If your child has ADD, he may experience distractions, behavioral problems and trouble keeping up with his schoolwork. Many families find that homeschooling children labeled as having ADD, ADHD or other learning disabilities helps them reach their full potential. Homeschooling allows children with ADD to experience a relatively distraction-free, flexible learning environment. Your child will not have other children mocking his efforts to keep up. Educating yourself on the steps necessary to homeschool your child will help your child with ADD to succeed.
Step 1
Learn the laws of your state regarding homeschooling. Before you remove your child from school, visit the Home School Legal Defense Association website for an explanation of the laws that pertain to you. Read the law yourself, and do not go by what your child's teacher, principal or superintendent says; he may not know the laws fully, and you need to protect yourself. Follow the laws carefully so you aren't charged with truancy or noncompliance.
Step 2
Join a homeschool support group to meet other homeschoolers and give your child a social outlet. Chances are good that you will meet other homeschoolers dealing with the challenges of ADD or other learning disabilities. Ask these parents for advice on curriculum and programs that have worked for their children.
Step 3
Encourage your child to "deschool," or decompress from the stresses of school. She will need to learn how to handle not having a set-in-stone schedule, explains Cafi Cohen, writer for Home Education Magazine. Encourage her to burn off physical activity, volunteer and relax. Allow her to follow some of her own interests and reignite her thirst for learning.
Step 4
Choose a type of homeschooling that will work with your child's learning style. LD Online stresses the importance of flexibility in homeschooling a child with ADD. Work around the times when your child is able to concentrate more easily. For some families, this may be in the later afternoon or evening. Try unit studies or unschooling if you think these less-structured methods may work well for your child.
Step 5
Maintain contact with the public school, suggests LD Online. Depending on your state, your child may still be eligible to participate in after-school activities or extra help with reading specialists. If you choose not to use any public school services, or if they are unavailable to homeschoolers in your state, consider hiring a professional to teach your child subjects you are not comfortable with in a one-on-one or small-group setting.
Step 6
Re-evaluate your homeschooling periodically. One benefit of homeschooling is that if something does not work anymore, you can change it without having to wait until the end of the academic year.
Tips and Warnings
- If your child is taking medication to help control her ADD, you may be tempted to take her off it when she begins succeeding at homeschooling. Talk to her doctor before making decisions regarding medications.
