How to Get Kids to Sleep: Bedtime Strategies for Buzzing ADHD Brains

June 28, 2023
by Richard Steinberg, M.D.
from ADDitude.com

Think you’ve tried it all to get your child to sleep? Make sure to review these basic strategies – from devising a smart bedtime routines to properly prepping a room for sleep – and consider other options to help your child fall and stay asleep.

As a pediatrician with a specialty interest in children with ADHD, I know that sleep problems are practically the rule, not the exception, for this group. It’s an issue that frustrates and concerns many parents, who come to me after they’ve run out of ideas for getting their child to fall and stay asleep.

ADHD

What to Prep Now So The Kids (and You) are Ready for Back-to-School

It can be so hard to start thinking about school mid-summer when we’re experiencing sunny, 80-degree days and 9pm sunsets. Who wants to ruin the summer vibe by making a back-to-school checklist?! The reality is that the kids won’t be doing that—so it’s going to have to fall on you, the parent. Get some of these tasks done now, and ease the stress and hectic nature of the kids’ transition back to school.

Back to School, students

Step-by-Step Guide for Securing ADHD Accommodations at School

October 28, 2022
from ADDitude Editors

8 straightforward steps — from requesting a school evaluation to monitoring accommodations — to help parents develop the best IEP or 504 Plan possible for kids with ADHD.

How to Get an IEP or 504 Plan for ADHD

The process of securing academic accommodations for your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) can be confusing — and intimidating. Follow these eight steps to take the hassle out of requesting and establishing an IEP or 504 Plan for ADHD.

1. Get an Accurate ADD Evaluation

Write a letter requesting an evaluation to see if your child with ADHD might benefit from academic accommodations.

ADHD, students

Simplify Expert is Featured in ‘The Seattle Times’

While it happens regularly, it’s still always so exciting when Simplify Experts is featured in the media! Owner/Founder Denise Allan is in the July 14, 2023, issue of The Seattle Times:

The kitchen counter is prime real estate. Anything that’s out should be things you use every day, says Denise Allan, a certified professional organizer and owner of Simplify Experts in Redmond. Make sure there’s a clear landing zone for papers away from any heat source. Allan has been to two houses that had kitchen fires that were started by papers placed too close to the stove.

If you use something once a week, it can go in a cupboard. If it’s once a month or less, it goes to longer-term storage. Allan keeps her holiday dishes in seasonal bins, not her kitchen. You could get a rolling shelving unit for the garage; one shelf for Costco overstock, one shelf for small appliances you don’t use frequently.

Speaking of appliances, be honest about what you actually use, not the fantasy Top Chef version of you.

Nothing starts off summer break better than a vacation! Getting on a plane, train, or automobile, and arriving at a new or favorite destination creates amazing memories for anyone. If you are doing some road-tripping, you will need to pack differently than you would for a plane trip. Consider the riders, because you’ll definitely need to pack more if you’ve got kids, seniors, or dogs. If you’ve got all three…well, you may just have to go full Griswold! We’ve got a list of road trip essentials for your car, so your trip is not just fun, but also safe and comfortable.

Travel

How to Protect Your Home When You’re On Vacation

If you are heading out of town for a long weekend or for a week, it’s important to take a few steps and ensure your home’s safety. An obviously empty home is tempting for burglars, and you definitely don’t want your house to be an easy target. Here’s our thorough guide to keeping your home safe and looking “occupied”.

home safety, Travel, vacation

7 Life Skills Every Teen Should Know Before Graduating High School

Teens know “everything,” amiright? They can drive, serve as your personal IT consultant, make TikTok recipes, find a meme about anything, and thrift for amazing finds. But as your teen heads off to their post-high school life—whether it’s higher education, a gap year, work, travel, or volunteering—there are some life skills they should have. You won’t always be right there to handle everything for them. Even if they aced their AP exams, it doesn’t mean they have all the skills they need to live independently. Adulting is something they will aspire to, and in order to navigate life after graduation, they should have an understanding of these skills.

graduation, teens

Maximize Your Outdoor Living Space With These Organization Tips

With summer quickly approaching, you’ll want to start getting your outdoor space ready and take advantage of any yard space that you have. Whether you have a few acres of land that you can utilize or a modest but cozy patio, make the most of it for you and your family to enjoy. It can be difficult to organize your outdoor area due to limited space or storage, so using up as much yard space as possible will benefit you.

An organized outdoor space will not only help to keep your yard looking prim and proper, but it’ll also help to keep it maintained at all times. Minimize the amount of clutter you have, create zones, utilize your outdoor storage, and create a safe environment for your family and friends.

home organizing, outdoor living

Father’s Day Gifts He’ll Actually Use

Our annual Father’s Day gift guide has so many ideas for almost every kind of dad out there. Have fun shopping. Remember, it’s not the gift itself, it’s the care and thought you put into it. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

Father's Day

Simplify Experts is Now An EnviroStars Green Business!

We are proud to announce that we are now an EnviroStars Green business! Green businesses follow practices that limit their environmental impact and protect their employees.  Running our business sustainably is healthier for our  employees, our clients, and the planet.  Waste less and recycle right, make the best use of resources, and potentially lower garbage bills by reducing waste and recycling better.

EnviroStars Green Business, Reduce Reuse Recycle

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