Children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience difficulty focusing, especially in the classroom. It doesn’t help that many educational settings are not necessarily conducive to learning differences, even ones as frequently diagnosed as ADHD. That’s why it’s important to make sure your child is equipped with the best skills to help them succeed in any environment.

While every child has a different approach to learning, those diagnosed with language-based learning differences may need additional support in and outside of the classroom. Currently, 14% of all public schools in the U.S. offer specialized education services, which only covers a fraction of the children who use or need these services to learn important skills—like executive functioning.

History is full of innovators that have found success with learning differences like dyslexia or auditory processing disorder (APD). While many of them lived at times when these conditions were misunderstood, what has been recorded in history books can help us to draw reasonable conclusions.

It’s no secret that each child is unique—ask any parent with multiple children and they’ll be quick to tell you just how different each child is. From the way they speak to the things they love, each child has particular interests, needs, and preferences of their own.

After a tumultuous 2020 and the implementation of online learning for many students, which impacted nearly every aspect of our children’s lives, there are a lot of questions and concerns still lingering. Is my child ready to go back to school full time? What happens if another wave hits? What can I do to make sure their transition back goes as smoothly as possible?

Knowing how to self-regulate can be difficult at any age. Picture yourself in rush hour traffic, for example, or in the midst of an argument. We’ve all been faced with challenges that have pushed our boundaries and influenced our behavior. It takes years of growth, empathy, and patience to learn how to manage emotions and responses in high-stress situations. But for children with learning differences, building self-regulating skills isn’t always an intuitive part of getting older.

When your child is in school, you have peace of mind that they’re learning and growing in a structured environment that gets them outside and gives them an opportunity to socialize. Summer vacation, on the other hand, is a well-deserved break from that routine. But as you suddenly go from a set schedule to all that free time, it can be a bit overwhelming for parents and children alike.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the way today’s children express themselves, socialize, and learn. Quarantining, social distancing, and isolation have kept us safe but we’re still not sure what long-term effects these will have on this generation’s youth. Students had to do school virtually from home, cutting off all face-to-face interactions. Children weren't able to see their friends or family for months while stuck inside. Screens were their only form of communication with the outside world.

For parents of children with learning differences, the disruption in routine from school to summer break can feel sudden and overwhelming. And think of how the kids feel! Whether it was a virtual or in-person classroom, they’re suddenly going from set schedules alongside peers to all that free time with limited structure.

As adults, whose workload usually holds steady year round, we don’t have as high expectations for the summer as our children might. While our routines remain consistent, summer break is a chance for the kids to sleep in, play more, and relax.