By Mia Khatib
mia.khatib@triangletribune.com
Starting a new school year is always hard. But it can be especially nerve wracking for kids like 12-year-old Kyllan Parker, who has Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder.
“First Thing First, Dream,” captures Kyllan’s transition back to in-person learning after the pandemic at a brand new school. The children’s book is inspired by his journal entries and was written in collaboration with his mother, Krystle Parker.
“When you already have ADHD and it’s a new transition for you like starting a new school, it makes it 10 times worse because you’re nervous, you’re going to be very forgetful, you’re going to be worrying about a lot of things,” Parker said. “[This] is just a book with a great variety of tips that have helped Kyllan, and I hope it may help other parents as well.”
The book offers encouragement to children as they navigate new life experiences and better equips parents and educators to support them through anxiety or ADHD-related stressors. Journaling, stating daily affirmations, and maintaining an organized routine are just a few of the many coping mechanisms mentioned.
“Studies have shown that with journaling, it helps to boost memory and comprehension, especially reading comprehension,” Parker said. “Even for adults, it’s very therapeutic. It helps you communicate more effectively.”
Parker saw firsthand how forgetfulness and disorganization impacted her eldest son’s studies during the pandemic. Kyllan told The Tribune the hardest part of virtual learning was being away from his friends, but his mother and grandmother, Joyce Peed, really helped him stay on task.
Peed, who was a teacher for more than 40 years and taught special education, said they practiced highlighting passages to improve comprehension, using mnemonics to strengthen memory, and even organizing school materials to avoid losing and forgetting things.
“Even if you have difficulty concentrating or focusing on different things, you can train yourself and help yourself by doing certain things. He’s not on any medication,” Peed said.
Kyllan plays many sports so medication wasn’t agreeable to him and, Parker said, there are a ton of other options that can help struggling children excel academically, socially and mentally. She encourages parents who suspect their child has ADHD or another disorder to reach out to a school-based counselor for an in-class assessment.
“They can assess the student themselves and… you can get the most accurate diagnosis, and then you can also get the best behavioral modifications and coping mechanisms first, before trying any type of prescriptive medication,” she said.
And while Peed believes the education system has become much more inclusive from when she first started teaching, a recent WCNC Charlotte investigation found that North Carolina leads the nation in suspending and expelling students with disabilities.
“I want readers to feel confident, and I want them to laugh and know that it’s OK to have any type of disorder,” Kyllan said. “The affirmations helped me with my confidence, and I encourage other kids to start affirmations, too.”
Mia Khatib, who covers affordable housing and gentrification, is a Report for America corps member.
