How to Calm Children With ADHD

Calming a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, sometimes takes extraordinary effort, as any parent of an ADHD child knows. It requires patience and perspective, and every last one of your parenting skills. If your child is having a full-blown ADHD meltdown, try the following techniques to restore calm. You may be surprised to find that modifying your reaction to your child's behavior is key.

Instructions

• 1

  Remain calm yourself. This step should always be your first, and is the foundation for any other method you may try. Your ADHD child is looking for order that he is not finding within himself--he needs to know he can find it with you. Calm yourself. Take a few deep breaths. Place your hands flat on your lap, or on the countertop, or leave them open at your sides. Count to 10. Count to 10 again, if you need to, but when you face your child, do so with composure. Do not let him see your frustration. Be the adult.

• 2

  Speak softly, but firmly. Do not raise your voice or yell; that will only contribute to the chaos. Speaking quietly will make your ADHD child realize that she must also quiet down in order to hear you. Tell her that you can't hear her words when she screams or yells, and you will be happy to listen when she can speak calmly. Then go about your business--calmly. Make sure she knows you're there for her when she's ready.

• 3

  Play some soft, slow music. Put on some old lullaby CDs or play some quiet classical or mellow new-age music. Keep the volume low, so that your child has to quiet down to hear it. Or let there be silence. Turn off the loud television. Put away the noisy toys. Send other rambunctious children into another room to play, or remove your ADHD child from the stimulating setting. Provide as calm an environment as you can for your wild child. Don't raise your voice. Remain calm yourself.

• 4

  Hold your child on your lap. Sit with him and put your arm around him. Embrace him. Be calm. Speak softly. Let him know you love him, but you don't like how he is behaving. An ADHD child does not want to be out of control, and often, all he needs is a calm and comforting parent to help him rein in his behavior. Breathe deeply and evenly, and show him how to do the same if he hasn't followed your example after a few minutes. Be a refuge, not a competing storm, and let his meltdown subside in your arms.