How to support a child with adhd
5 tips to manage ADHD in children
Speaking of Health
Topics in this Post
- Family Medicine
- Pediatric Medicine
- Children's Health (Pediatrics)
- Child Development
Does your child have difficulty focusing on an activity or seem impulsive in behavior? When symptoms are severe enough and cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your child's life, it could be a sign of a neurobehavioral disorder, such as ADHD.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
Children with ADHD also may struggle with low self-esteem, school anxiety, troubled relationships and poor performance in school. Symptoms sometimes lessen with age. However, some people never completely outgrow their ADHD symptoms. However, they can learn strategies to be successful.
ADHD subtypes
- Inattentive ADHD
Formerly referred to as ADD, people with inattentive ADHD display symptoms of inattention, but do not possess symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity. - Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD
This subset of ADHD display symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity, but do not display symptoms of inattention. - Combined
People with combined ADHD display symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The is the most common subset of ADHD.
Learn more about the three different types of ADHD.
Gender differences with ADHD
ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls, but research into ADHD in adulthood suggests an almost equal balance between men and women. A lower diagnosis rate among females in childhood can result because girls with ADHD are more likely than boys to have the inattentive form of ADHD and less likely to show obvious problems.
More than half of children who experience ADHD in childhood continue to have symptoms as adults. Some women only recognize their ADHD after a child has been diagnosed and the woman begins to see similar behavior in herself. Other women seek treatment because their lives spin out of control, financially, at work or at home.
ADHD treatment
While treatment won't cure ADHD, it can help a great deal with symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications and behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in outcome.
It's also important to work with a therapist who specializes in ADHD to learn coping mechanisms that are nonpharmacological to help with ADHD symptoms and behaviors. A therapist can enhance the effectiveness of the medication and give tools to empower those with ADHD using treatments that may involve behavioral, psychological, social, educational and lifestyle interventions.
Behavioral strategies
Here are 5 behavioral strategies to help manage your child's ADHD:
1.
Give praise and rewards when rules are followed.Children with ADHD often receive and expect criticism more so than other children. This can really impact self-esteem. Some days, you might have to really look for the good behavior, but you should praise good behavior at least five times more often than you criticize bad behavior.
2. Give clear, effective directions or commands.
Make eye contact or gently touch on arm or shoulder to get his or her attention. Give brief, simple steps and short commands that get to the point rather than multiple directions or wordy statements and questions.
3. Establish healthy habits.
If your child is on a medication, it should be taken as prescribed. Contact your child's health care provider if problems arise. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet consisting of three meals, a snack and adequate fluids daily, and has an outlet for some form of daily exercise. These healthy habits will help your child to feel his or her best and help minimize ADHD symptoms.
4. Develop routines around homework and chores.
Work together to make a checklist of what needs to be done surrounding daily chores, getting ready for bed and school for your child to refer to when he or she gets off task. Encourage your child to use a daily planner so he or she is aware of all homework assignments. Have an established time and location for homework, and use a timer to remind your child to show you how the homework is going two to four times per hour. Factor in brain breaks if your child needs them and movement between tasks or use of an appropriate fidget.
5. Help your child build relationships, strong social skills and maintain friendships.
Be a good role model of behavior you want your child to use. Factor in some special time three to five days a week with your child that is conflict-free and does not involve a screen to help maintain a strong parent-child relationship. Help your child develop at least one close friendship. With younger children, parents may need to take the lead to arrange and host play dates or get kids involved in activities where there are kids the same age.
Get tips for helping your child develop social skills.
Amanda Logan is a nurse practitioner in Family Medicine in Janesville, Minnesota.
For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Topics in this Post
- Family Medicine
- Pediatric Medicine
- Children's Health (Pediatrics)
- Child Development
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Parenting a Child With ADHD (for Parents)
How ADHD Affects Kids
ADHD causes kids to be more inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive than is normal for their age.
ADHD makes it harder for kids to develop the skills that control attention, behavior, emotions, and activity. As a result, they often act in ways that are hard for parents manage.
