Coping strategies for children with ADHD and their parents can help make day to day life easier. This article will discuss 5 coping strategies for children with ADHD, and 5 coping strategies for their parents.
Coping with ADHD is not a simple task. Incorporating a few of these coping strategies into the daily routine can help students with ADHD remain on task and behaviorally in control during class activities.
ADHD Coping Strategies
- Break down large jobs into small sections. This will help alleviate the feeling of being overwhelmed. Set a deadline for each section and reward yourself when you complete them.
- Start each day by writing out a to do list. This will help you stay organized. As a task is completed you can mark it off the list. Seeing the marked off tasks, that you have completed will be a nice boost to your confidence. This will also help keep you motivated to finish the tasks on the list.
- Focus on completing one task at a time. Create a quiet work space free of distractions and take a short break to give yourself some down time.
- Develop a daily routine and follow it. Doing things in the same order each day will help you get more things accomplished. This also includes having a set bed time and time you wake up each day.
- Eat a balanced diet and take the time to exercise each day.
Parents of children with ADHD have to learn how to parent their ADHD child effectively. Here are a few coping strategies to help parents.
Coping Strategies for Parents
- Give instruction in a clear and concise manner. Take the time to ask your child if he/she fully understand what he/she needs to do. Let them know that it is always okay for them to ask for clarification if they are not sure about something.
- Be consistent. Work closely with your child's teacher, so that the consistency carries over into the classroom.
- Be realistic with your expectations. Know your child's limitations and assign tasks that they will realistically be able to achieve.
- Set up rules and consequences for not abiding by them. Be sure that your child clearly understands the rules and consequences.
- Take the time to praise them when they complete a task. You can also set up a simple reward system for your ADHD child. Praise and rewards can motivate them to stay focused and complete their tasks.
These coping strategies can help make life easier for children with ADHD and their parents.