Summer relief for ADHD kids, parents, and teachers

Summer is the best for kids and families with ADHD. But what happens in September when school starts? Summer is a great time to consider what you can do differently in September.

Both parents and schools can take steps to create more success and less frustration. Kosher ADHD offers excellent resources for parents and educators to rethink and regroup.

Is this really a topic that we need to think about when Israel is at war? Absolutely. We will emerge from the war and need to think about how we can build a resilient society that supports all of our kids. The team at Kosher ADHD, clinical psychologists Dr. Simcha Chesner from Israel and Dr. Sara Markowitz from New Jersey, represent the best of what Israel-Diaspora collaboration can deliver.

For Kids with ADHD in Jewish Schools — September is Double Trouble

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All children with ADHD face challenges. Jewish day schools, with an intense dual curriculum, magnify the challenges. The result is often combustible — for kids, parents of ADHD kids, and teachers who have ADHD kids in class (and that means virtually all teachers).

Why ADHD in the Jewish School Context Can Be So Challenging

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ADHD symptoms—such as difficulty sitting still, disorganization, and impulsivity—can make the traditional classroom setting a battleground for many children. These difficulties are often exacerbated in Jewish schools, where educational expectations are high and the days are long. The result? A cycle of academic struggles, frustration, and diminished self-esteem.

For a child with ADHD frustrated in elementary school, family life can be a war zone. Adolescents or teens with ADHD who struggle to manage increased academic demands can be disruptive, lose self-esteem, engage in risky behaviors, or even school refusal.

It’s Not Just School — Jewish Religious Life is Engineered for Frustration

Religious and cultural expectations add another layer of difficulty. For example, the structured environment of the synagogue (shul) and long Shabbat meals can be particularly challenging for children who struggle to remain seated and quiet for extended periods.

Parents Can Take Back Control

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Supporting children with ADHD begins with empowering parents through education and skill-building. Here are some strategies parents can use:

• Educational Advocacy: Work with schools to ensure your child’s needs are met through individualized education plans (IEPs) or accommodations that address their challenges while maintaining educational standards.
• Skill Development: Teach children skills to improve focus, organization, and emotional regulation.
• Social Skills Coaching: Help children and teens develop the social skills necessary to form and maintain friendships.
• Family Support: Strengthen the family dynamic to mitigate emotional turmoil at home.
• Emotional Resilience: Build emotional resilience by fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding, focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, and being responsive to your child’s emotional needs.

Restoring Balance and Building Futures

The journey is challenging. With support and strategies, parents can create a nurturing environment that allows their child to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Empowerment and skill-building prepare children for a successful, balanced future. Families can restore balance to their homes and help their children build fulfilling lives, both in and out of school. Take advantage of the summer and get your family back on track.

This article is part of a series of Summer 2024 articles written while we are at war. Instead of being distracted by the war, this summer series hopes to use the extra tension and energy to focus on building a better future for all of us — in Israel and abroad.

Coming posts will focus on growth after trauma and loss (that’s us folks!), opening communications across denominational and geographic divides (especially between Israel  North American Jews), meeting Israelis in the “Rivon Ha’rivie” working hard to change the conversation and politics in Israel (you can read more here in Hebrew), and what happens when you realize that there is no adult in charge — and it’s all up to you.