Category: Well-Being

Helping children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) successfully study at home can be incredibly challenging. This is because children with ADHD have trouble focusing for long periods, aren’t keen on details, and don’t want to engage in activities that take a lot of mental effort.

Studying requires all three of these things, and children diagnosed with ADHD aren’t exempt from studying because of their difficulties. So, we must find ways to make study sessions at home more enjoyable and productive for their unique needs.

Here are eight of those ways below:

Create a Designated Study Space

For a child with ADHD to successfully study at home, a designated study space is a must. A designated study room or corner for your children can help them be more productive. It can also help their brain know it’s time to focus on their studies every time they enter this space.

Decorate their designated study space with calming colors. Adopt a minimalist style. Be sure there’s room for exercise and play. Finally, kid-proof the space and make it as safe as possible.

When you use this study space with your children, be mindful of how you use your time in it.

Manage Time Attentively

Managing time attentively is a secret weapon in helping children with ADHD study effectively. Break up the time your child spends studying in a way that supports their unique needs.

For example, incorporate regular breaks in every session to ensure your children don’t get overwhelmed with the mental effort it takes to study. You could also introduce time management techniques to them, like the Pomodoro method, to limit distractions and procrastination.

Also, incorporating play into studying can help children with ADHD successfully study at home.

Incorporate Play into Studying

One of the best things you can do in a study session with a child with ADHD is incorporate elements of play into it. Children with ADHD need ways to release energy, especially during study time.

Making time for physical exercise, outdoor play, and creative activities can improve your children’s focus and help them control their emotions and impulses.

Take breaks to play during every study session. Also, incorporate fun, hands-on activities that help your kids learn the topic their studying.

Ask Teachers for Advice

Tapping your children’s teachers for advice on how to help them study and learn better is a brilliant move. Your children spend a lot of time with their teachers throughout the week. So, they likely know a lot about how your children learn best with ADHD.

Set up meetings with your children’s teachers to gain insight into how to use what’s working at school and home. Ask them specific questions about how to help your child retain information better and what kind of environment might be best for them to study in at home.

Enlist the Help of a Tutor

Not only is asking teachers for advice wise but so is enlisting the help of a tutor who primarily works with children with ADHD.

You can reach out to your child’s school and ask for information on tutors in the area. You can also search for tutors specializing in working with students with ADHD on the internet. Interview potential matches and introduce them to your child during these meetings to see how they connect.

You may have to cycle through a few tutors before finding the right one, but it’s worth the work.

Explore Using Digital Tools

Digital tools can also positively influence your children’s study sessions because they can help keep them focused and engaged.

For example, you can gamify studying to stimulate their brains and keep the process exciting. You can use projectors or your television to amplify a lesson. You can also use different apps to make studying more manageable.

Whatever digital tools you use to help your children with ADHD study, ensure they’re kid-friendly and easy to use.

Create a Circle of Support

Creating a circle of support comprised of other parents with children with ADHD can help you gather ideas for how to make studying better for your children at home. You’ll also have people who genuinely understand what you’re going through to lean on when times get tough.

It might also be a good idea to add a behavior specialist or counselor to your circle of support. A study on ADHD revealed that “about 6 out of 10 children had received some type of behavioral treatment or skills training.”

Behavioral therapists can help you find studying methods that work for your children’s particular needs. They can also help your children manage the frustrations and emotional triggers people living with ADHD often face.

Be Inherently Positive

Your circle of support can also help you become inherently positive, especially in situations when parents also are dealing with ADHD. Positive thinking and communication are integral to successful studying at home with children with ADHD.

The last thing you want to do is be frustrated or angry with a child navigating ADHD. Being that way can make them feel hopeless and inadequate. Instead, learn to lift them up at all times. Work on your mindset. And grow your patience as well.

Conclusion

It isn’t easy helping children with ADHD successfully study at home, but it’s essential if you want them to thrive. So, use the tips above to create a positive, productive study environment at home for your children to give them the best chance at excelling in their education despite being diagnosed with ADHD.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Making a family tree with kids is a great way to teach them about their ancestry while helping them learn more about themselves. It can be a fun project that the whole family can work on together. Here are some tips for getting started.

Benefits of Building a Family Tree with Kids

There are many benefits to creating a family tree, such as understanding your genealogy, developing problem-solving skills, strengthening relationships, and many others.

Build a stronger sense of self-identity

Building a family tree with kids can help them develop a stronger sense of self-identity as they learn more about where they came from and what makes them unique.

Knowing where you come from is important to understanding who you are. For kids, this process of self-discovery often begins with learning about their parents and grandparents. But it can be even more enlightening for them to explore the branches of their family tree, discovering the stories and traditions passed down through the generations.

So whether you’re looking to teach your kids about their heritage or just want to bond with them over some shared history, building a family tree is a great way to do it.

Learn more about history

It is important for kids to learn about history, but making the past feel relevant to their lives can be tough. One way to do this is by teaching them about their family history. By tracing their ancestors, kids can start to see how they fit into the larger story of humanity. They can also learn about the unique challenges and experiences their ancestors faced. Additionally, exploring family trees can help kids understand the similarities and differences between their own lives and those of their ancestors. As a result, learning about family history can make the past feel more real and relevant to kids.

