Xmas play - teachers views please

[BertBert]

DS is in year 6 & has ADHD. He is medicated but has lately said he is finding it harder to concentrate in class.

Christmas play is coming up. DS never gets a part (not upset by this - he wouldn’t want one). DS doesn’t want to take part this year. He had his class assembly earlier in the year and you could see him struggling to sit still & concentrate. That was only 20 minutes long. Xmas play is usually an hour or so (plus all the time spent rehearsing etc).

DS would prefer to sit and read or do extra work.

Looking for advice from teachers as to how you would react to a request from a parent to leave him out based on his ADHD. I’m not looking for him to be given a part to encourage him to do it.

As a teacher I would agree that this is a good idea. Would he be up for helping with costumes/props or something so he is involved a little?

Costumes etc are sent in by parents. In terms of props - he rang a bell once!

It’s more the time he is expected to sit still that’s the problem - he isn’t worried about being involved. We’ve worked so hard with him but he will really struggle with it. He was so stressed last year I wanted to jump up, grab him & take him home!

I know this is a stressful time for teachers & don’t want to add to it. I know a lot of parents will be wanting a part for their dc & I don’t want the teacher to think I’m trying to get DS a part through the back door as he won’t want it!

I would talk to the teacher about it - as a teacher, I don't think I'd completely take him out. I would however probably invent a little job (sorting props? Collecting them?) and have him near the back of the stage. That way he could come off stage at regular, planned intervals for some form of movement break.

Tbqh everything you've said is very reasonable and if you approach the teachers saying the same thing, I think they'd be receptive.

If we had a stage that would work I think but we have a raised platform in the hall in front & rows of parents on chairs in front. There’s so where to go without it being obvious which DS would hate.

I just wanted to check that I wasn’t being unreasonable in asking for him not to take part.

DS has been bullied of and on throughout primary & I think it would be easier not to take part as the kids are less likely to notice that than if DS gets fidgety...

I’ve had kids with adhd do fantastically in plays and shows in the past but the big difference was it was an out of school setting they chose to go to. Often it requires careful handling and higher staff/child ratios of 1:12 than you often get in schools.

TBH, we couldn't spare the staff to supervise him in the classroom- it's all hands on deck.

Does chewellery or fidgets help him?

Fidget toys used to work but haven’t been as effective the last few years.

DS is able to hyper focus with reading and is allowed to come in from lunch 10 mins early when he needs to (he struggles in large groups & situations where there are no rules/routine). On these occasions he sits with his book outside the office.

I was concerned about the supervision aspect and don’t want to come across as precious. There are times when I think DS has to suck it up but I don’t see the point in making him suffer through this.

We have had similar children sitting with the others, but with their book to read, so they could sing if they wanted, or just read..

Could he do the lighting?

I think I misread him as being 6, that obviously changes things!

I'd ask if he could sit and read just off-stage, that's a sensible solution which isn't precious at all (imo).

Thanks all. Will speak to the teacher about it. Fingers crossed.

We have done this several times before-the child usually sits in the audience and watches the play with his mum and the other parents. Other times, they haven’t wanted to watch at all and have just come into school that day after the performance.

Talk to the senco.

My ds is much younger but I've asked for him not to be involved as he gets so stressed by it all but can't say. He is highly verbal with ASD but can't communicate emotion.

Last year and the year before my son just came on stage for his very small part, for the rest of it he was in the classroom with his 1-1. When practicing he just sat in the hall with books and pens. This year he doesn’t want to take part at all.

My DS has Aspergers and ADHD.

In year 3 he was allowed to do the lighting box, and loved it.

In year 4 he ran the laptop (for overhead projector and videos) behind the performers, but still had to say his 'line' and join in the group song.

Spoke to teacher yesterday. She was lovely. DS will be allowed to take a book and read when the others are practising but will still be involved in some way. Feels like a win-win!

Thanks for all your advice!

I'm a teacher who has done many y6 productions. If a parent of a child with adhd asked if their child could not take part, I would be disappointed for them, but accept it as long as the child sat out and did whatever work I gave them, without fuss, during every rehearsal.
Most children with asd that I've taught want to get involved somehow. But if they really don't, then fine, as long as they don't disrupt others, I don't see any problem.

Great update BertBert. Sounds like a perfect solution!