Is Summer Vacation the Time for ADHD Medication?

Only seven weeks left!  Once again school will be out and summer break will be upon us.  This is the time of year when most students jump for joy!  Desks are emptied; backpacks are stashed in the closet.  Families begin to think about sun and fun, lazy afternoons, swimming lessons, BBQ’s, summer camp and family vacations.  When you’re the parent of an ADHD child, there is often another issue that begs attention. Parents frequently ask whether their child really needs to take his/her ADHD medications during the summer.  Parents often feel that because there is no need to manage an academic setting and everything that goes with it, there is no need for medication.  Not necessarily so.

In order to make an informed decision about your child’s summer medication needs, there are several factors to consider.  The best place to begin this process is to have a conversation with the doctor who prescribes medication and works with your child.  He or she will have the information necessary to help the family make an informed decision that is appropriate for their child. 

It is important for parents to consider just how much assistance their child derives from the prescribed medication.  What symptoms are being managed by medication?  How important is medication for the child’s ability to function in a healtlhy fashion.  For the child whose major ADHD symptom is inattentiveness it is possible that a “med vacation” could be well tolerated.  However, for the child who exhibits symptoms of hyperactivity and extreme impulsive behavior, year-round medication may be a better option.  This child frequently has difficulty appropriately managing social situations with peers.  Lack of medication can often result in poor social/peer relations thus having a negative impact on the child’s self-esteem. Again, in this situation, a medication break might not be the best option. 

Generally, summer is looser and less structured than the school year. The ADHD child, however, still needs structure and predictability in daily life in order to manage effectively.  Providing daily lists can help your child more efficiently manage the day. Keeping a calendar with daily and weekly activities clearly spelled out is helpful.   Provide daily activities like: planned events, enroll your child in swimming lessons/summer camps, play dates with friends, encourage reading for enjoyment (not classroom assigned reading) and family outings.  These types of activities can provide structure for your child thus avoiding boredom and the need for stimulation seeking behaviors.  Kids with ADHD have a more difficult time structuring their own lives.  They require some external support in the form of parental intervention. Planning lots of physical activities is a key to success.

When considering sending your child to sleep-away camp, it’s imperative to consider how well your child can stay on task, follow directions and relate to peers. In addition, it’s important to consider the skill level of the camp counselor who will be supervising your child.  Will these adults be familiar with ADHD and its impact on a child’s behavior?  These are questions that might help you decide whether your child can have a “medication vacation” while away at camp.  The last thing any parent (or child) wants to experience is a call from camp requesting an early pick-up.  Some ADHD children may be more able to manage a day-camp setting vs. a sleep-away camp. There is less stress and less for them to manage when they know they will be home at the end of the day.

It’s important to remember that there is no perfect solution to this dilemma.  But, there are options. You may choose to try a lower dose of the child’s prescribed medication during the summer months. You may choose to take short breaks from medication as seems appropriate. You can always medicate your child on days when you feel he may need a little extra help maintaining self-control.  Summer break should be a time for fun and relaxation for kids and their families.  If you begin with the premise that your child deserves to have a positive and successful summer experience, you will be on your way to making a healthy choice for your family.