Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, children throughout the country have experienced feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Kids with ADHD, many of whom often struggle socially under normal circumstances, have had even more difficulty maintaining friendships or meaningful connections with classmates and peers throughout the pandemic. For these children, loneliness has contributed to anxiety, depression, and/or low motivation that has negatively affected family relationships, academic performance, and overall wellbeing.
As more and more schools return to in-person learning and extracurricular activities begin to resume, opportunities for spending time with other kids are increasing. While this slow return to ‘normal’ will be essential for combatting loneliness, many kids with ADHD will need extra support to truly reconnect with classmates and friends.
The pandemic has affected everyone in unique ways, but for kids with ADHD whose social skills lag behind those of their peers, the pandemic may have further widened the skills gap, which will make it even more challenging for them to keep up as social activities return to normal. This may mean that they will have a more difficult time reading social cues, initiating conversations with other kids, or joining ongoing activities or conversations in a way that isn’t seen as either too passive or too intrusive. Kids who struggle with depression or anxiety in addition to ADHD may find that they don’t feel motivated to seek out other kids or enjoy the time they spend in social situations.
As a parent, it can be incredibly hard to see your child struggling in their friendships. Fortunately, when you are aware of your child’s struggles, you can plan ahead and provide the support, structure, and opportunities that will help them succeed.
As the pandemic slowly winds down and in-person activities begin to resume, kids with ADHD will need extra support from parents and teachers to fully reengage in social activities and reconnect with friends and classmates. Fortunately, with the right support and structure in place, kids with ADHD can succeed socially and form the strong friendship bonds that they deserve.
Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers.
Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.
This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.