For example, because they are inattentive, kids with ADHD may:
- seem distracted
- seem not to listen
- have trouble paying attention
- not follow directions well
- need many reminders to do things
- show poor effort in schoolwork
- have trouble getting organized
Because they are hyperactive, kids with ADHD may:
- climb, jump, or roughhouse when it's time to play quietly
- fidget and seem unable to sit still
- rush instead of take their time
- make careless mistakes
- be on the go (constantly in motion)
Because they are impulsive, kids with ADHD may:
- interrupt a lot
- blurt out
- do things without thinking
- do things they shouldn't, even though they know better
- have trouble waiting, taking turns, or sharing
- have emotional outbursts, lose their temper, or lack self-control
At first, parents might not realize that these behaviors are part of ADHD.
It may seem like a child is just misbehaving. ADHD can leave parents feeling stressed, frustrated, or disrespected.
Parents may feel embarrassed about what others think of their child's behavior. They may wonder if they did something to cause it. But for kids with ADHD, the skills that control attention, behavior, and activity don't come naturally.
When parents learn about ADHD and which parenting approaches work best, they can help kids improve and do well.
How Parents Can Help?
Parenting is as important as any other part of ADHD treatment. The way parents respond can make ADHD better — or worse.
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD:
Be involved. Learn all you can about ADHD. Follow the treatment your child's health care provider recommends. Go to all recommended therapy visits. If your child takes ADHD medicines, give them at the recommended time. Don't change the dose without checking with your doctor. Keep your child's medicines in a safe place where others can't get to them.
Know how ADHD affects your child. Every child is different. Identify the problems your child has because of ADHD. Some kids need to get better at paying attention and listening. Others need to get better at slowing down. Ask your child's therapist for tips and ways you can help your child practice and improve.
Focus on teaching your child one thing at a time. Don't try to work on everything at once. Start small. Pick one thing to focus on. Praise your child's effort.
Work with your child's school. Talk with your child's teacher to find out if your child should have an IEP or 504 plan. Meet often with teachers to find out how your child is doing. Work with the teacher to help your child do well.
Connect with others for support and awareness. Join a support organization for ADHD like CHADD to get updates on treatment and info, etc.
Find out if you have ADHD. ADHD often runs in families.
Parents (or other relatives) of kids with ADHD might not know they have it too. When parents with ADHD get diagnosed and treated, it helps them be at their best as parents.
Discipline with purpose and warmth. Learn what discipline approaches are best for a child with ADHD and which can make ADHD worse. Get coaching from your child's therapist on ways to respond to your child's behaviors. Kids with ADHD might be sensitive to criticism. Correcting their behavior is best done in a way that's encouraging and supportive rather than punishing.
Set clear expectations. Before you go somewhere, talk with your child to explain how you want them to behave. Focus more energy on teaching your child what to do, rather than reacting to what not to do.
Talk about it. Don't shy away from talking with your child about ADHD. Help kids understand that having ADHD is not their fault, and that they can learn ways to improve the problems it causes.
Spend special time together every day. Make time to talk and enjoy relaxing, fun activities with your child — even if it's just for a few minutes. Give your child your full attention. Compliment positive behaviors. Don't over-praise, but do comment when your child does something good. For example, when your child waits their turn, say, "You're taking turns so nicely."
Your relationship with your child matters most. Kids with ADHD often feel they're letting others down, doing things wrong, or not being "good." Protect your child's self-esteem by being patient, understanding, and accepting. Let your child know you believe in them and see all the good things about them. Build resilience by keeping your relationship with your child positive and loving.
Reviewed by: Shirin Hasan, MD
Date reviewed: May 2022
How to help a child with attention deficit - Neuroflex
Your child sat down to do homework, but after half a minute was distracted by the noise outside the window.
It seems that he just cleaned things, but now he is playing with the cat. I was going to change clothes, but sat down at the tablet. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder find it difficult to focus on one thing. We have collected recommendations that will help the child cope with impulsivity and make life easier for the family.
7 minutes 903
What to do . Make a schedule for the child, write down what time he goes to school, eats, does his homework, walks or plays. If there is too much to do, try combining two or three items into one. For example, "Do your homework in math and literature" or "Put toys in a box and clothes in a closet."
Hang the printed chart on the wall and invite your child to mark things off for themselves so they can keep their attention. And so that he can keep track of time, use a timer.
For example, you know that it takes a child, on average, half an hour to complete math homework. Put a timer on the table where he does his homework and ask him to keep track of the time.
To reduce your planning effort, try streamlining the process. Think about whether there are days during the week when the modes coincide. For example, on Mondays and Thursdays, the child is at school until 12:00, and at 15:00 he goes to the pool. This means that you use the same schedule on these days of the week.
