The notification pops up on your phone at 10:47 AM: “School supply lists are now available!” Your heart does that familiar flip as you realize summer is almost over. While other parents might feel excited about routine returning, you’re already mentally preparing for the challenges ahead.
You know your child is brilliant, creative, and has so much to offer the world. But you also know that the structured classroom environment, social pressures, and academic demands can trigger their ADHD or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) symptoms in ways that leave everyone exhausted. The thought of another year of teacher emails, homework battles, and watching your amazing kid struggle to fit into a system that wasn’t designed for how their brain works feels overwhelming.
If you’re already worrying about focus challenges, emotional meltdowns, or sensory overload before the school year even begins, please know that you’re not alone. More importantly, there’s hope. You have more power than you might realize to set your child up for success this school year—and it doesn’t require medication as the first or only solution.
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The Changing Landscape of ADHD and SPD in Madison Schools
Before we dive into our strategies, it’s important to acknowledge what many Madison-area parents are experiencing. The rates of ADHD, SPD, and anxiety in children have dramatically increased in recent years. While conventional approaches often focus on genetics and neurotransmitter imbalances as explanations, at ADIO Chiropractic we believe it’s crucial to look at the bigger picture.
Our children are growing up in a world that’s more fast-paced, more stimulating, and often more stressful than ever before. At the same time, opportunities for physical activity, unstructured play, and connection with nature have decreased—especially here in Wisconsin where outdoor time can be limited by weather.
This is why our doctors at ADIO Chiropractic are passionate about offering a holistic, root-cause approach to supporting children with ADHD and SPD. We believe that by addressing underlying nervous system imbalances and making strategic lifestyle changes, we can help your child thrive—not just survive—in school and beyond.
Dr. Eric Kurzinski and Dr. Alexandria Quick have seen countless Madison families transform their back-to-school experience by focusing on these foundational elements. Now, let’s explore five game-changing strategies that can help transform your child’s school experience this year.
Step 1: Gradually Reset Sleep Schedules
Quality sleep is absolutely crucial for managing ADHD and SPD symptoms. During sleep, the brain consolidates learning, processes emotions, and recharges for the next day. Unfortunately, many children with ADHD and SPD struggle with sleep issues, creating a cycle of fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating that affects the whole family.
“Sleep challenges are one of the most common concerns we hear from parents in our Middleton office,” shares Dr. Alexandria Quick. “When a child’s nervous system is dysregulated, it often shows up first in their sleep patterns.”
Here’s how to get back on track before school starts:
Start Early and Go Slow: Begin adjusting bedtimes and wake times earlier by 15 minutes every few days, starting at least 2-3 weeks before school begins. This gradual approach is less jarring than a sudden change and allows your child’s internal clock to naturally adjust.
Create a Calming Bedtime Routine: Establish a predictable sequence of calming activities that signal to your child’s nervous system that it’s time to wind down. This might include a warm bath, gentle stretching, reading together, or practicing deep breathing exercises.
Minimize Screen Time: The blue light from screens can interfere with melatonin production. Aim to turn off all screens at least one hour before bedtime and consider using blue light filters if screens are necessary.
Optimize the Sleep Environment: Keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. For children with SPD, consider their sensory preferences—some may need weighted blankets for deep pressure input, while others might be sensitive to certain textures or sounds.
Address Root Causes: If sleep challenges persist despite these strategies, consider that nervous system dysregulation might be at the root. Many families in the Madison area have found that addressing spinal alignment and nervous system function through chiropractic care significantly improves sleep quality.
Step 2: Create an Organized Home Environment
Children with ADHD and SPD often struggle with organization and executive function skills. Their brains are working overtime to process sensory information and regulate emotions, leaving less mental energy available for organizational tasks. By creating structure and predictability at home, you can reduce anxiety and help your child feel more in control.
Strategic Organization Tips:
Set Up a Central Command Center: Create a family hub in a high-traffic area of your home—perhaps near the kitchen or front door. Use a large wall calendar, whiteboard, or bulletin board to track everyone’s schedules, upcoming assignments, important school events, and daily routines. Visual reminders are particularly helpful for children with ADHD.
Designate Specific Spaces: Create designated spots for school items—backpacks by the door, homework supplies in a basket, signed permission slips in a specific folder. This reduces morning stress and teaches valuable organizational skills. Consider using picture labels for younger children or those who are visual learners.
Implement Color-Coded Systems: Assign each child a color and use it consistently—colored folders, bins, calendar entries, and even water bottles. This visual system helps reduce confusion and makes it easier for children to identify their belongings quickly.
Create Routine Checklists: Break down morning and evening routines into simple, manageable steps. Post these checklists where your child can easily see them. For children who struggle with reading, use pictures or symbols instead of words.
Step 3: Set Up a Distraction-Free Study Space
Many children with ADHD and SPD are highly sensitive to their environment. Creating a dedicated, distraction-free space for homework and studying can make a world of difference in their ability to focus and complete tasks successfully.
Elements of an Effective Study Space:
Location Matters: Choose a quiet area away from high-traffic parts of the house, but not so isolated that your child feels disconnected from the family. Some children focus better with a little background activity, while others need complete silence.
Lighting: Ensure the space is well-lit, either with natural light or a good desk lamp. Poor lighting can cause eye strain and fatigue, making it even harder for children with attention challenges to focus.
Supply Organization: Stock the area with all necessary supplies—pencils, erasers, rulers, paper, calculators—within arm’s reach. This reduces the need for your child to get up and potentially get distracted or lose focus.
Sensory Considerations: For children with SPD, consider their sensory needs. Some may benefit from a fidget toy to keep their hands busy, while others might need a completely clear workspace. Experiment with different seating options—some children focus better on a stability ball or standing desk.
