Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD, is a neurodevelopment condition that affects behavior. And while most ADHD treatments typically involve medication, psychotherapy can be a more effective solution.

Here’s where behavioral therapy comes into play. Different symptoms of ADHD react to medication differently.

Behavioral therapy manages ADHD symptoms by encouraging positive characteristics and behaviors and improving self-esteem and self-control. Professionals seeking to enhance their support for ADHD patients may consider ADHD coaching training, which provides specialized techniques for managing behavior-related challenges. When used effectively, behavioral therapy can develop a wide range of skills to help ADHD patients manage these challenges.

The effectiveness of behavioral therapy also varies from one person to another, and many doctors recommend medication to get the best results.

This post will discuss what behavioral therapy is, how effective it is for treating ADHD, and the different behavioral therapy techniques. Read on:

What is Behavioral Therapy? How It Alleviates Symptoms of ADHD

Behavioral therapy is basically an umbrella term used for different forms of therapy that focus on the patient’s behavior. The primary aim of this psychotherapy treatment is to help the patient identify harmful or unhealthy behaviors and change them by adopting more helpful behaviors.

That’s to say, behavioral therapy is based on the idea that a patient can learn behavioral patterns. As such, you can learn new behaviors through therapy, although learning and reinforcing them can take time.

Some common forms of behavioral therapy that have proved to be very effective include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

We will discuss more about these therapy treatment options later on in the article.

How Effective is Behavioral Therapy for Treating ADHD?

Symptoms of ADHD can be quite severe, depending on the stage of the condition. Similarly, certain behaviors associated with ADHD can be very disruptive and quite challenging. And while medication may help control most of its core symptoms, behavioral therapy can be more effective in helping patients learn helpful coping skills and strategies.

On a similar note, it is important to know which behavioral therapy is most suited and will be the most effective for each patient. Different behavioral therapy forms can help:

• Reduce procrastination
• Stay focused for longer
• Avoid hyperactivity when it’s inappropriate
• Organize thoughts and tasks
• Identify and correct impulsive actions

All these are evidence that behavioral therapy is effective and plays a critical role in treating ADHD. The CDC also cites that patient training and behavioral therapy can help alleviate symptoms of ADHD, especially in young children. However, this may require caregivers, therapists, and teachers to establish the rules and define positive behaviors jointly.

Another study found CBT to be a more effective behavioral therapy treatment option for adolescents with ADHD who haven’t responded well to medication. The study found that college students who participated in the study experienced less severe symptoms of ADHD and improved “executive functioning,” which helped them manage time, complete tasks, and control behavior and emotions.

Several studies also show that adults with ADHD respond well to CBT. There’s already mounting evidence that this behavioral therapy treatment may help reduce symptoms of ADHD in adults. CBT can also address anxiety and depression symptoms, which is common in adults.

Does Behavioral Therapy Work for All Ages?

As the above study suggests, some behavioral therapy forms may benefit people with ADHD of certain ages more than others. For example, the report by the CDC shows that basic behavioral therapy and training may be more useful for children under 12 with ADHD.

This form of training can help parents and caregivers to provide their children with the structure and support they need to develop positive and helpful behaviors.

Can Behavioral Therapy Help Kids with ADHD?

Yes! Behavioral therapy has already proved to be very effective in helping kids (and adults) with symptoms of ADHD. However, studies show that it is even more effective for kids than adults.

Most kids with ADHD struggle with anger and self-control, which can lead to other problem behaviors. It is also not uncommon for these kids to lie frequently, especially on matters related to chores and other everyday tasks.

Behavior therapy takes a more businesslike approach to help kids with ADHD change their behaviors and responses to situations. One of its main goals is to eliminate arguing and give them the motivation to change without involving parents.

The point of introducing behavior therapy is to replace your kid’s negative behaviors with positive ones. That’s why its system of rewards and consequences plays a very critical role in molding kids.

Whatever the reward is, it should also be coupled with praise for good behavior. You can also make your child’s teachers aware of this plan, so they can reinforce it at school too. At home parents will be able to better help their child with ADHD successfully study at home.

Equally important is verbal recognition and praise for each time your child completes a task. Praise words like “you did a great job” and “I’m really pleased with you” can go a long way towards helping your child.

Consequently, as you can praise and reward your child for positive behaviors, you can also teach them to expect consequences for negative behaviors. For example, you can deny them points or take away their screentime each time they misbehave, lie, or get involved in fights.

