We know how challenging it can be for children with ADHD to get started with telling or writing stories. They often struggle to stick with the same idea throughout their story and maintain its cohesion. Here, we’ll explore some effective strategies to support these children in improving their verbal and written communication skills.

Understanding the Challenges

Children with ADHD often face specific challenges when it comes to communication:

• Initiating: They may find it difficult to start telling or writing a story.

• Sticking to the Idea: They might struggle to keep their story on track and avoid jumping between unrelated ideas.

• Cohesion: Ensuring their story makes sense and flows logically can be a significant hurdle.

Strategies to Support Verbal Communication

1. Use Visual Aids: Visual aids like pictures or storyboards can help children organize their thoughts before they start speaking. This can make it easier for them to tell a cohesive story.

2. Break Down Tasks: Breaking down storytelling into smaller, manageable steps can help children with ADHD. For instance, start with brainstorming ideas, then move to creating a sequence, and finally narrating the story.

3. Encourage Practice: Regular practice through fun activities, like role-playing or using puppets, can help children become more comfortable and skilled at verbal storytelling.

4. Provide Positive Feedback: Reinforce their efforts with positive feedback. Highlight what they did well and gently guide them on areas for improvement.

Strategies to Support Written Communication

1. Graphic Organizers: Tools like mind maps and graphic organizers can help children plan their stories. This visual representation helps them see the flow of their story and stay on track.

2. Sentence Starters: Providing sentence starters can help children get their writing going. Prompts like “Once upon a time…” or “The most exciting part was…” can spark their creativity.

3. Regular Breaks: Writing can be overwhelming for children with ADHD. Encourage short, regular breaks to help them stay focused and avoid frustration.

4. Use Technology: Writing tools and apps designed for children with ADHD can make the writing process more engaging and less daunting. Here are a few examples:

• Grammarly: This app helps with grammar and spelling, making it easier for children to focus on their ideas without getting bogged down by technical details.

• Co:Writer: This tool offers word prediction, speech recognition, and topic dictionaries to help children get their thoughts down on paper.

• Storybird: An app that allows children to create visual stories using art and prompts, which can be especially helpful for those who struggle with writing.

• Kidspiration Maps: A graphic organizer app that helps children visualize and organize their thoughts before they start writing.

Encouraging Cohesion in Stories

1. Sequencing Activities: Activities that involve sequencing, such as arranging pictures in order, can help children understand the importance of keeping a logical flow in their stories.

2. Practice Linking Words: Teach children how to use linking words like “then,” “because,” and “finally” to connect ideas and events in their stories.

3. Story Mapping: Use story maps to help children outline their stories before they start writing. This can provide a clear framework and make it easier to maintain cohesion.

Resources for Further Support

Here are some valuable resources to explore for additional strategies and tips, they’re American, but the ideas are good:

• ADDitude Magazine: A comprehensive source of information and support for parents and teachers of children with ADHD.

• Understood: Offers resources and tools to support children with learning and attention issues, including ADHD.

Think Play Say is committed to providing high-quality support to help children with ADHD improve their communication skills. If you’re looking for more personalised strategies and interventions, we’re here to help.

By implementing these strategies, you can help your child with ADHD improve their verbal and written communication skills, making storytelling a more enjoyable and productive experience.