Raising a child with ADD/ADHD is no easy task and can often feel overwhelming. Mastering positive behavior strategies and knowing how to support and guide your child is fundamental to parenting a child with ADHD without losing your mind!
First, let’s make sure we have a good understanding of what we are dealing with:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects the way a child processes information and interacts with their environment. The effects are difficulty in focusing, controlling impulses, and managing emotions.
Over the last twenty years, we’ve gone from 1 in 20 children to 1 in 9 being diagnosed with ADHD, and 14.5% of boys have an ADHD diagnosis.
Girls are diagnosed with ADHD half as much as boys. However, experts tell us that symptoms in girls are harder to identify.
Since girls are unlikely to be leaping over furniture, their symptoms are less noticeable. Girls usually are more likely to be inattentive and not hyperactive.
So if you think there’s been a significant increase in kids with ADHD, then you are right, and this increase is attributed to the Internet, the U.S. Educational Standards, and pharma marketing of ADHD drugs.
As a parent with a child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, you want as much information as possible. You want your child to learn how to manage the condition and lead a happy and healthy life. And one of the best things in this situation is that you, the parent, need to adjust your parenting style to help your child excel and live a happy and successful life.
Here are some tips to help you improve your parenting, resolve conflicts and get the most from your child.
Do you want your child to have strong relationships with family and friends, be emotionally stable, and have good mental health, you must show them these behaviors. They need to learn from you how to show love, care, and passion for others and how to live fully.
If you want to make life easier and help your child get control of their behavior and emotions, you need to get organized.
Visual cues are a good way to positively reinforce good behavior and help them easily keep track of what, when, and how to do what they need to do. These tools are effective and will help you and your child manage and improve behavior.
Behavioral modification is one of the most effective approaches to changing kids’ behavior. It involves setting up a system of rewards and punishments to reward positive behaviors.
Rewarding good behavior can help shape your child’s behavior and encourage them to stay on the right track.
Your child needs and wants consistent discipline for their growth and emotional development. Discipline teaches children respect, responsibility, and it will serve them for their entire life.
Studies show that yelling and nagging a child with ADHD results in higher levels of anxiety, stress and depression as they get older. It damages the trust and hurts the parent-child relationship which will have significant consequences as your child becomes a teen. Furthermore, when you yell you look weak and out of control, and you are setting a poor example.
Consistency is necessary with all kids but particularly important when parenting a child with ADD/ADHD. Consistent follow-through helps children develop better self-control, reduce negative behaviors, and build their sense of security.
Two ADHD traits are often defiance and stubbornness. Make an effort to create an environment where they feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of punishment.
Technology is a powerful motivator; it’s also an excellent tool for parenting ADHD kids. It can be used to modify a child’s behavior and reinforce good behavior, and teach new skills. It can also be a fun way to practice educational activities and new skills.
Technology can be used to both encourage and reward good behavior and new habits. It can help provide structure and support for children with difficulty concentrating.
In conclusion, every parent wants to give their child the best possible upbringing. Nevertheless, remaining empathetic and caring in the face of rebelliousness, inattentiveness, and repetitive disobedience can be very challenging. According to Dr. Sharon Saline, the most effective tactics for parents of ADHD kids are self-control, compassion, collaboration, consistency, and celebration.
Lastly, remember to find ways to connect with your child. Plan fun activities, encourage conversation, explore new apps together, watch movies, go out to eat, and do something they like. Spending time together is the best way to build stronger relationships and create lasting memories.
We hope these tips will prove useful for your child. We’d love to hear from you about the strategies that worked well for you.
Here are additional resources you might be interested in:
What a parent should know about ADHD behavior problems
Tips for selecting an ADD or ADHD private school
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