ADHD and Parenting - Tips and Techniques
How to Keep Your Child's Energy from Driving You Crazy
Dec 11, 2008
As a parent of an ADHD child, you can feel like other parents don't know what you are going through on a day-to-day basis. You can feel defensive, on behalf of your child, when someone else corrects her behavior. You can feel resentment towards your child, because of the sheer energy that it takes to parent him. And all at the same time, you can love and admire your child, enjoying his liveliness and creativity! Acquiring more knowledge on ADHD will provide you with a stockpile of supplies to weather the long-haul of raising an ADHD child.
More Knowledge is Better--for You and Your Child
Educate yourself by information and experts. Surround yourself with a network of other parents with ADHD children. Other parents who have ADHD children understand what you are going through and can give encouragement. Consider Family Counseling, Group Therapy, and/or Cognitive Behavior Therapy for your family and child. Talking things out with someone can really help.
Don't assume medication is the only answer. Try Natural Alternatives like Think-O2 Tea or Gotu Kola Supplements. Try a Food Elimination diet and evaluate for other allergies. Rule out vision and hearing problems. Racking up nutrition for your child, also may help to improve behavior. Studies have shown that ADHD is linked to nutritional deficiencies in EFAs, Essential Fatty Acids, found in Fish, Flax Seed, and Hemp Seed. Nutritionally deficiencies in the B-vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and zinc can add to the severity to ADHD symptoms. Explore how Natural Alternatives can be a part of treatment for ADHD.
Providing your child with information will help her understand herself. Talk through behavior issues with your child afterwards, like a coach reviewing the game with his players. Give calm, appropriate correction directly after inappropriate behavior, then privately, you can have a “talk-time” with your child reviewing the situation. Ask her, “How could you have done it differently?” or "What could you try to do next time?" Guiding them with questions help ADHD children to learn to “think through” their actions and start managing their own behavior appropriately.
Know Your Child
ADHD often comes in tandem with other diagnoses, like Tourette's Syndrome, Sensory-Motor Problems, or other Learning Disabilities, which mixes up the batch. Know that your child is not exactly like any other child. What works for their child might not work for yours. Don't compare him to someone else. Encourage him in every way possible. Let him be who he is, and at the same time, give him tools to be successful in Society.
Be aware that your ADHD child will have different needs at different ages. Some teenagers with ADHD do not want to take medication any longer. They may refuse accommodations at school, because of insecurity around peers. Biologically, they may need a different medication, a different dose, or a different alternative treatment. Try new things and keep trying until you find what works for your child. Listen to what your child needs. She will tell you by her actions and sometimes her words.
Affection and special time with your child helps. ADHD kids often get an abundance of negative attention because of their behavior. Don't forget to give her a double dose of affection. Often ADHD children have a natural down-time, perhaps before bed. Massage helps to calm them down and shows them your affection. Keep this time as conflict-free as possible.
Know Yourself
- Realize your own limits and take quiet time for yourself. Everyone needs refueling time. Even a simple walk in Nature can help.
- Admit to your spouse or close friend when you have "had it" with your child. Don't communicate that negative feeling to your child.
- Take time to laugh and be with your child; enjoy his creativity.
Train, listen, watch, enjoy--believe it or not, in just a short time this challenging bundle of energy will be all grown up and successfully living on his own and he will thank you for your love and patience and time. And remember, kids have a great way of forgiving and forgetting our weaknesses.
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
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