Behavioral Therapy Forms for ADHD

There are different forms of behavioral therapy that you can use to alleviate your symptoms of ADHD. Some are more effective than others, depending on your condition, age, and other factors.

Some forms of behavioral therapy you might consider trying include:

• CBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on the patient’s thoughts and behaviors. CBT can help change your negative thoughts to positive ones by changing how you view challenges. It will also help you find more effective approaches to organization, planning, time management, and impulse control.

Some studies also show that CBT can help patients to manage stress and emotions.

• DBT

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) can help you to tolerate and regulate your emotions by teaching you different techniques to help you understand your emotions better. It also teaches you applicable ways to manage your emotions and change your behavior. DBT is effective at preventing impulsive or self-destructive behavior patterns in ADHD patients.

• Coaching

Coaching is a practical intervention strategy that targets specific areas of difficulty for people with ADHD. These may include planning, goal-setting, time management, problem-, and organization-solving. Coaches help you solve practical skills and teach you how to overcome challenges associated with ADHD.

• Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback involves measuring brain activity and trying to alter it to minimize the symptoms of ADHD. Most ADHD patients typically show less activity in certain areas of the brain associated with behavior, learning, and personality. Neurofeedback attempts to increase activity in these sections of the brain.

Which Form of Behavioral Therapy is Effective?

While each behavioral therapy form is different, they overlap in using classical and operant conditioning techniques.

In classical conditioning, the ADHD patient is associated with two stimuli to determine which effect it brings. For example, associating a specific sound with sleep can help the patient feel sleepy whenever he/she hears that sound.

On the other hand, operant conditioning focuses on reinforcing certain learning activities and consequences. For example, you can teach your ADHD child to expect rewards and praise after performing certain activities.

After identifying a problematic behavior, you can formulate a plan that addresses it and substitute it with positive behavior. This may involve a reward or praise for switching to a more helpful behavior. Or, it could mean facing the consequences for continuing with the problematic behavior.

Demonstrating positive behavior can also move your child a step closer to his/her reward, while negative behavior sets him/her back. That’s why some doctors suggest having a goal chart for your children to let them see their progress and have some sense of accomplishment whenever they complete a task. You’ll basically be guiding your child toward his/her goal.

When to Expect Results

Like most medicines and therapy treatments, behavioral therapy isn’t a quick solution. Instead, it takes time and a lot of discipline before you can start seeing results.

Changing someone’s thoughts and patterns of behavior needs a lot of consistent effort. The pace of progress differs from one person to another, depending on factors specific to each individual and how effective their treatment is.

By working closely with your therapist, you will start seeing improvements from your symptoms of ADHD and have more control over your behaviors. But even after seeing improvements, you should stay consistent with the rewards and consequences system so you don’t backslide.

Combining Behavioral Therapy with Medication

Many doctors often recommend behavioral therapy treatments alongside other treatments, like medication. Stimulant and non-stimulant drugs may also address the neurological component of ADHD.

Behavioral therapy complements medication well and can be very effective, especially when medication alone does not help.

In Sum

Behavioral therapy involves identifying negative behaviors and working on substituting them with positive ones. Several studies already suggest that behavioral therapy is effective in helping manage your symptoms of ADHD.

Your doctor may also suggest that you take medication alongside your behavioral therapy treatments for the most effective results. It is worth considering if you haven’t tried it before.

Read about ADHD stimming and it’s effects on the body.

School is pretty much a job that we give to kids.  Like the jobs we have as adults it is the place you must show up to every day, even when you don’t want to go.  The business of learning is work.  It involves mental focus and self-discipline.  That discipline is an important part of how school shapes kids.

The important knowledge and skills that classes such as math, science, history, languages, and English are critical to helping children become well-rounded, intelligent adults but the self-discipline it takes to show up every day, work with others and finish the assigned work might be the most important skill school can instill in us.

The work that kids must put into school and the social anxiety that can come from learning how to interact with other people every day should make it easy to understand why many kids struggle with school.  School can be an unpleasant experience for kids with learning disabilities, kids who have a conflict with teachers, kids who have social anxiety, kids who are bullied, and kids who struggle with the self-discipline you need to be a good student.  Some people simply don’t like school, and some even go as far as being scared to death of going to school (known as Didaskaleinophobia).

So, if school has the potential to be such an unpleasant experience, why do some kids love school so much?  We all went to school with some classmates who were full of enthusiasm and clearly enjoyed their classes.  What can we do to encourage any child to have a positive experience in school and have a huge smile on their face when they step foot into school?  It is possible to make school a place that even kids who were less than excited about going to school come to love.  We explore five ways to make sure kids love school.

