Tips for Parenting Children with ADHD
A big part of parenting a child with ADHD is knowing what limitations an ADHD diagnosis can cause. Children with ADHD commonly experience difficulties with:
- Following directions
- Hyperactivity
- Behavioral issues
- Poor social skills
- Disorganization
- Anger
- Inattention
- Impulsivity
Tips for helping your child cope with these difficulties:
- Be positive: Explain to your child what behaviors are desired instead of putting them down for bad behaviors. Offer rewards and praise often for good behavior.
- Employ and explain rules: Help your child understand your house rules by writing down a list for them to see.
- Be consistent: Maintain consistency with rewards and house rules so that your child can understand and predict how things will play out on a daily basis.
- Get exercise with your child: Help your child stay active daily to avoid behavioral issues and hyperactivity.
- Talk to your child’s teachers: Communicate with teachers about what your child’s needs are and discuss methods for approaching issues that may come up at school.
- Set up a routine for tasks like homework: Set aside a specific space for your child to use to do their homework; you can help them when necessary, but also encourage independence. It may also be helpful to offer them quick breaks for fun activities.
- Watch your child around their friends: Monitoring your child’s playtime may help you make sure he or she is not overwhelmed and good behavior is being followed.
- Make sure your child understands your directions: Ask your child to repeat your directions back to you so that you both can make sure he or she understands what is expected.
- Make a schedule: Planning a written, readily accessible schedule for your child’s daily routine may help your child maintain organization. It may also foster an understanding of necessary daily tasks.
- Make appropriate diet changes: Ask your doctor if diet changes may help your child curb hyperactivity or behavioral issues.
- Make sure your child is properly supervised: To monitor your child’s impulsivity, make sure that a responsible adult is always watching him or her.
- Help them with school preparation: Get ready for school with them the night before and make sure everything is completed ahead of time to avoid rushing.
- Prioritize sleep: Sleep and rest are especially important for children with ADHD to help cope with any issues that may arise during the day time.
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