Tips and Advice for Parents

ADHD is a complex disorder and each child responds differently to the symptoms. While your child will have a treatment plan that is specifically designed for him or her, here is some advice and tips that all parents may benefit from:

  • Show lots of affection. Your child is surrounded by a mix of emotions and responses to his* behavior. These responses often come in the form of negative feedback, which can be very wearing on a child. While he may receive negative feedback from others, your love and appreciation for him will remain constant. Your child needs to feel this love and you can express it in a variety of ways. A simple smile, pat on the back, or a hug shows your child that he matters to you and you care for him.
  • Set realistic goals. It’s easy to get ambitious and expect too much from your child (and you!). Set realistic goals and expectations so that success can be enjoyed by everyone.
  • Spend time with your child. While ADHD can make parts of your child’s personality challenging, take time to enjoy your child’s positive attributes. Spend quality time with your child and give him a chance to interact and receive positive attention from you every day.
  • Make sure you and your child are well rested. Fatigue makes ADHD symptoms worsen in children and it shortens the patience of adults. Prevent downfalls by ensuring that both of you get enough rest.
  • Stay organized. Help your child organize himself and his activities by maintaining a daily assignment book and schedule. You can help him organize his work by establishing a quiet place to study.

  • Find self-esteem enhancing extracurricular activities. Children with ADHD benefit from activities that highlight their talents. Activities such as art classes, music classes, dance, or tumbling offer positive outlets for energy as well as emphasize a talent. Martial arts classes such as karate or tae-kwon-do offer great opportunities to develop focus and discipline, another benefit to ADHD children. Research possible options and help your child pursue activities that matches his interests and abilities.
  • Give simple, clear directions. When given too much information at once, children will shut down and be unable to process information effectively. To avoid this, speak slowly and be very specific when describing what the child should do. Keep eye contact and give just one direction at a time. This will allow the child to fully process the information and successfully complete the task. After time, you can move up to two-step directions, but only when your child is ready.
  • Find alternatives to difficult situations. If your child has a difficult time in shopping malls because of the overwhelming amount of merchandise or a difficult time sitting through presentations because of the length of attention required, find alternatives or avoid them altogether. If it’s not crucial for your child to be there, let him stay with a friend or family member. If he needs to be there, try going for shorter amounts of time. This can save a lot of stress for both you and your child.
  • Be patient. This applies to all aspects of working with your ADHD child. Be patient in daily interactions as your child learns to control his behavior. If your child is upset, he will likely calm down to match your calm tone. Also, use patience in reaching goals and dealing with the ups and downs. Understand that many of these behaviors just take time to change; but don’t worry, you’ll make it!
  • Take time for yourself. If you are feeling stressed and tired, those feelings will be felt by your child as well. We are much more effective parents when we’re well-rested, so take a break when you need it. Everyone will benefit.

*A single gender has been used to ease reading and is not intended to reflect a gender bias in this article or this site.

Do you have a piece of advice you’d like to share with other parents? Just post it below — we’d love to hear from you!