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ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and is one of the most common childhood disorders. Symptoms include inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, but everyone is different and symptoms differ from person to person.

ADHD In Childhood

Having a child with ADHD can be extremely challenging!

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The most important thing you can do is to manage and reduce the levels of stress in your home! 

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  • Learn as much as you can about ADHD and how it affects your own son or daughter

  • Make sure that your home has as much structure and routine in it as possible

  • Have a system in place for after school to make sure that home work gets completed. Use charting, pictorial reminders and timers for start behaviours

  • Whenever possible prepare your child for any changes in routine

  • Organise your home so that everything has a place and keep it as clutter free as possible, particularly in areas like bedrooms

  • If you expect your child to do some jobs around the house, help them out by writing the job down on a card

  • Know your boundaries - think about a plan in advance!

  • Learn your child's triggers and avoid them

  • Have clear rules and stick to them

  • Have clear rules to protect siblings and their property​​

Managing your child's ADHD behaviour:​

 

  • Find a good behaviour management plan that suits you. We run a Parenting Challenging Teens course, geared towards the 13 plus age group, which includes 2 sessions for the young people themselves. See the 'What's On' section for details of forthcoming courses  

  • Make sure that adults who come in to contact with your child at home follow the same rules / techniques as you

  • Decide which behaviours are worth doing battle with

  • Deal with a challenging behaviour immediately

  • Be consistent with your punishment

  • Recognise when your child has made an effort - even if its completely wrong

  • Know your boundaries - think about a plan in advance!

  • Learn your child's triggers and avoid them

  • Have clear rules and stick to them

  • Have clear rules to protect siblings and their property

 

Use Positive Language

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  • Without meaning to we can cause problems for ourselves just by the way we speak to our children

  • Try not to get in to arguments with your child

  • Develop your listening skills

 

Avoid

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  • Focusing on failure - look for the positives whatever the situation

  • A structure-less environment with little routine

  • Responding to conflict with more conflict

  • Getting into arguments

 

Parents Survival Guide

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It can be very stressful to raise a child with ADHD and to make matters worse many parents become isolated from relatives, friends and neighbours.

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Your well-being is vital to your family so here are some tips...

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  • Find someone who you can talk to for understanding and support

  • Become active in a support group

  • Take it in turns for time off for you

  • If a situation is causing you stress - give yourself the ‘time-out'

  • Exercise regularly

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