Build strong family relationships

As any family historian knows, building a family tree can be a rewarding experience. Not only does it help you to learn more about your ancestors, but it also encourages you to bond with your relatives. For children, this can be a particularly valuable experience. It is all too easy for children to become estranged from their extended families in today’s world, especially when there are not old family photos of many relatives. By working together to build a family tree, children can develop a sense of connection with their cousins and other extended family members. This can help to foster communication and understanding within the family.

How to Make a Family Tree

Trying to trace your family history can be a daunting task. Putting it all in a family tree is a great way to organize the information you’ve gathered.

Gather information

The first step is to gather as much information as possible about your ancestors. This includes names, hometowns, careers, achievements, and known locations. You should also try to determine the birth and death dates for each ancestor. Once you have collected this information, you can construct your family tree. Start with the oldest generation of your family and work your way down to the present. Be sure to include any spouses or children for each ancestor. If you are having trouble filling in some of the details, don’t hesitate to reach out to other family members for help.

Put your tree on paper

At a time when almost everything is done electronically, there are still some who prefer the old-fashioned way of doing things. For them, there is nothing like the feeling of holding a pencil and paper in their hands as they try to piece together their family history. While it may take a bit longer, creating a family tree on paper can be very rewarding. It allows you to physically see your progress, but it also gives you a chance to add your personal touches. Whether you choose to use colored pencils or family photos, a paper family tree can be a beautiful and meaningful addition to your home. Even if you own a computer, there is something special about having a physical record of your family’s history. Keeping a family tree on paper is the only way to go for those who value tradition.

One option is to use a family tree printable template. There are many different templates available online, and you can choose one that best suits your needs. You can also find templates specifically designed for certain countries or regions. Once you’ve found a template you like, simply print it out and fill in the information by hand. You may also want to use a pencil to erase any mistakes.

Consider family tree software

With modern computer technology, anyone can search the deep web to find people and research their ancestors to build a family tree. There are dozens of family tree software programs available, and most come with a tutorial to help you get started. Keeping your records on your computer has some advantages over traditional paper records. It’s easier to fix mistakes, and you can sort your ancestors differently.

Plus, every genealogy software package lets you print off your information on various forms and charts. But regardless of how you store your data, it’s important to back up your records regularly. If your computer crashes or you accidentally delete a file, you won’t lose all your hard work. And if possible, use an automatic online backup service to ensure that your data is always safe.

Share your tree

Once your child has completed their family tree, encourage them to share it with relatives who might have additional information or stories to add. This is a great way for kids to get excited about their family history and learn more about the people who came before them. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to connect with relatives they might not otherwise have the chance to talk to. So encourage your child to share their family tree with relatives.

Final Thoughts

Building a family tree with your kids is a fun project, but it can also be educational. It helps children learn about their ancestors and teaches them the importance of preserving family history. By following these simple steps, you can help your child create a lasting legacy treasured for generations to come.

Check out FamilySearch for more ways to get your kids involved in family history.

About the author:  Marc McDermott is a genealogist who has been blogging about the topic since 2019. His blog, GenealogyExplained.com, is one of the most popular resources on the internet for people looking to learn more about their family history. Marc’s passion for genealogy is evident in his writing, and he takes great joy in helping others learn more about their ancestors.

Chess is an ancient game and for centuries it reflected perfect wisdom, the game played by the intellectual cream de la cream. However, this game was not only available to the aristocratic society strata, but to the commoners as well which eventually resulted in pricey tournaments.

For chess players, chess is more than a board game, it is a life-long passion and obsessive desire for improvement. No matter how good you are at playing chess, there is always room for improvement, and with proper habits and attitude, you can always have fun and simply be a better player.

To get better in chess, you should dedicate your undivided attention and focus on improving the segments you find to be your weakest points, and here is how.

Chess Is about Rules

There is no point in playing the game if you do not know the rules. Chess does not have complicated rules and certainly is not something impossible to be learned. On the other hand, if you are a professional chess player, this does not mean that you should not check the rules about the figures and some basic movements.

There are also openings, strategies, and game reviews you should pay attention to that will help you develop the technique and your own remarkable style.

Play a Lot of Games

Practice makes it perfect and you will get much better if you make chess games a part of your everyday routine. So, take your every opportunity to play the games and try out all of the new moves and strategies you have recently learned. You should also try out playing by using a chess clock and read reviews about clocks for chess to see what is the one that suits your needs best. Another smart thing you can do is to play chess online.

There is a whole bunch of websites offering you the opportunity to play against people from all over the world and even see what their styles are and if there are any variations in-game depending on the culture. To this end, Russians and Indians have exquisite styles which can help you improve your game considerably.

Review Your Games

Whenever we play the usual chess games, we tend to forget what are the moves and which openings and endgames we used to win the game. However, by writing the moves down and reviewing your strategies once the game is over, you will be able to spot the wrong moves which will give you a deeper insight into how to eliminate these in the future.

