For parents of elementary school-age children with ADHD
We pride ourselves on our children’s successes. This success requires collaboration between parents and educators, instilling within our kids confidence and providing them with the tools to thrive. Yet, some kids don’t seem to “fit the system”. They struggle in school, resist davening or going to shul, or disrupt family meals. A child who struggles can sour the atmosphere in the home for all members of the family.
When a child with ADHD is fighting the system, the whole family is affected.
Fortunately, the Kosher ADHD workshop for parents can help you support your child and change the family dynamics. The sooner you start getting help, the better off your family will be.
Key points
- A child who has ADHD is challenged academically,socially, and emotionally.
- ADHD interferes with emotional regulation, leading to impulsivity and outbursts.
- For kids with ADHD, the Jewish experience can be a major source of friction.
- You can learn skills to help you connect with your child, and support your child for success at school and with friends. You can restore balance to your home.
Quick navigation
ADHD + the Jewish school system = combustible combination
Parents who value a strong Jewish education want to send their kids to school with an intense program of Jewish and secular studies. But kids with ADHD struggle and the demands of school can magnify the difficulty.
If your child has ADHD, academics will be challenging as they:
- Find it difficult or even impossible to sit still and pay attention during class
- Are often disorganized, forgetful, and easily distracted.
- Are unable to complete homework or assignments.
- Struggle with restlessness and hyperactivity, being disruptive in class.
- Are in frequent conflict with their teachers who are frustrated at their inability to do their work, and have little patience for their disruptive behavior in class.
Falling behind academically intensifies a cycle of frustration, acting out, and diminished self-esteem
A child who has ADHD often struggles socially:
- To form and develop friendships
- Impulse-control issues, difficulty with turn-taking, interrupting, and respecting others’ boundaries.
- Feel especially sensitive to criticism or rejection.
- Frequently conflict with siblings, parents, and friends.
Many kids with ADHD struggle to regulate their emotions. Difficulty managing anger or frustration can result in uncontrollable outbursts directed at family, friends, classmates, or teachers. The outbursts erode a self-image already battered by academic struggles, exacerbating problematic behaviors.
Jewish kids with ADHD find religious expectations especially challenging
Perhaps the most difficult of all for parents is how kids with ADHD struggle with many of the religious requirements that are expected of them (and the family requirements around those requirements). They don’t want to go to shul, which they find boring and unstimulating, especially since they don’t have access to the electronic devices that they may be accustomed to during the week. Shabbos meals that require them to sit at the table for long periods of time can simply be a warzone!
How can you support your child to work through his challenges while also fostering the skills he needs to succeed in life?
Kosher ADHD can help you help your child, and bring greater calm and balance to your home
Kosher ADHD provides expert guidance sensitive to the unique needs of our community that can help you develop the skills you need to support your child with ADHD.
By applying the principles learned in the Kosher ADHD parenting workshop, you can learn:
- To connect with and deeply understand your child and their authentic experience.
- How to respond effectively to their behaviors, with proven behavior management strategies such as empowered rule-giving techniques.
- How to model appropriate behaviors for your kids and teach them how to deal with their frustration in healthy and appropriate ways
- Learn to be an attentive, developmentally attuned parent. (ADAPT Program: Attentive, Developmentally Attuned Parenting program).
- Help your child embrace and find joy in Judaism!
- To actually like your child (not just love them).
- To be an advocate for your child and truly support them from a place of deep connection because your child really needs YOU as their biggest cheerleader most of all.
Learn to actually like your child — not just love them!
What you can expect to gain from the Kosher ADHD program
The program can help you put your child on a healthier life trajectory while restoring your home to the nurturing sanctuary that it should be.
In the workshop, you learn to help your kids do better in the school system and find their own way. You are empowered to help your child do better at school academically, socially, interpersonally, and behaviorally. Your family life can become better and calmer. Life becomes better for you, your child who is struggling, and your kid’s siblings. With subsequent community support available for parents who are alumni of the workshop, you never need to feel alone in your struggle again!
To sign up or learn more about our virtual parent workshops reach out today!