At Home Behavior of Kids With Special Needs

The Effect of a Day off School on the ADHD Child

Nov 14, 2009

Why do children with special needs seem to act out when they have a day off school? The lack of regular routine is often difficult to manage for the ADHD child.

One characteristic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is being impulsive. At school, that might mean pushing someone into a locker as he walks down the hall. It does not mean that the child with ADHD is trying to pick a fight. Rather, the action was an impulse. There was no thought to the reaction of the other child or of the consequences it could bring.

Consider ADHD Impulsiveness

Impulsive behavior impacts every area of life for the child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. What if it is a day off school? The impulsive behavior could be almost any opportunity at hand. It might mean thinking that it is okay to cook something, even though age and the house rules do not agree.The regular routine that the child has serves as an external regulating device. When that device is gone (as when there is a day off school), the child does not have that external help.

Define Behavioral Expectations for the Child With Special Needs

Children need lots of explanation and feedback about behavioral expectations. It is even more so for the child with a special need. The need is even further heightened if part of the child’s disability includes impulsiveness. Children with ADHD, autism, and Down syndrome have tendencies toward impulsiveness.

It might seem to parents that the day off school is a time for everyone to relax. In a sense, that is true. However, even relaxation time for the child with ADHD requires some guidelines. It is easier for everyone if those guidelines are explained beforehand.

Establish ways to communicate if a behavior is not appropriate. Also have a way to communicate which behaviors are great. A simple hand motion could be used for the communication. Or a small paper with a simple smile face or sad face could be carried to communicate the same.

External Behavioral Structures Cannot be Recreated in a Day

Remember that even with careful and thorough explanation of expectations, a single day (or short span of time) in a different routine is not enough to establish external behavioral structures. The “off” time is too new. The opportunities for spontaneous actions are too great.

A day off can be enjoyable despite the ADHD child impulsiveness. Make sure to explain the expectations. Allow a little extra flexibility in the expectations. Consequences should be consistent, but they should also allow for some unexpected behaviors. The most important thing is to enjoy the time as a family.

The copyright of the article At Home Behavior of Kids With Special Needs in ADHD Children is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish At Home Behavior of Kids With Special Needs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.