Parenting children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, presents many challenges. Parents have to practice patience with their children who often forget homework, interrupt others, throw temper tantrums and lose things. Children with ADHD also need their parents to get them treatment, make sure they're receiving needed services at school and constantly check up on them. It can be draining, but parents can avoid burning out by learning some coping skills.
Parent Together
If you have a spouse or partner, work together instead of against each other. Children and teens quickly pick up on which parent is the easy target, and they use it to their advantage. It's important that parents get on the same page with each other on all aspects of parenting their ADHD child, including treatment and discipline. Parents should also spend time alone without their children to stay connected, and can ask a grandparent to watch the children or get a babysitter for one night every other week.
Get Support
Getting support from a therapist, support group or friends and family members is especially important if there's no spouse to help handle difficult situations. The child's pediatrician should be able to give the parent referrals for counseling and support groups. Parents should not try to do everything on their own, or the situation could become too overwhelming. MayoClinic.com reports that increased stress and exhaustion can lead to poor parenting decisions. Hearing from other parents who are struggling with the same issues can help parents realize that they're not alone.
Learn About ADHD
Parents can get a lot of information from their child's doctor or from working with a mental health professional. Once parents understand why their child daydreams during his tests, has trouble making friends and can't keep his room clean, they'll probably be more empathetic, which is exactly what their child needs. Parents often have to learn about what their children need in order to advocate for those things for their children. For example, once a parent realizes that her child needs more time and a quiet place with fewer distractions to take tests and quizzes, he can speak with the child's teacher and school about meeting those needs.
Set a Routine
Children with ADHD thrive when they have an expected routine, and become less frustrated when they follow a regular schedule. After a parent has gotten her child on a schedule, parenting will become easier as well. Parents should also stick with a specific morning and bedtime routine, and attempt to schedule meals and naps for the same time each day, including on weekends.
