How to Survive Parenting a Child with ADHD

Children who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are difficult to parent. Children with ADHD are not like other children: They have much shorter attention spans, and they have an enormous amount of energy. Many people do not appreciate how taxing parenting a child with ADHD can be; but those who live in a household with a child with ADHD know the challenges all too well. Read on to learn how to survive parenting a child with ADHD.

Things You'll Need

• Patience
• Self-care
• Sense of Humor

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Instructions

• 1

  Acknowledge that parenting a child with ADHD is hard work. Many parents of children with ADHD minimize just how hard it is and beat themselves up for losing their patience with their children. Instead, accept that raising a child with a special need is hard.

• 2

  Stop comparing your family to other families. Many parents of children with ADHD measure their success as parents against parents of children who do not have special needs, and they consistently find themselves coming up short. The parenting methods that work on other children often do not work on children with ADHD. Your child is not misbehaving because of bad parenting: He has a medical condition that causes him to have less impulse control than other children.

• 3

  Give your child many opportunities to burn excess energy. The more you encourage your child to do things physically outdoors, such as ride a bike or jump on a pogo stick, the less energy he will burn by being mischievous indoors.

• 4

  Put your child to bed early. ADHD symptoms are exacerbated by lack of sleep, so make sure your child gets plenty of rest. By putting your child to bed early, you are meeting his physical needs as well as giving yourself a much needed break in the evenings.

• 5

  Take time for yourself. While all parents need time to nurture themselves, parents of children with ADHD need time for self-care even more. Spend at least two hours every week doing something you love without your child. The more you recharge your own batteries, the more patience you will have with your child.

• 6

  Find the humor in your situation. Having a good sense of humor is crucial to surviving parenting a child with ADHD. As mortifying as your child's behavior can be, your child also gives you many hilarious stories to share.

• 7

  Notice the child behind the behavior. Behind the mischievous imp that keeps you on your toes is a precious little boy or girl who needs just as much love as any other child. Find ways to connect with your child lovingly in the moments in which he is not wreaking havoc.