raising children with ADHD.