1. Make learning interactive and creative.

Different kids have different learning styles.  Some kids can do well with traditional learning.  Some kids adapt to a classroom situation on their first day of school.  They can listen to a lecture, take notes, read textbooks and study, and earn good grades on quizzes and test.  That simply isn’t the case with many kids.  For them, learning needs to be an active, creative process.  They need to be presented with choices in how they will approach learning and they need to be up from their desks and engaged in learning activities.  Even students who do well with traditional teaching methods benefit from this approach.  An engaged student who is empowered to make choices is far more likely to love school.

2. Adults should be role models.

Kids look to adults to model how to behave.  Attitude is contagious!  Every day children are essentially at the mercy of adults.  They must listen to their parents, teachers, coaches, instructors, principals, guidance councilors and other adults.  It is important for kids to be taught respect for adults, but it is also import for adults who are parents or work with kids to remember how much their own attitude affect the kids they are in contact with every day.  If their teachers and the other adults enjoy being at school there then so will the kids.

3. Adults are not the only ones who need work/life balance.

When you become an adult, it can be easy to envy kids their freedom.  With the pressures of bills, work, and parenting it can seem like kids have it easy by comparison.  Today, kids are under a lot of pressure to make good grades, be involved in multiple extracurricular activities and deal with the social pressures of school, which have only become more intense thanks to social media.  In order for them to love school, they need help balancing their schedule.  It is important for them to figure out how to manage their schoolwork, extracurricular activities and free time without becoming over scheduled and stressed out.  With a healthy work/life balance, they will be able to love school.

4. Help kids identify their interests and strengths.

Part of growing up is figuring who you are, what your interests are and what direction you want your life to go in.  That is a tall order!  Kids need room to experiment with different classes and different extracurricular activities.  Some they may quickly give up on.  Others may radically shape who they become and what they do with their life.  Their parents, teachers and the other adults around them should support this process.

5. Foster an environment that is supportive of all kids.

There is a growing awareness of the effect that school bullying and the toxic morass of the online world has on children and their development.  It is crucial for schools to actively promote a school environment that encourages kids who are struggling socially and experiencing bullying to seek help.  It is also crucial for that help to be available.  Too often children who tried to get help were dismissed and bullying was seen as normal childhood behavior.  For kids to love school it needs to be a place they feel safe, respected and listened to.  It also needs to be a place they can develop healthy friendships that enrich their lives.

Preparing Kids for School

The earlier kids are exposed to these these important strategies the better.  This includes making sure children and are socially and mentally ready as early as kindergarten.  Of course, creating beneficial learning experiences for kids as they move through the grades is a process that continually evolves.  Children are resilient and will respond to positive reinforcement at any age to assist them in being better students that want to be in school and learn.

Children today are not as fascinated by things we older generations once enjoyed so much. Back when we were kids, we loved drawing with color pencils and crayons. Coloring books were common and we would also scribble or color anywhere we could express our imagination. But all is not lost!

Today, free coloring pages for kids make it easy for anyone of any age to find printable drawings of anything imaginable. It’s true children today are not as fascinated by things older generations once enjoyed so much. It’s unfortunate that many kids now don’t find coloring books enjoyable.

There are some good reasons for this—and yes, I am talking about the internet, smartphones, and tablets. These fantastic inventions have robbed today’s kids of some of the simple pleasures in life. They are often more interested in playing video games on a computer or smartphone, instead of drawing or coloring something using markers or crayons.

However, just because kids like their smartphones and tablets doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to draw or color. They simply need to be introduced to how fun it can be. For example, if you likes coloring animals, there are hundreds of animal coloring pages to choose from. It may be on a long car trip or at home when parents want to limit screen time. Instead of just saying “no more time on the computer”, why not provide them a fun activity as an alternative?

Online Coloring Pages

Thanks to the internet, children today have a whole new world to explore that will evoke their passion for coloring and drawing. This is something kids a generation ago were not able to experience. Professional artists are now drawing and coloring cartoons, animals, game characters, animations, and much more using highly-sophisticated computer software.

These artists also are sharing their creations on websites for everyone to enjoy. The tools and formats used by them are only available for adults with full-fledged careers. But, there are ‘kids versions’ for these tools, and children can use them to draw and color objects.

