Parenting Tips: How to Help Your Child Navigate ADHD
You’ve heard the stories, encountered the myths, and felt the fears. How in the world can I parent a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Parenting is challenging enough, but ADHD, too? How can I learn what I need to know and apply it to benefit my kid?
What you can’t initially see is that you are more than able to get informed and do the right thing as a parent. There are countless resources available to you. With commitment, patience, and open-mindedness, you and your child can navigate ADHD. Let’s get that process started with this post.
A Little About ADHD
Most frequently diagnosed during childhood, ADHD is a neurodevelopment disorder that — as the name implies — manifests in any combination of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. From constantly being on the go to a tendency to interrupt others, the symptom list is long and frustrating. Since ADHD has the potential to interfere with daily functioning, parents must step up and help their children navigate the sometimes stormy seas.
Parenting Tips: How to Help Your Child Navigate ADHD
Rules
If your child has problems staying on task, it can result in related problems and misunderstandings. Thus, you may have to be the voice of reason and discipline. Clear rules and clear conversations about consequences may not sound like much fun but they can be a vital part of your child’s success. Be consistent, but keep the door open for flexibility when necessary.
Routines
A structure may become your child’s best friend. Routines and rituals can keep them focused on important daily chores and tasks. Left to their own devices, they may find themselves falling behind on deadlines and assignments. Introducing structure can be very effective in building self-esteem and resilience.
Simplify
Your child will almost certainly benefit from order and cleanliness. If their space is neat, quiet, and organized — if your entire home is like this — distractions are minimized. Also, when it comes to their work, it helps them to break larger tasks into smaller parts. Work with them to gauge what approaches facilitate healthy focus and more sustained attention.
Encourage
Be a parent who encourages choices without turning them into points of contention. For example, gently guide them to prioritize exercise and physical activity on a daily basis while maintaining a steady sleep routine. Take an approach that encourages such practices by allowing your kids to experience the quality of life improvement they bring. More generally speaking, get in the habit of praising good behavior and expressing confidence about the areas in which they need work.
Playtime
For any child — with or without ADHD — it’s difficult to get them to do something they don’t find interesting. You can have a far greater success rate by turning chores and therapy exercises into playtime. For young kids in particular, you can address specific ADHD concerns with approaches like role-playing and storytelling. At other times, you can give them space for non-directed play. Observing them when they self-play can offer very useful input as to where they might feel confident or insecure.
Your Role in Their Treatment
Your child’s healthcare team only interacts with them on a limited basis. Thus, they will rely on you, the caretaker, to fill in the gaps. Pay close attention to your kid’s day-to-day to become better positioned to assist a therapist. In turn, stay connected with teachers, coaches, and others who spend time with your child. The more you know, the more personalized treatment can be.
You didn’t expect ADHD to be part of your child’s everyday life, but if it is, you can positively influence the situation. To learn even more about ADHD therapy, I invite you to reach out.