Back-to-School Support for Children with ADHD

Tips from Alia Al-Zand of Morning Sun Therapy

Start the Year off Right!

For many children across Marin, the end of summer is greeted with sadness that school is around the corner.  For others, the return to structure is a blessing.  Children with ADHD and their families often start school with mixed feelings; the structure is helpful, but the day-to-day tasks can often be overwhelming.  Alia Al-Zand of Morning Sun Therapy provides tools to help children and families manage the demands of daily stressors for both school and home, particularly when a new routine has begun. Here are five suggestions she has that can support you in building good habits from the beginning of the year.

1. Have multiple checklists available:  one attached to the backpack, one on the fridge and one in the bathroom.  These external reminders help everyone get done what they need to.

2. Talk to teachers: providing a simple one-pager describing strengths and challenges of your child can be a life-saver.

3. Make time for family connection. As much as possible, have dinner together and discuss challenges and joys that happened during the day.

4. Prioritize good sleep hygiene. Ensure children follow good sleep hygiene as lack of sleep can make symptoms worse.  Things like having black out curtains, no screens, wind down times are all helpful.

5. Stay connected and remind them how much you love them. A widely shared estimate suggests children with ADHD hear roughly 20,000 more negative or corrective statements by age 12 than neurotypical peers. Your attunement is so important!

Alia Al-Zand, Morning Sun Therapy

With years of experience in mental health support, Alia Al-Zand is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#144979) who has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQ+, BIPOC individuals, immigrants, and professionals in high-stress careers.

Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and practical, blending multiple therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Solutions-Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This multi-faceted approach ensures that each client receives personalized, effective care tailored to their unique challenges and goals.

Alia’s professional journey includes experience in school and university settings, community-based therapy, and private practice, allowing her to work with clients navigating life transitions, trauma, and emotional distress.