Tips for Helping Your Child With ADHD

Your child’s ADHD diagnosis has likely helped explain some of their behavior. Perhaps the kindergarten teacher told you your child can’t sit still during circle time. At home, it may seem like your child has a battery that propels constant movement. 

Board-certified pediatric neurologist Dr. Charles Niesen and our team at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, help many families who have a child with ADHD. We offer numerous resources and provide guidance to help your child reach their full potential. 

Following are tips for supporting your child with ADHD. 

Create structure and routine 

Your child with ADHD may struggle with following directions, remembering instructions, picking up toys, doing the correct homework assignments, and organizing tasks. 

If your child is in kindergarten or elementary school, you can help them at home by creating and posting a large checklist of things they need to do throughout the day: brush their teeth, put the dishes in the sink, set the table, and so on. 

Place a gold star by each task your child accomplishes. At the end of the week, provide a simple reward for completing the tasks on the list. 

If your child is in middle or high school, many homework assignments are posted online so both parents and children can see them. With your tween or teen, set an established time and place for homework. 

If they have trouble completing assignments and get off track, have them set a timer to see how much they can get done before the timer goes off. The timer provides extra external structure. 

Use movement 

Your child with ADHD needs to be able to move throughout the day. Work with their school to incorporate ways for your child to move. Ask their teacher to assign your child to organize the books in the room or collect papers. 

Build in breaks during homework. Have a three-minute dance party to your teen’s favorite song. When homework is done, agree on a reward such as watching a TV show or using their phone for a prescribed amount of time. 

At night, have your tween or teen pick out what they’re wearing to school the next day and lay it out on a chair. Have one place for their backpack and shoes for the next day. 

Some parents find it helpful to shut off electronics at a certain time each night with phones and tablets outside their teen’s bedroom to avoid texting through the night and sleeping at school. 

Keep instructions short and make eye contact

Have your child look at you when you talk to them. When asking them to do a chore at home, use eye contact and then point to what needs to be done. Keep words to a minimum. Your child’s brain is so busy that too many words simply become noise. 

Your child may have trouble ending one activity and moving to another. Use a timer to designate that it’s time to move to another task in five minutes. 

Use praise 

Because your child sometimes lacks self-control, they may receive more criticism than children without ADHD. Constant criticism damages their self-esteem. 

Try creating five positive interactions for every criticism or negative interaction with your child. Find good behaviors to praise. 

Create special time with your child

Designate time during the week to do something fun with your child that doesn’t involve screens. Plan enjoyable activities you know your child likes, whether it’s playing catch, going for a hike, or riding bikes. Focus on developing a strong parent-child bond. 

Call our office at AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today forprofessional help in guiding your child with ADHD to adulthood.