Help for parents of ADHD children

For most children attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral disorder that tends to lead children to act without thinking. Approximately 8 to 10 percent of school-aged children are affected by ADHD, and it typically affects boys more than girls. Typically, the parent, school, or day-care provider notices behaviors that are linked to ADHD such as:

• Inability to pay attention
  
• Organizational problems
  
• Homework problems
  
• Forgetfulness
  
• Excessive talking, fidgeting or squirming
  
• Difficulty remaining seated
  

You should keep a list of the behaviors and try to date them back to around 6 months. You and your child should contact your doctor for an ADHD test. Report to your doctor if your child has undergone dramatic life changes such as; a divorce, a move, an illness, change in school, or other events that lead to a child acting out or becoming forgetful.

Almost always ADHD is diagnosed by the first grade. Preschool or elementary teachers usually notice common behaviors linked to ADHD and contact the parents to discuss their child's problems. ADHD cannot be cured but it can be managed. Most children have a reduction in ADHD symptoms as they develop through late childhood and early adolescence.

As a parent of an ADHD child, you may find it hard to cope with the everyday stresses you encounter. There are strategies for managing and learning to live with ADHD. Learning patience is one of the best things you can do as you and your child learn to live with the daily effects of ADHD. Here are a few of the most popular strategies you can use to cope with ADHD.

Involvement in Sports, Arts and Music

One of the best ways to teach memorization and patience is to involve your child in sports, arts, or music. This allows your child to interact with others their age and learn how to share (by passing the soccer ball) and wait their turn. Involvement in music lessons, such as the piano has been shown to help children with ADHD learn memorization. By removing all distractions from the area your child practices and setting a daily schedule to help your child stay consistent, will teach patience and memorization. These activities will help a parent of an ADHD child as well, as you can get a little break and enjoy watching your child have success.

Exercise

Exercise has been proven to be one of the best things to reduce stress and increase your overall health. The endorphins released into your body from exercise will help calm your body and increase your patience with your child suffering from ADHD. It is also a great idea to have your child exercise with you as it can help reduce their excessive energy.

Quiet Time

Having at least 30 minutes a day all to yourself can help you refocus your negative energy and turn it into positive energy. Take the time to go outside and read a book or magazine. Even "roosting" in your bedroom and taking a short nap or just some time to yourself can make a world of difference in dealing with your child that has ADHD.

Homework Time

This is often considered one of the most stressful and frustrating times for the parent and the child suffering from ADHD. Instead of sitting at the kitchen table, set up a desk in a separate room where there are less distractions for your child. Then sit with them one on one and help them with their homework. Many ADHD children concentrate better if they have "white noise" in the background. Using instrumental background music can be a great help to a child with ADHD.

Children with ADHD need reminders to help them stay on task. Try writing down all the tasks that your child needs to accomplish for that day on an index card and place it in their pocket. Then, they will remember to look at it and check off everything they have finished for that day. Many kids with ADHD do better with an organizer in their pocket or even in their backpack.

Teach your child how to write down notes in school, or take a tape recorder to class so they don't miss important information given by the teacher. Some children with ADHD begin to have their minds wander and loose track of important information they need for their homework. This can also help you as a parent when homework time comes and your child needs help.

Boredom

As you know, your child with ADHD can become bored very quickly. Try to avoid low or high stimulating activities and environments. When children become bored or over stimulated, they tend to act out by moving around or playing during times when they need to sit still. This causes frustration to teachers and parents. If your child is bored in school, you may need to look into special classes that allow them to be one on one with a teacher or with a smaller group of students. Also, try to avoid situations where you know your child is bored and will act out. Practice sitting still for 15 minutes each day with your child.

Teach them about how there is a time and a place for certain behaviors. For example, if you are a church-going family, many children are expected to be quiet in the meetings. This can be extremely challenging for a child with ADHD. By taking coloring books or crossword puzzles, they can work on focusing their excess energy on solving that instead of interrupting the meeting. Try to avoid doing over-stimulating activities in the evening. It takes a child with ADHD a long time to calm down if they are hyper from their birthday party an hour ago.

Punishment

For a parent, punishing a child with ADHD can be quite the difficult task. If you have ever seen Nanny 911, you may know how some of those parents feel. Discuss with your child acceptable and unacceptable behaviors before they do something that would make them be in "time out". If your child misbehaves and they need to be punished, never scream or hit your child, stay calm and calmly tell them that they need to go in "time out". Then, have a designated place such as the stairs or an area in your home when they will not be distracted by their siblings or television. Try giving them headphones with classical music so they cannot become distracted by noises. If handled appropriately, you will have a better relationship with your child since they will know your limits.

The same thing pertains to bed time. Don't have a dark, quiet room for sleep. Many children with ADHD can be an under stimulating situation and they may not fall to sleep quickly. You will find they create their own stimulation by being hyperactive in bed and prevent themselves from falling to sleep. Having a little bedtime music and a night light can do wonders for your child with ADHD. This allows their mind to focus on the music instead of playing with their toys or talking to imaginary friends.

Social Situations

As a parent, you may become easily frustrated with your child if they interrupt others instead of listen. Many children with ADHD talk too much and often too fast. Try having simple reminders to remind your child to "calm down" during times when you are socially interacting. Teach your child that it is inappropriate to interrupt others and teach them how to listen before they are allowed to speak. Try cuing your child with facial gestures or hand signals that they are talking when they shouldn't be. Most children are unaware of this behavior and by pointing it out in a positive manner; they will learn how to correct it.

By implementing a few of the coping methods above, you will find that both you and your child can cope with ADHD. Again, patience and understanding are the best tools you have to help your child and yourself. Think of ADHD as a different approach to learning and living instead of as a problem. Remember that your child just has a busy personality and you need to keep them occupied.

It is important to take time for yourself. Re-charge your body with solo time, exercise, or short naps. This will give you the added energy you need to keep up with your busy body child. Take your child for a short walk each day and discuss your days at school and work, not only does this serve as exercise for both of you, but you will find your relationship with your child strengthen. You can learn together by talking to each other and discuss what strategies are working and which ones are difficult for both of you. By starting these techniques early, you won't have the frustrations with your child that many other parents have with their child who has ADHD. You can also make a great impact on your child's future by spending time helping them instead of punishing them for their disorder.