ADHD Help: Parenting Tips for Children with ADHD
Parenting a child with ADHD can be overwhelming, frustrating, and challenging. Since attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have varying degrees of severity and symptoms, there are no hard fast rules. But with a person-centred approach which you will get from the ADHD parenting tips in this article, children can perform better at home and even in school. Also, don’t forget that The ADHD Centre in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire are home to some of the best healthcare professionals that can provide the best care for people with ADHD. Children with ADHD can experience poor impulse control, and this will lead to awkward or inappropriate behaviours. But one of the essential things that every parent needs to understand is that ADHD is a functional difference in the brain.
Having ADHD doesn’t imply that your child can’t learn what’s right or wrong; instead, it means that parents need to come up with other ways they can support their children in developing positive behaviour while coping with the symptoms of ADHD. So, as a parent, you need to adapt your way of interacting with your child and leverage some of the simple rules for parenting a child with ADHD. This includes emotional language, speech, gestures, as well as the physical environment. Being consistent with these strategies is crucial for a child with ADHD. By adopting a supportive and structured approach, most challenging behaviours can be reduced drastically, and your child will flourish.
Generally, children with ADHD have deficits in “executive function”. This has to do with their ability to think and also plan, control impulses, organize, and complete tasks. So, as a parent, you need to take over as the executive – providing additional guidance as your child slowly acquires his/her own executive skill. While most of the symptoms of ADHD in children can be exasperating, you should understand that your child is not wilfully embarrassing, ignoring, or annoying you.
Parents should be Involved
Okay, let’s begin with some of the ADHD parenting tips. The best way to start is for a parent to know in coping with the symptoms of ADHD in child. You should understand all the symptoms that children with ADHD might have so you don’t get frustrated with your child. Hopefully, you must have taken your child to see a medical professional who would recommend the right treatment; you’ll find many of them in your areas as well as in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Ensure that you complete all therapy appointments and give your child any recommended medicines at the right time. It’s wrong to change the dose without the permission of your doctor. Also, make sure your child’s drugs are safely kept away.
Understand how ADHD Affects Your Child
Interestingly, every child is different, so you need to discover the difficulties that your child has due to ADHD. While some children need to improve on paying attention and listening, others just need to improve on slowing down. You can get useful tips from your child’s therapist on how to assist your child practice and improve. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone; you can ask for help from therapists, teachers, and doctors. If possible, join an organized support group created for parents of kids with ADHD.
You need to Establish Structure and Adhere to it
Generally, children with ADHD have a higher chance of completing tasks if the task occurs in predictable places and in predictable patterns. So, as a parent, you must create a structure in your home and sustain it. This helps your child to know what to expect as well as what they’re expected to do at home. So, what are other tips for helping your kid with ADHD to remain organized and focused?
Leverage clocks and timers
You can actually place clocks in several locations in your home and have a big one in your child’s bedroom. The purpose of the clocks is to help for transitional times like getting set for bed or finishing homework.
Make sure your child’s schedule is simplified
Although avoiding idle time is crucial, your child may likely be more distracted, especially when there are several after-school activities. So, it would be a great idea if you can make some adjustments to your kid’s after-school commitments. However, this should be based on the demands of particular activities and the individual child’s abilities.
Be organized and create a quiet place
It’s crucial that your child with ADHD has a private and quiet space of his/her own. A bedroom is just fine provided it’s not the same location where your child goes for a time out. Make sure your home is organized and let your child learn that everything has its place. As much as possible, you need to learn to lead by example with organization and neatness.
Always Keep Your Child Busy
Idle time for children with ADHD may actually worsen their symptoms and even create chaos in your home. While keeping your child busy, make sure you don’t pile up so many things because your child may be overwhelmed. You can sign your child up for an art class, music or sports. It’s possible to organize simple activities that will keep your child engaged like playing a board game with a sibling, drawing a picture, or helping with cooking.
Encourage Movement and Sleep
Since Idle time for children with ADHD usually have the energy to burn, you need to always encourage movement – physical activities that will help get their energy out in a healthy way. To assist your child in getting better rest, consider the strategies below:
- Eliminate caffeine from your kid’s diet.
- Try spending some time cuddling your child to help build a sense of security and love. This will also serve as a time for your child to calm down.
- Reduce television time and increase exercise and activity levels during day time
- Identify quieter activities for your child like reading, colouring, or playing quietly.
- A scent may help to calm your child, so make use of lavender or any other aroma in your child’s room.
- Find relaxation tapes as background noise for your child while falling asleep..
Help your child to Eat More Healthily
Don’t allow your child to watch television shows that are filled with junk food ads. As much as possible, provide your child with vitamin and mineral supplement.
Help your child to Improve Social Skills
Children with ADHD must know how to make friends, which is something hard for children with ADHD to do. So, speak honestly and gently with your child about their challenges and ways to make changes. Always make space and time for your child to play and don’t forget to always reward good play behaviours.
Presently, research into ADHD is ongoing; whether sociological, psychological or medical; new and better ways of living with ADHD are being tested. Also, there is an increasing level of social acceptance of ADHD than ever before with the growing support of parents and caregivers. To get professional assistance, you can ask your doctor or call the ADHD Centre directly for the best healthcare professionals in your area; we have a centre in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. We are capable of providing the best care for people with ADHD. Although parenting a child with ADHD has its challenges, you have to plan how to take care of your child with ADHD, and with time, it will become a more pleasurable and fulfilling experience.
Get Expert Help
At The ADHD Centre, we offer an ADHD Test Online for you to know or confirm if you or a loved one happens to have ADHD and if you would like some further guidance and support on managing your ADHD then please contact us at The ADHD Centre on 0800 061 4276 or via enquiries@adhdcentre.co.uk.
The ADHD Centre also offers holistic ADHD treatment and cares for both children and adults. We are also affiliated with other ADHD clinics and organisations to maximise our services. Are you living in the UK? Lovely! We also offer an ADHD Online Assessment via Zoom for Healthcare. So wherever you are in the UK, know that the ADHD Centre is always available for your ADHD needs.
