Part 3: Benefits of Homeschooling a Child with ADHD

Planets. Pokemon. Platypuses. Any of these could be an area of special interest.

What used to be considered a problem in ADHD and Autism, can definitely be seen as a strength in homeschooling and for our children's futures.

In homeschool, special interests can DEFINITELY be a strength. Unit study methods of learning are particularly helpful in using a special interest to learn. One can start from a special interest and build out any subject area from there. For example, say a child is really fixated on dogs in middle school. That parent can then get the curriculum free from the library or online. Why the library or the internet? Because special interests can stay the same throughout childhood or might last a few days, weeks, or months. We don't want to drop a bunch of cash on a curriculum that is no longer interesting to the child two weeks later.

Some ideas for the unit study might include:

1. Topics for Social Science:

Famous Dogs (presidential dogs, dogs used in the military, Hachiko)

2. Topics for Science:

Anatomy of dogs, pet care guides, dog classification guides, dog training

3. Topics for Art

Learn to draw or paint dogs

Learn about famous dog paintings and the artists who painted them

Photograph dogs

Sew a stuffed animal dog from a simple kit

4. Culinary Arts

Learn how to make homemade dog treats or safe homemade dog food

5. Field Trips

Research various topics in a pet store

Volunteer at a dog shelter

6. English

Read or listen to books with a dog as the main character

Write an essay about a favorite dog breed or a favorite dog

7. Math

Calculate the costs of rescuing a dog

Calculate the costs of typical emergency vet treatment

Calculate the cost of a yearly vet visit for shots and tests

Calculate the cost of grooming a dog

8. PE

Walk the dog (with permission and supervision)

9. Financial Readiness:

Determine rates one can charge for dog walking as a side gig from Rover.com

Use a site like Rover to determine how much one can charge for pet sitting

Special interests can carry over into adult careers. If a child has the academic ability, s/he can eventually become a researcher or professor in their area of interest. Hobbies and special interests can give a child learning experiences and connections they might not have otherwise, leading to new job opportunities as an adult. A child who loves building model cars might end up designing cars as an engineer or fixing cars in their own mechanic shop. A child studying dogs might eventually become a vet tech or veterinarian. The possibilities are endless.

What if they don't keep their special interest? I think that is okay! They learn a lot in the process! They will learn research skills, assertiveness, and general life skills. Also, as a parent dives into the topics with the child, the child likely feels heard, seen, and valued for their unique self. A child may also feel more connected to their parent through this process, thus improving attachment. It has long been recognized in the learning literature that when something is meaningful and interesting, we humans learn the material at a deeper level. Finally, the childhood resilience literature has long recognized that having hobbies in childhood is predictive of better adult adjustment. Based on these realities, I think following special interests is a win-win proposition!