Sound Environment: If complete silence is too distracting, try white noise, nature sounds, or instrumental music to help with focus. Avoid music with lyrics, which can be distracting for children with attention challenges.
Step 4: Prioritize Morning Exercise and Physical Activity
The benefits of exercise for children with ADHD and SPD cannot be overstated. Physical activity improves cognitive function, boosts mood, reduces anxiety, and helps regulate the nervous system. Research shows that exercise can be as effective as medication for some children with ADHD in improving focus and reducing hyperactivity.
Dr. Eric Kurzinski often tells families in our office, “Movement is medicine for the developing brain. When we help children move their bodies in purposeful ways, we’re also helping their brains function more efficiently.”
Ways to Incorporate Movement:
Start the Day with Exercise: Even 10-15 minutes of physical activity before school can improve cognitive function and emotional balance for the entire day. This could be a bike ride around your Middleton neighborhood, jumping on a trampoline, or doing yoga stretches together.
Movement Breaks: Look for opportunities throughout the day for your child to move their body. This might include using a stability ball instead of a chair for homework, taking “brain breaks” to do jumping jacks or stretches, or walking while reviewing spelling words.
Sensory-Rich Activities: For children with SPD, incorporate activities that provide the sensory input their nervous system craves. This might include heavy work activities (carrying groceries, pushing a wagon), proprioceptive input (jumping, climbing), or vestibular stimulation (swinging, spinning).
Make It Fun: The goal is to make movement enjoyable and natural, not another task on the to-do list. Let your child help choose activities they enjoy, whether that’s dance parties in the living room, nature walks at one of Madison’s beautiful parks, or playground time.
Step 5: Consider Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
This might be new territory for you, but for many families in the Madison area, it’s been a game-changer. To understand why, let’s briefly explore what’s happening in the nervous system of a child with ADHD or SPD.
These conditions are often characterized by an overactive sympathetic “fight or flight” response. This leaves children constantly on edge, making it difficult to focus, transition between activities, or regulate emotions appropriately. At the same time, their parasympathetic “rest and digest” system, which is crucial for focus, emotional balance, and learning, remains underactive.
How Our Approach at ADIO Chiropractic Helps:
Nervous System Regulation: Through gentle, specific adjustments, our doctors work to release tension in the sympathetic nervous system while activating the calming parasympathetic system. This helps create the neurological environment necessary for learning and emotional regulation.
Comprehensive Assessment: At ADIO Chiropractic in Middleton, we use advanced diagnostic tools called INSiGHT Scans to assess how your child’s nervous system is functioning. These non-invasive scans help us identify areas of stress and create personalized care plans for each child.
Whole-Family Approach: We understand that when one family member struggles, it affects everyone. That’s why our team works with the entire family to create strategies that support not just your child, but your family’s overall well-being.
Benefits Families Often Experience:
- Improved focus and attention in classroom settings
- Better emotional regulation and fewer meltdowns
- Enhanced sleep quality and easier bedtime routines
- Increased ability to handle transitions and changes
- Stronger immune function and fewer sick days
- Better digestive function and appetite regulation
- Increased confidence and improved social interactions
- Greater adaptability to sensory input
“The transformation we see in children once their nervous systems begin to regulate is remarkable,” shares Dr. Alexandria Quick. “Parents often tell us it’s like getting their child back—the child they always knew was there but couldn’t fully emerge due to nervous system stress.”
Real Results from Madison Families
Jessica brought her 7-year-old son Marcus to ADIO Chiropractic last spring after a particularly challenging school year. Marcus had been struggling with focus issues, frequent emotional outbursts, and difficulty transitioning between activities at his Middleton elementary school.
“I was dreading another school year of phone calls from teachers and watching Marcus struggle,” Jessica recalls. “We tried behavior charts, medication discussions with our pediatrician, and even considered changing schools.”
After beginning care with our team, Marcus’s nervous system scans showed significant areas of stress affecting his ability to regulate emotions and attention. Through consistent, gentle adjustments and implementing the strategies outlined above, Marcus started the current school year as a different child.
“His teacher commented within the first week that she could see a remarkable difference in his ability to focus and handle transitions,” Jessica shares. “For the first time, I’m actually excited about parent-teacher conferences instead of dreading them.”
Supporting Your Child’s Success This School Year
By implementing these five strategies and addressing the root causes of your child’s symptoms, you can set them up for their most successful school year yet. Your child’s brilliant mind deserves every opportunity to shine—in the classroom and beyond.
Remember, every child is different, and what works for one might not work for another. Be patient with yourself and your child as you implement these strategies. The journey might have its challenges, but with the right support and approach, your child can thrive.
At ADIO Chiropractic, we’re honored to be part of your family’s wellness team. Our doctors, Dr. Eric Kurzinski and Dr. Alexandria Quick, are passionate about helping children with ADHD and SPD reach their full potential through natural, neurologically-based approaches.
Take the Next Step Toward a Successful School Year
If you’re ready to explore how neurologically-focused chiropractic care might benefit your child this school year, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our Middleton office. During this visit, we’ll discuss your child’s specific challenges, answer your questions about our approach, and determine if our care might be the missing piece in your child’s success puzzle.
Your child doesn’t have to struggle this school year. Together, we can help them not just survive, but truly thrive in their learning environment.
Ready to give your child the neurological support they need for their best school year yet? Call ADIO Chiropractic at (608) 824-0950 to schedule a consultation, or visit our website to learn more about how we help Madison-area families transform their children’s educational experience through natural, effective care.
Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead—one where your child’s unique gifts are recognized, nurtured, and celebrated.
