Challenges of Parenting an ADD/ADHD Child
How ADD Affects the Entire Family, and Parenting Tips
Oct 9, 2008
Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, are characterized as being inattentive and impulsive. They may be extremely active, restless, and fidgety. They may have difficulty paying attention and forget things easily. Children with ADD and ADHD often do not think before speaking and may have difficulty in school.
In social situations, ADD children may not recognize the usual social cues and may interrupt frequently, chatter incessantly, or bounce from one subject to the other. It may be difficult for them to make and keep friends.
It may be also be problematic for ADD children to complete tasks both at home and at school, and they may have poor organizational skills. They may make careless mistakes in their schoolwork and have difficulty following instructions from parents and teachers. They may become easily bored and have trouble staying still. These children may need constant reminders to get things done. It takes an enormous amount of dedication on behalf of parents to raise an ADD child with discipline, love, and patience.
Challenges of Parenting an ADD/ADHD Child
When a child has ADD/ADHD, it affects the entire family just the same as if the child had any other disorder. The effects of ADD are not limited to the child alone. Parents and siblings also have numerous issues to face.
- Siblings may feel frustrated or angry that the ADD brother or sister tends to get more attention, even if it is negative attention. Parents of ADD children are often preoccupied with doctor’s appointments, teacher conferences, and similar interventions.
- Particularly if one parent has also been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, there may be a great deal of frustration, anger, and blame between the parents.
- It may be difficult to attend normal outings or family functions. Parents may be ashamed or resentful of their ADD child, or may feel they have to apologize for their child or explain the child’s actions to people constantly.
- It can be very difficult to discipline a child with ADD.
- Parents may get frequent calls from teachers or principals regarding their child’s behavior.
- Parents may lose their patience when trying to find the time to deal with doctors, teachers, and counselors about the child.
- Parents have to make the personal, difficult decision of whether or not to medicate their child for ADD. Consequently, there may be the extra financial burden of doctor’s visits and prescription medication.
- Parents may feel hopeless that their child will never be "normal" or have a normal future, especially when contemplating the statistics pointing toward an ADD child’s tendency to become sexually promiscuous, addicted to alcohol or drugs, or engaged in criminal activity.
- Parents face the challenge of teaching their ADD child to function with the label of ADD, and teaching them that they have unlimited potential and can still do great things with their lives.
Tips for Parenting an ADD Child
- Make sure to give attention to all children in the home, and assure each of them of their importance. Praise them for positive accomplishments.
- Help direct them toward the subjects in which they have an interest. Encourage them to do well in school and support their efforts.
- Parents will need to work with their child’s school regarding ADD and any potential learning disabilities. Alternative lesson plans or frequent parent-teacher conferences may be warranted.
- Expose the ADD child to as many people and places as is reasonable or tolerable. They will not learn how to function if they are kept isolated. Only by immersing in the real world can the ADD child truly learn to function.
- It is best to establish a strict routine for the ADD child so that the rules are clearly established. ADD children have an even firmer need for boundaries and expectations than other children. Discipline should be even across the board between parents.
- It may be helpful to make a chore chart that the child can follow daily. Reward and praise him highly for following through.
- Parents need to make sure that for every negative reaction they have toward their child, they need to have at least two positive reactions. No child should get attention just for doing wrong.
- Remember that the ADD child is just that – a child. They need to have fun, friends, and a normal childhood without constant mention of their problems or negative qualities.
Encouraging Friendships in ADD Children
Getting ADD Kids Attention at Home and in School
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