Here are some things to consider:

 

-Has my child always had difficulty with focus, impulsivity or executive functioning tasks?

 

-Does my child seem emotionally delayed compared to his/her friends?

 

-Do I (or does my child’s other parent) have an ADHD diagnosis, or would this diagnosis make sense for other family members?

 

-Does your child have gross motor difficulties (would you call them clumsy or accident prone)?

 

-Is your child or family going through a time of stress, loss or transition?

 

-Is there a significant spike in the number of students suggested diagnosis in your child’s class or school?

 

-Do you have a gut feeling one way or another? As a parent you are the expert on your child and your parent gut is very important and we want to make sure that is given space. 

 

Please reach out if you would like to discuss a possible ADHD diagnosis for your child.

Therefore, it is important to get ahead of these emotional storms and to teach your child the coping skills that will support him even when you are not there to help him regulate. 

 

Build in time to help your child release their built-up emotions. In play therapy we do an activity called Cleaning out your emotional backpack where after school while having a snack the child talks through the good things and the hard things that happened that day (drawing or journaling also works great). We also recommend giving your child some physical release before switching to getting homework done or after school activities. 

 

We also use the window of tolerance to help children identify their level of emotional regulation and what they might need to move from a place of dysregulation (yellow, orange, red) back to a place of regulation and calm (green).

 

This can be used at school and the child may need to use a fidget or the opportunity to leave the classroom and walk in the hall for a few minutes to return to calm after something difficult has happened. These can be written into the child’s IEP (Individual Education Plan). The therapist can help the parent prepare for the ARD and what to ask for from the school. The therapist will also work with the parents to create a plan to support the child and the family to make things function well.