Parenting Tips for Children with ADHD

A child with ADHD has some trouble in adapting with the surroundings and he may be hyperactive and off task. In most of the cases, even after frequent efforts, parents will feel helpless in creating a conducive atmosphere in the family. While bringing up a child with ADHD, parents have to deviate from the conventional style of parenting. With the help of certain strategies you can raise a child with ADHD to be confident to with elevated self- esteem and measurable learning outcomes at home and in the classroom.

Keep in mind that a child with ADHD can be successful provided you give him a loving and caring support environment with accountability and expectations. Very often parents react impulsively to child’s behavior without regarding the impact of that behavior. The parents should be conscious when and why they react in order to maintain a positive relationship with the child and not a strained one. The parent should contemplate the goal and plan the ways that lead to it as the child won’t be able to envisage goals or have self-direction by himself.

Most of ADHD children can exhibit hyperactive symptoms and so they show an urge for independence and spontaneity. Provide children with ADHD a place which is safe and sufficient to explore their freedom without leaving them alone. Physical exercises should be used to improve concentration and decrease anxiety. Find a sport that appeals to your child and give him the proper training and engagement..

Being a social person in a peer group structure is a must to teach him the techniques of effective socializing. For an ADHD child it may be difficult to adapt with the structure of the societal norms in developing interpersonal relationships and interactions. Parents should inculcate in him socializing principles which are acceptable to both the child and the society. An ADHD child won’t be able to follow the daily routine as per the time schedule, so individualized scheduling must be created for the child. Parents can either write down or give pictorial representation of the daily activities on a paper taped next to the front door, so that it will remind your child about the activities he is supposed to do. By doing so, you are teaching him the primary lessons of discipline and responsibility. Always remember to give him instructions one by one, so that, he can grasp them without much effort.

An ADHD child lacks the ability to foresee the consequences of his actions; so parents should point out the consequences. Let him know about the punishments, but avoid physical punishments. An alternative to this is ‘time out’. Here the child is instructed to spend some time in a place he doesn’t like. It must be away from the situation in which he did the mistake. Don’t leave him alone. If he repeats the mistake then prolong the duration of ‘time out’. When your child misbehaves, keenly observe the situation to find out the cause of irritation. First remove it and then discuss with your child about his behavior. Set up certain rules and explain them. Give him the idea that rules are to be obeyed. As an ADHD child can’t generalise rules remember to remind him about the rules in each situation. Parents should be consistent with punishments as well as rewards for positive behavior.

While raising a child with ADHD, always keep in mind that even though he lacks certain skills, he is talented in many ways. Have the patience to mould him as a socially fit person. Give him the moral support to convert his weakness in interpersonal bonding with peers to strength by fostering the creativity in him to pair share in groups in a different way. He may lag behind his siblings but he will definitely succeed provided, you are with him at every step showing him the way until he/she is able to function independently.

Source:

The ADD & ADHD answer book By Susan Ashley