When you have a child with ADHD, change can be challenging. Routine tends to help children with ADHD cope with their environment, and when you register them with a child care centre, it may be the first time they have been apart from you for any length of time. You may be concerned about how your child will cope and whether staff at the centre will understand how to support your child both during their transition and in their everyday experiences at your chosen child care centre. Here are some tips to ensure your child gets the support they need to thrive:

Prepare Your Child In Advance

Give your child as much time as possible to get used to the idea of attending a child care centre. Centres usually offer day visits where you can accompany your child and spend some time together looking around and playing before they officially start. This can help your child feel less anxious about the change to their routine that lies ahead. You can also role-play certain scenarios with your child at home, such as how to ask for what they want, how to deal with conflict with another child and what to do when they begin to feel overwhelmed.

Communicate Openly With Centre Staff

Children with ADHD are unique individuals, so be clear about your child's needs with centre staff from the beginning. Meet with them a couple of times before your child starts attending and ensure they understand what ADHD behaviours your child is likely to show, why these behaviours may manifest and what they can do to best support your child when they are struggling to cope. Perhaps your child fidgets when they are anxious, screams when they are excited or is prone to destructive behaviour when their environment is too loud. Find out how the centre deals with children who require access to quiet spaces and what they would do if your child was unable to calm down. Have a written support plan in place to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Have Regular Reviews

Once your child starts at your chosen child care centre, have regular reviews with staff to discuss what seems to be working well for your child and what doesn't. It may be necessary to tweak your child's start and finish times, or staff may need to oversee your child more closely and intervene when your child shows early signs of overwhelm or loss of focus. When it comes to incorporating early years curriculum into their day, staff may need to provide additional resources for your child that keeps them engaged, or offer the opportunity for movement-based learning.

Most child care centres will have experience caring for a child with ADHD, but being clear about what your child needs to thrive will allow the centre to support your child as best as they are able. So, don't be afraid to speak up and advocate for your child, as a good child care centre will appreciate your willingness to engage with them.  

For more information, contact a local child care centre.