When searching for tech-free fun things to do for kids to reduce screen time, there are plenty of websites for kids to draw online with and easy-to-follow instructions to animate their drawings. Simply Google “online coloring pages” and you’ll find websites that are designed for kids to color digitally on the screen. Still, these interactive coloring pages where kids can create using the site’s tools are not the same as finding an image and printing it to color with real crayons.

Coloring Page Communities

Whether the artwork is online for virtual coloring using software or you access printable drawings, many of these coloring pages are created by the artistic community. It’s a way for them to share their art and provide fun for kids without having to publish a coloring book. The great thing about this is that parents and teachers only need to print the specific drawings that kids want to color. It’s a great way for them to explore their artist skills and decide if they some day want to join the artistic community as they grow older.

Simply introducing all the coloring page ideas of what to color could inspire someone to try coloring. Discover drawings such as Athletes, Birds, Cars, Color by number, Dinosaurs, Disney, Educational, Flags of countries and LEGO. Or try Motorcycles, My Little Pony, Princesses, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Superman, Vegetables and Winnie the Pooh. The sky is the limit for what kids can color.

Coloring as also been known to be very therapeutic for kids and adults alike to help with anxiety or stress. Or just to have fun doing something they haven’t experienced since childhood. There are printable drawings available that have been created just for adults or teens. These coloring pages require a finer attention to detail. What a great reactivity to do together as a family.

Inspiring Artistic Creativity

While old-school coloring books may be a thing of the past for most children of our generation, they are one of the best ways to inspire kids and reignite their inner passion for drawing and coloring.

Introducing kids to free coloring pages can have a profound effect on children to encourage them in highlighting their creative side. It may inspire them create their own drawings to color.

It will allow them the freedom to make mistakes and improve their motor skills, thanks to the ability to reprint images and color them a second time. And it’s super easy pin their creations on a fridge without having to rip each page out of a coloring book.

Author Bio

Paul B. Wright has over five years of experience in the field of drawing. He specializes in drawing coloring pages that are printable for kids. It’s is Paul’s desire that children of all ages will will discover and grow in their true creative talents.

Share this article on free printable coloring pages with your friends and family!

Are you a teacher or the administrator of a school seeking free school supplies? School districts with limited budgets are the norm but that doesn’t stop the effort of educators to provide the best education for their students. As for teachers, many purchase classroom supplies from their own personal finances. School supplies at no cost provide the solution.

To be clear, these school supplies are purchased at competitive prices and provided free to those who sign up for Wishing Well™ and then share their school supply wish list with others. It connect educators with donors who are desiring to buy the schools supplies on the list.  Teachers may have a number of items on their list.  Donors can choose to purchase as little or as many of the items as they wish.  Items are shipped directly to teachers at their school in a quick fashion. Sign up to Create Your Free Wish List

Free School Supplies for School-Wide Needs

Administrators can also create a wish list for their school in general.  The success of a campaign to receive free school supplies is dependent on the number of people within your community that you share your needs with.  All the tools are provided within the Wishing Well™ program to have a successful campaign and receive classroom supplies for free as they are purchased.

School supplies are available on the ‘Really Good Stuff’ website, the providers of competitively priced school supplies for those who want to support teachers or find resource for use at home.  It’s all part of innovative, teacher-created solutions.

PTA’s, girls and boys clubs, daycare facilities, after-school programs, community drop-ins and even those in need of homeschooling resources can create their own campaigns for free school supplies.

Once those who are seeking free supplies have signed up, simply browse the many categories according your needs from a large online selection:

• Supplemental curriculum resources.
• Social-emotional learning tools.
• Classroom organizational items.
• Teacher basics and essentials.
• Classroom decorations.

Let’s face it, fundraising can be a challenge.  Whether it’s raising funds for your school or collecting free school supplies for teachers that donated, there are ways to make it easier.  With Wishing Well™, items can be prioritized to ensure the most important items are received first.  Set goals you want to achieve that will benefit your classroom or school the most.

Anyone can shop the website and ship items for their own personal needs, for gift giving or directly to teachers or schools who have created their wish lists. Shop Here!

Classroom Decorating Ideas

Aesthetics are important to make a classroom feel inviting to students, especially at a younger grades.  School is a child’s first impactful experience with a large institution.  They will be spending 30 or more hours a week in school.  A majority of that time will be in the classroom.  The biggest impact in their lives will be interacting with their teacher and fellow students.  When it’s time to get down to the business of learning, a vibrant visual environment will help them feel more at home and engaged.  Decorating a classroom with posters, maps, letters and incorporating classroom theme ideas can always be incorporated into lessons and therefore become no less important than traditional supplies and teaching resources.

