Parenting in general can be frustrating at times, but when you have a child who forgets his backpack at school, can't pay attention for more than a few minutes when he's working on homework and can't sit still at dinner, you're bound to get upset. It's important that you get the support that you need and that your child needs, take time-outs if you're feeling upset and understand that you're not alone.
Treatment and Self-Help
The two main forms of treatment for ADHD include medication such as a stimulant and therapy. Depending on the child's age and communication abilities, cognitive-behavioral therapy or play therapy will probably be the therapy of choice. It's important that family therapy be included in the treatment plan, because the parents play a large role in the child's success.
Parents can take steps to reduce their children's symptoms. The basic steps include encouraging healthy habits. It's critically important that your child gets regular exercise to decrease hyperactivity, gets eight hours of sleep to improve concentration and eats healthfully at most meals.
Considerations
Children with ADHD need specific rules and boundaries and a specific schedule even more than children without the disorder. Set house rules and let your child know what they are. Let him know the consequences for breaking the rules and give him rewards for following the rules. To make things easier for your child, you should have a specific morning and evening routine and stick with it, even on days when your child doesn't have school.
Misconceptions
Many children with ADHD get labeled as bad kids at school and sometimes at home, especially if they haven't seen a therapist or received a diagnosis. Your child's inability to concentrate and hyperactive and impulsive behavior isn't on purpose. She probably becomes frustrated by these issues as well and would like to fix them. Helpguide.org reports that it's important to keep things in perspective and remember that your child's behavior relates to her disorder.
Parenting Teens with ADHD
To get through the teen years with an adolescent struggling with ADHD, it's important to continue treatment. ADDITUDE reports that you should include your teen in discussions regarding consequences, because then she'll be more likely abide by the rules. Make the rules in your house clear. Write them down on paper and then sign it and have your teen sign it. If there's any question about household chores or rules regarding dating, you can point back to the contract.
Warning
Many children who struggle from ADHD also struggle with other mental health disorders, according to Kids Health. About 35 percent of children with ADHD also have oppositional defiant disorder and 25 percent also have an anxiety disorder. This can make diagnosing your child difficult. Talk about other symptoms that you notice such as anxiety, depression or learning disabilities with your child's therapist.