Give clear instructions
Why . Attention-deficit children have a harder time understanding what their parents and teachers expect of them. General instructions like "clean up your room" don't work with them.
What to do . Give your child as specific instructions as possible. For example, don't ask him to clean up the bedroom or get ready for school. Say: “Please put the toys in the box and put the clothes from the chair in the closet” or “Put a pencil case, notebooks and Russian language and mathematics textbooks in your backpack.
Put your gym clothes and sneakers in the bag." Most likely, with this approach, it will be easier for the child to fulfill your request.
Give your child brief but specific instructions
Remove distractions
Why . Attention-deficit children cannot help but react to factors that ordinary people can easily cope with. To make it easier for your child to do their homework, organize a study space for them.
What to do . Place your desk in the middle of the room, away from windows and doors. Lock your pets in another room. Put away your phone, laptop, tablet.
Help your child get started: place notebooks, textbooks, stationery on the table. Together plan what to do: which paragraph to read or which example to solve.
Contact a child psychologist
Why . Psychotherapy is one of the effective methods of correcting behavior in children with attention deficit.
In a playful way, the specialist will find out what worries the child, prevents him from performing everyday activities. It will help you better understand yourself and your characteristics, adapt to school.
What to do . Look for a psychologist or psychotherapist who specializes in your problem. Usually they are accepted in centers where they provide assistance to children with special needs.
For example, psychotherapy sessions for children with attention deficits are provided at the Neuroflex Center for Psychological Diagnostics and Cognitive Rehabilitation. The duration of one lesson is 50 minutes. The psychologist communicates with the child in private, but meets with parents, if necessary, to discuss progress and answer questions.
It may be difficult for you to accept the characteristics of the child, you feel confused, depressed or exhausted - this is normal. Psychotherapy will help you find resources to support yourself and your child.
Classes are held individually with a specialist or in a group for parents of children with special needs.
Come up with a reward system
Why . The reward system solves two problems at once. First, it creates motivation to do the job. And, secondly, it helps to balance self-esteem - children with attention deficit often feel like something is wrong with them.
What to do . Choose two or three things that the child needs to concentrate on during the month. For example, taking a change of shoes to school, putting toys in a box, or doing homework at the allotted time. It is best to choose cases that are repeated at different intervals. Suppose a child performs one action daily, and another once a week.
Think of a reward for each successful action. For daily activities, the rewards are small, such as cookies or watching cartoons for ten minutes longer than usual.
For weekly or monthly activities, the reward is more significant, such as a trip to the children's center or a new toy.
Discuss with your child what exactly he wants to receive.
Help your child release nervous tension
Why . Sports and physical activity help your child release energy in a healthy way, improve concentration and reduce anxiety.
What to do . Try to get your child more physical activity during the day. Find a playground or park near your home where your child can safely run or play.
Enroll him in the sports section. It is important that the child himself decides what he wants to do. If it is difficult for him to choose, discuss options together.
Physical activity and sports help to release excess tension
Help develop attention and memory
Why . Working on the development of attention and memory will help the child cope with learning and control impulsivity.
What to do . Enroll your child in neurocorrection classes. During them, the child performs exercises under the supervision of a specialist.
Eye rotations, raising arms and legs, rocking develop control, associative connections and spatial abilities. Speech and articulation exercises help overcome learning difficulties.
Classes for the development of attention and memory are held at the Neuroflex Center for Psychological Diagnostics and Cognitive Rehabilitation. Before starting classes, you will consult with a specialist, he will select a program taking into account the characteristics of your child.
Diagnosis of ADHD at the Neuroflex Center
ADHD: Advice for Parents - Mamarada
If a child is struggling to cope with Attention Deficit Hypermobility Syndrome (ADHD), there are several ways in which parents can support him.
How can I help a child with ADHD?
Approximately one in three people diagnosed with ADHD as a child will grow out of the condition and will not need treatment in adulthood. Children who receive specialized treatment tailored to their needs can often successfully learn strategies for coping with existing problems, improve academic performance, relationships with others, and coping life skills.
Diagnosis of ADHD requires examination by a specialist (child psychiatrist or pediatrician). The doctor evaluates the child's behavior patterns by observing, testing, and receiving reports on his behavior at home and at school. The information obtained can form the basis for an effective treatment plan so that the child can reach his full potential in life.
