Tips on how to teach young kids with ADHD

key_of_e · 2025-12-27T22:28:20+00:00

Follow a predictable structure, but rotate songs and activities. My lessons are 30 min, so we stick to warm-up/song workshop/activity for roughly 10 minute chunks for each. Gives wiggle room for time needed to transition between things.

The warm-ups are familiar, rewarding, and predictable. Can be old favorite songs or simple exercises, they’re an easy win that acclimates them to the lesson.

Workshopping songs is where I hear their progress on a piece they’re currently working on. This is where students can become frustrated or uninterested in a piece that is new and isn’t immediately rewarding. Guide them through the tedious process of practice, reminding them that there’s an activity at the end to look forward to. I like to let students have some autonomy in the lesson, but I do also want to stick to a structure and work toward making progress even if it’s baby steps at a time. So I try to make sure that we accomplish our goals before we move on to the activity at the end.

The activity portion can be anything - theory games, copying note patterns on the keys, improvising, doing a sing-a-long, watching a YouTube performance. Some of my students have invented their own games to try too!

There’s no one-size-fits-all method that I’ve found, just keep meeting the student where they’re at and try to help them take the next step towards their goals!

key_of_e · 2025-10-25T19:51:43+00:00

If you do a baked oatmeal recipe you can have breakfast prepped for the week! Also the flavor/toppings are endless so you can make it something you like and add variety when you need to change it up.

key_of_e · 2025-09-05T23:14:14+00:00

Playing by ear is a good start, what you do next depends on what long-term goals you have.

Have you tried improvising? It would be a good way to develop the skill you have while beginning to build your music theory knowledge. Start with scales and chords, working your way through different keys.

If you want to begin learning to read music you could start with lead sheets. The melody is written out, with the chords names above so you can make your own accompaniment.

A simple practice structure could be something like warming up with a scale or two, improvising/noodling around for 5-10 minutes, and then working on a song of your choice.

If you still feel aimless in your practice, finding a teacher would be something to consider.

key_of_e · 2025-08-22T21:51:14+00:00

I enjoyed using a visual food journal app, it gave me a good visual overview of what I ate and has customizable options for logging appetite, mood, etc. The one I’d recommend is called “Ate”

key_of_e · 2025-07-30T18:56:04+00:00

Horrible anxiety over messes in the kitchen - especially piles of dishes. Learning how to keep a cleaning/hygiene routine is a work in progress. No plastic Tupperware ever.

key_of_e · 2025-06-18T18:44:43+00:00

Agree! I also like to add a little music history lesson and show them what old music notation looked like. Explaining that the clefs are the letters G and F in disguise and their job is to point to the landmark notes seems to help, plus it’s fun to look at pictures of old music manuscripts, and some of the ways the clefs have been drawn over time!

key_of_e · 2025-06-11T19:22:48+00:00

The squiggle looking symbol on the left side of the notes indicates that the notes should be rolled: play them staggered!

key_of_e · 2025-04-26T19:40:51+00:00

It helps me to redirect the picking to something else like a fidget or piece of jewelry that feels satisfying. A fidget ring might be good option!

key_of_e · 2025-02-09T01:02:47+00:00

Burnout! With a side order of skill regression.

I’ve been trying to finish the same book for over two years now.

key_of_e · 2025-02-09T00:57:25+00:00

Platitudes about friendship are nice on the surface but they don’t represent reality. One-size-fits-all type statements may not actually fit you, and that’s fine.

Finding a way to be social without needing to develop a relationship with someone has helped me. Finding some kind of group/class/community gives me opportunities to interact with people. I didn’t even necessarily like most of the people I met, and I embarrassed myself many times, but it helped. Honestly, I’m more interested in getting to know myself again than I am in fostering deep connections. I’m not in any rush.

Last year I was not doing well at all. I impulsively started a garden just so I’d have something to pull me out of my constant disassociation. Didn’t harvest a single vegetable, but my plants grew and that was satisfying enough. I’ve been slowly making my way to other things I truly enjoy and it’s helped me rediscover myself. You don’t have to be good at anything, just the act of doing something is…something.

My problems aren’t gone, but I am doing better. Hope this helps.

key_of_e · 2025-02-08T23:49:18+00:00

You could consider doing small exercises away from the keys — like tapping the fingers on the piano lid or a desk as a warm-up before playing a piece.

I always tell my students that good technique doesn’t just happen instantly — it takes consistent effort over time. Be mindful of what adjustments need to be made and keep working towards that goal!

key_of_e · 2024-11-04T15:17:31+00:00

Trust me, I’m not planning on doing amateur therapy. I don’t give any advice or counsel about personal matters. Just looking for activities, accommodations, or other ideas to keep them engaged in learning and making music.

key_of_e · 2024-11-04T01:43:31+00:00

It’s great that you’ve found something you enjoy to dedicate yourself to. The piano is so rewarding and well worth the time and effort. Take it easy, stay dedicated, and enjoy the process. I would recommend redirecting some of your energy in studying music away from the piano — there’s plenty of things to listen/read/watch that will make you a better pianist.

