1. Communicate With the Child
It is important for both parent and child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to share a mutual understanding of the condition. Parents should be frank and open with the child and explain her condition in plain language. Avoiding the discussion or hiding information about ADHD from the child will not be helpful to her development.
Researchers have found that positive reinforcement is an effective parenting strategy for children with ADHD. This strategy can be used in tandem with open and honest communication to coax the child into cooperative behavior. Admit that you know certain situations are challenging for the child, such as concentrating on studies in a busy classroom, but make him understand that if he succeeds, his efforts will be rewarded.
2. Raise an ADHD Child's Self-Esteem
As children with ADHD move into adulthood, low self-esteem often becomes a problem. Children with ADHD often have problems socializing and managing academics, which can lead to a sense of failure and isolation. Training courses can help parents manage the ongoing self-esteem challenges faced by their children. Strategies that can be employed to buoy the child's self-esteem include supportive parenting that focuses on the child's strengths rather than her weaknesses. Together with the child's teacher and medical supervisor, try to pinpoint areas in which she struggles and work with her to find solutions. Keep your expectations realistic. Meeting moderate expectations can be beneficial for an ADHD child, while failing to meet high expectations can further damage the child's low self-esteem.
3. Things to Know About ADHD and School
Teachers can help parents manage a child's ADHD by being sensitive to the condition and taking steps to control it. It helps for children with ADHD to sit at the front of the class, which provides far fewer distractions. In addition, teachers can ensure that the child understood the day's lessons, took notes during class and has written down the day's homework. Children with ADHD must also understand that they should ask questions if they don't understand something. Because children with ADHD are often forgetful, it can also be useful to double up on school textbooks. Parents can request two copies of each text, keeping one in the home and leaving one at school.
4. Help Your Child Make Friends
Parents can use three major strategies to help children with ADHD lead more active and successful social lives. First, it is essential for the child to understand what constitutes acceptable social behavior, which parents can model. Second, arranging supervised play with other children can reinforce model behavior lessons. However, experts warn that play groups should be kept small, since children with ADHD have difficulty functioning as part of larger groups. Finally, children with ADHD need peer role models. Encourage interaction with children who display model behavior.
5. Medication Helps to Manage ADHD
Medication is a tool to manage ADHD, not a cure for the condition. Doctors normally prescribe stimulant-based drugs for initial treatments, but children who do not respond may be directed to antidepressants or other mood-affecting medicines. Some parents worry about drug side effects, and the child's doctor will be the best source of information about the full range of effects of drug treatments.
