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Parents and ADHD

Parenting a child with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging. ADHD children may have difficulty following household rules and may be very unorganized. Parents can help children with ADHD by being both positive and consistent.

  1. Significance

    • ADHD affects up to 5 percent of all children, and usually runs in the family. Oftentimes parents realize that they too have ADHD only after their child has been diagnosed.

    Types

    • ADHD may manifest as the inattentive type, hyperactive and compulsive type or a combination of the two. Children with inattentive symptoms may seem to daydream often and may be very easily distracted. Those with hyperactive and compulsive symptoms may be constantly moving and have difficulty staying still long enough to complete a task.

    Positive Praise

    • Children with ADHD need a lot of positive praise to reinforce desired behaviors. Parents should try to keep negative interaction to a minimum. Parents may want to use behavior charts and set up some type of reward system to encourage acceptable behaviors.

    Routines

    • ADHD children need consistent routines. Parents of ADHD children should schedule the child's activites, homework time, play time and bed time to minimize arguments about tasks that need to be accomplished.

    Treatment Options

    • Some children with ADHD may benefit from treatment with medication and/or counseling. Parents should make sure children take medication as prescribed and attend all scheduled counseling sessions.

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