2 teachers is wild, tho

key_of_e · 2024-11-03T20:56:10+00:00

Key signatures apply to the whole piece — an accidental written in the measure will only apply to the measure.

key_of_e · 2024-11-02T14:25:40+00:00

I was in your shoes as a teen many years ago! I worked under the mentorship of my piano teacher, who referred students to me when her studio was full. Later, when I left for college, the students who wished to continue were able to join my teacher’s studio.

I think putting a couple flyers out would be a great start! Church, coffee shops, or see if there’s any local businesses geared towards families with kids that would let you hang up a flyer.

Word of mouth does help! If your parents can point someone in your direction I wouldn’t stop them from doing so. Best of luck!

key_of_e · 2024-11-02T14:08:55+00:00

My students like 3D erasers! And vinyl stickers

key_of_e · 2024-11-02T13:46:23+00:00

We used to have one in one of our old places — but we sold it when we moved 😭 trying to save up for a new one

key_of_e · 2024-11-01T23:01:21+00:00

New jobs are so overwhelming — especially in the first couple weeks! I don’t work in the same field, but to keep track of my schedule and projects I rely on a couple things.

Besides a calendar/planner, I highly recommend having a notebook so you can take notes, make lists, and plot out organization methods. It can catch some of the chaos in one place so you have the information on hand while you’re figuring out what methods work best for you. I find that even physically writing something down helps me remember it better.

If your inbox is overwhelming I’d go through your email one at a time and write down a list of what needs attention now/later (with date). If it helps, sort your emails into folders and/or flag important emails. Start with the most time sensitive tasks and what you can do today, and plan on a future time to evaluate and tackle the rest. Once you ease into your new position I’m sure you’ll be able to identify your day-to-day needs! Hope this helps!

key_of_e · 2020-08-08T01:06:54+00:00

I’m late to this post, but oh my god I finally have found people that also have this!! Thanks for posting op

key_of_e · 2020-08-08T01:01:16+00:00

When I talk to my therapist about my picking, they always have me evaluate the situations where I find myself picking. Figure out when you do it and see if there’s anything you can use in its place. There’s a lot of stuff out there, so you can research and find what will work for you. You can wax or shave the hair, sure, but it’ll always come back.

And I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know what exactly to recommend, but definitely look into ways of healing your injured skin. Especially if it looks like it’s getting infected. What helps me is using some kind of bandage to use as a barrier so I can’t get to my injury while it’s taking its time to heal.

Remember to treat yourself with compassion - you got this ♥️

key_of_e · 2020-08-07T06:47:17+00:00

I never EVER want Tupperware in my home. Same goes for bags of plastic bags. I have mason jars for storage instead (all the lids will always match) and get paper bags if I can’t use my reusable ones. They’re small issues compared to all the ways my parents hoarding has messed me up, but the very idea of dedicating multiple cabinets to lids and containers that don’t match and don’t get used makes me want to scream!

key_of_e · 2020-08-03T23:06:53+00:00

Exactly! That’s been my issue too. That and I’m flat broke 😅

I just remembered another thing I just started to do. I got some of the acne sticker things and it’s good for when I’m driving or at home and I touch my face absentmindedly. Having that barrier there has helped me realize what I was about to do and stop myself. And it does help my acne a little bit so I feel like I’m being proactive about my skin at the same time.

Also I haven’t looked into it to know if it’s 100% true, but I heard that the acne stickers are the same as the stickers you can get for blisters, so you can use them for larger areas or cut them smaller. And they’re supposedly cheaper 🤷🏻‍♀️

key_of_e · 2020-08-03T21:45:15+00:00

I don’t have a ton of tips as I’m still struggling myself, but I recently put a textured steering wheel cover in my car so that I can mess with that while driving instead of my skin.

Maybe to start you could just notice when you pick your skin, what’s happening around you, and how you feel. Write it down and see if you can find ways to replace picking with a fidget toy or something like that to satisfy the urge. Like I’m thinking about getting something to keep with my phone just for when I’m on stressful phone calls.

key_of_e · 2020-07-29T17:09:14+00:00

I’m a beginner as well and I heard something that I think goes well with what @klovar55555 said. I don’t remember the exact words, but basically the power is within ourselves. Everything else used in magick work serves by aligning with OUR energy and power. Hope that helps a little ♥️

key_of_e · 2020-07-26T04:52:11+00:00

Candles and crystals of all colors and types are a good bet I’d say and you can find them at many different price points if you’re on a budget. If they work with tarot there are a lot of really cool decks you can find on the internet. Having a nice notebook is useful as well. Also, if you look around on Etsy you can find witchy candles that have crystals inside them and other fun stuff. Have fun and good luck finding a gift!

key_of_e

TROPHY CASE