Also, if you want to improve, then you should learn from playing and reviewing, and if writing the moves down while playing your games online is tiring, then you can just use the specialized analysis software that can help you see the good and bad points about your game.

Try Studying Endgames

Some chess games are very difficult to be ended and hence there are some endgame moves you can study in case you find yourself in this situation. This usually happens when almost all of your pieces are traded away and you are left with a king and a couple of pawns. Your last chance is to promote one of the pawns for queen and hence bring your chances back. This is known as the endgame, and learning how to stage and navigate your endgame will help you not only come back to the game but will help you win many games as well.

Plan Out Your Moves

Most chess games are being lost just because of the bad moves you tend to make and in order to avoid them, then you should double-check every move. Chess games tend to be lost because of the blunders and before you make your move, look closely at the table and be aware of all the happenings.

Memorizing Openings Is not as Useful

Most chess players waste tons of their energy and time while trying to memorize the sequences of chess moves better known as openings. The point is that most players do not know many openings, and even if they know, then the chances to play them out are very small. The useful thing you can learn from the top is the opening principles and strategies; on the other hand, wasting your time memorizing a whole bunch of book moves will not give you good results.

Chess is a classic tabletop game and playing it comes with many benefits which can be applied to life as well. Good strategy, good reviews, avoiding bad moves, and double-checking the board tend to win many games.

In today’s society, it’s pretty widely accepted (and expected) to see kids and teenagers with their eyes glued to a screen. As kids get older, the need for phones, tablets, and other digital devices increases. However, that often leads to debates on whether that increased screen time is a good thing or not.

The average 8- to 12-year-old spends 4 to 6 hours a day watching screens, while teenagers spend up to 9 hours.

Some screen time might be necessary for school and other extracurricular activities. However, if you’re a parent, you know that the majority of that time is spent interacting with friends, scrolling through social media, and watching videos.

So, is increased screen time really all that bad? Are there any potential benefits to consider? Let’s cover some of the pros and cons so you can decide the best screen time solutions for your family.

Pro: Boosted Communication Skills

One of the biggest benefits of screen time is that it can improve your child’s communication skills. Over 10% of children have some type of communication disorder. Others might just be shy or have a hard time putting themselves out there in social situations.

Kids and teens often feel “safer” behind screens. Whether they’re texting, using social media, or even gaming, it provides a comfortable environment for them to open up and be themselves. While it’s still important to set boundaries and ensure they’re getting real-world interaction, communicating on digital devices can teach them important skills they can use in face-to-face settings.

Con: Vision Concerns

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that spending hours a day looking at a screen can be harmful to your eyes. If you’ve ever spent a prolonged period of time staring at a computer screen, you’ve likely experienced computer vision syndrome. The same syndrome can occur when you’re spending too much time looking at a phone or tablet.

This type of vision syndrome can cause:

• Eyestrain
• Fatigue
• Dry eyes
• Headaches

There are things you can do to safeguard visual development in your child.   One is to  offer to your kids and teens to help prevent the strain often caused by screens, including blue light glasses.

Whether your kids already wear prescription glasses or not, blue light glasses use lenses meant to filter the “damaging” light that emanates from digital devices. It reduces eye strain and can help to prevent headaches. If your kids are complaining about headaches or tiredness, the best thing you can do is reduce their screen time and encourage other activities.

Even if your kids feel tired or like they can’t keep their eyes open, too much screen time can also make it difficult for your child to sleep at night. This is largely due to that same damaging blue light, but it also has to do with stimulation.

Most kids using digital devices are either interacting with friends or looking at pictures or videos. That sends signals to the brain that it’s time to “stay awake.”  A good rule of thumb is to cut off screens at least an hour before your child goes to bed.

Pro: Good Content Promotes Positivity

One of the biggest issues parents can face with screen time is the type of content their kids are viewing. If your child is watching videos or playing games on their phone all day, it can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, which can cause health issues and lead to obesity.

However, if you monitor the content they’re viewing and encourage positive platforms, you can actually promote learning, boost their creativity, and improve their problem-solving skills. Watching TV can also be an alternataive to provide balance for your kids who are always watching small screens in close proximity to their eyes.

Good quality content should always promote positivity and healthy messages, including things like taking care of physical health, getting along with family members, and sharing. Good content should also encourage kids to spend time away from their screens. Look for shows or games that teach kids how to do an activity or craft. They’ll learn through the content, then step away from the device to take action.

Some content can even encourage physical activity. There are plenty of videos and apps designed to help kids get moving.

This point could also be a “con,” if your child is looking at the wrong kind of content.

As a parent, the best thing you can do is to monitor what they’re viewing on a regular basis. Set security limits on all digital devices in the house, and encourage your kids to use those devices in “common areas” like the living room or kitchen, rather than in their rooms. Additionally, make sure they know how to stay safe online and explain the risks.

As you can see, increased screen time isn’t all bad. When you have healthy boundaries in place and your kids are involved in other activities, spending some time on digital devices can actually be beneficial. Consider these pros and cons as you set limits on your kids’ screen time, and consider whether it’s helping or hurting them.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.