Teachers can also get supplies to create holiday themes for their classrooms, such as Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine’s Day.

Social and Emotional Learning

A well rounded student is about more than ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’.  Every student’s emotional well-being and social awareness is vital to successful learning. It re-enforces what they are learning at home and balances their understanding of values they may be learning on television programs or through advertising.   Free school supplies can also include teaching resources for mindfulness, diversity, inclusion, self awareness and how to deal properly with emotions and feelings.

Wishing Well™ – Equipping Educators

Whatever need there is to better equip, enhance and empower teachers and schools to offer the best learning environment for kids of all grade levels, we are proud to partner with this important school and classroom supply platform.  Our hope is that teachers will no longer be required to pay out of their own hard earned dollars to give students the best learning experience in the ideal environment.  Teachers should be able to earn and save their money for themselves.

It’s a sad reality.  Even though the education of our K-12 students is highly valued in most countries worldwide, the education system is vastly underfunded.  According to the USA Department of Education, teachers in the United States are out-of-pocket $478 each year.  That’s $2 Billion of personal money spent on school supplies.

About 44 percent of teachers spend $250 or less, while 36 percent spend from $251 to $500 per year.  The New York times reports that 94 percent of teachers purchase classroom supplies without reimbursement.  The bottom line is that teachers are paying too much of their own money for school supplies.

Fortunately, there is a new program that has been created to give teachers and administrators of schools access to supplies without cost to them.  This program is also available for PTA’s, childcare centers, Head Start Programs, after-school programs, as well as boys and girls clubs.

Wishing Well™ is the simple, easy way for all educators to request vital school supplies and receive them quickly.  You simply sign up to ‘Make a Wish’ List, which is basically creating a campaign listing your needs.  Wish lists can be created by individual teachers or school administrators who want to run a school-wide campaign for the classroom supplies.

In turn, teachers, schools and any group working with kids in need of school supplies will be able to connect with those who are ready to offer support by purchasing and donating items.  School supplies are purchased online within the Wishing Well™ platform and shipped directly to the educators.

Steps for Teachers to Access Free Classroom Supplies

It’s time teachers shopped buying school supplies with their own money.  So, here’s how to begin.

Step 1 is to Sign Up and Create a Wish List

It’s only takes a minute to get started and you will be guided every step of the way.

Step 2 is to select all supplies available.

Easily browse and add anything you need for your classroom or school. Mark items as priorities and put them front and center.

Step 3 is to spread the word.

You’ll be provided with everything you need to reach donors and have a successful campaign.  Teachers and schools will receive supplies as they are purchased, you won’t have to fill you entire campaign goals to begin receiving supplies.

Supporting Your Favorite Schools and Teachers

Whether you have a favorite school or a special teacher, your support helps students get the most out of their classroom experience.  Making a difference is easier than ever.  With Wishing Well™  you can help teachers get the supplies they so desperately need at prices backed by a low price guarantee.

Even Parent Teacher Association’s can sign up and make a wish list of school supplies needed within their school. Then, share the campaign with all parents, friends or businesses within the community who have a desire to help their local schools and teachers.

Here are the simple steps supporters can take:

• Discover campaigns:  Find wish lists by school name, teachers, grade, subject, or interactive map.

• Choose Products to Purchase:  Easily select supplies by priority or cost from wish lists that have been created by teachers.

• Receive Updates from Teachers:  Feel the impact your contribution has made with updates from teachers you support.

Wishing Well enables teachers to stock their classrooms with supplies students need.  Items are shipped as soon as donors make their purchase. Teachers do not have to complete campaign goals to receive supplies.  Items are shipping as ordered by donors.  Items arrive within days of purchase.

School supplies are also available to individuals looking for good prices online for school use or at home.

The Wishing Well™ Advantage means:

• Teachers and schools can receive the supplies they need within days.

• Administrators and other groups can also take part for their entire school.

• Programs outside of the formal educational system that need supplies can also participate.

• There are no fees to sign up and receive supplies from donors.

So let’s not waste any time getting kids the classroom supplied they need, without teachers having to pay out-of-pocket due to underfunded schools.

Educators and School Groups:  Start Your Wish List Now!

Support Your Teacher or School:  Search for Teachers or Schools!

Individual shoppers can instantly shop online now here:

As show below, there are individual communities that have started their own charity drives to supply free school supplies to teachers.  However, this is not available in every school district.  The Wishing Well™ which was started by Really Good Stuff is available nationwide in the United States and in many other countries.