ADHDSolutions CIC

ADHD in childhood

Having a child with ADHD can be extremely challenging!

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

• 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 provide the 123 Magic course (created by Thomas W Phelan), which is ideal for children aged 2 to 12. We also 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

• 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

• 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

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

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

• 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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