Key steps for parents of a child with ADHD
Here are the key approaches that can really make a difference:
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Contact your doctor or school if you are concerned that your child may have ADHD. An established diagnosis can help a child start receiving treatment and psychological help on time.
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ADHD is a family problem. Make sure that all family members understand what is happening to the child, accept it not as a disaster, but as a common illness that the child needs help with, and try to maintain a balance of attention in the family.
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Avoid giving your child with ADHD a "bad reputation" in the family.
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It is important to maintain your personal boundaries and discipline and not tolerate bad behavior such as disobedience, swearing, or violence.
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Make sure you help your child lead a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet, regular physical activity and sleep patterns.
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Give the child simple and clear instructions or requests - talk to him from a short distance, looking into his eyes, speak slowly and calmly.
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Praise your child when he has done what is required, however small (but be careful not to overpraise).
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Write lists of useful rules and post them somewhere in plain sight (refrigerator).
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Break up your child's required time at the table, such as meals and homework, into small intervals, say 15-20 minutes.
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Avoid feeding your child food additives and dyes, as there is scientific evidence that children with ADHD are especially sensitive to them.
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Find out about local parenting programs and support groups that can really help you cope better.
How do I deal with challenging behavior in a child with ADHD?
Children behave differently at different times. Feeling upset, sad, irritated, disappointed and many other emotions are a normal and healthy part of their lives. Many children go through the stages of setting and testing boundaries and are likely to be too provocative. This is especially true for children with ADHD. Sometimes younger children have tantrums, while older children may sometimes scream, rage, or even lash out at their parents or any obstacles or objects.
When we talk about “challenging behavior”, we mean behavior that is persistent and difficult to manage for both parents and the child.
This includes things like:
-
Many outbursts of anger
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Regular yelling, swearing and arguing
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Aggressive actions: hitting, biting or kicking
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Damage to things in the home or school
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Malevolence or intimidation towards other family members or children
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Constant trouble at school
The child's constant challenging behavior is tiring and demoralizing. In families, this often results in everyone feeling less positive and comfortable.
The child's behavior is a message about how he feels. When a child goes beyond acceptable limits, in order to understand the reasons for what is happening, you can imagine an iceberg. Complicated behavior is the tip, but there could probably be a range of emotions lurking underneath the surface.
By starting to talk with the child, parents can learn more about how he feels and what is happening to him.
How to talk to a difficult child?
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Find the right time and place to talk. It will be easier for your child to speak if you start a conversation during an activity.
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Make it clear to the child that the problem lies in his behavior, and not in him as a person. Let your child know that it's okay to feel how they feel, whether it's sad, angry, anxious, or whatever, and that you can work together to find new ways to deal with these feelings.
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Explain why you don't like challenging behavior so that he understands. For example, you might say that while it's okay to be angry, it hurts other people when they hit.
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Be curious, empathetic and open-minded. Focus on listening to the child and trying to understand things from their point of view.
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Use simple phrases such as “I notice you yell a lot”, “I think something is upsetting you”, “I am worried that you are not happy”, and “I need you to know that you can talk to me about what's going on."
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Reassure your child that you love him and want to help him feel happier and learn to enjoy life.
How else can you help a child with defiant behavior?
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Set clear boundaries and routines and stick to them as much as possible. You can do this by having a family agreement that includes such things as time limits for watching TV or playing computer games, meal times, and times to get out of bed and go to bed.
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Consequence warning. Your child may respond better if you communicate the consequences so they have the opportunity to change their behavior. After explaining the consequences, it is important to talk together about what happened and return to a positive interaction.
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Maintain the desired behavior. Pay attention to and reward your child when they show the type of behavior you asked them to, and be specific about why you are praising them.
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Discuss activities together that will help your child express feelings and calm down. This could be drawing, doing outdoor activities like running, jumping or your favorite sport, reading a book, writing a story, baking or making something out of plasticine or Lego.
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Help your child understand his feelings. If you show interest in your child's feelings and experiences, it will help him understand and find words to describe them. You can also help them spot signs that let them know they are about to explode, such as feeling hot, squeezing muscles, or breathing more heavily.
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Try to remain calm. You may feel frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed when your child behaves defiantly - and this is completely normal.
