Being the parent of a child with ADHD can be challenging, especially because it is almost never something you will be prepared for. Indeed, ADHD still largely goes undiagnosed in many children.
This is just the inevitable result of the medical ignorance about this condition. For example, there is no consensus on what actually causes ADHD, even if there is a general agreement that it’s probably a mixture of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors.
However, if your child is diagnosed with ADHD, there is certainly a lot of advice out there about how to manage the behaviorthat results from it. Furthermore, the great benefit of diagnosing the condition in childhood is that you can start preparing for the future, putting in place all the good habits and practicing the parental care which will prepare the child for navigating their important childhood years and, eventually life as an adult with ADHD.
Nevertheless, the brain is still developing at this stage of person’s life, and there is a good chance that the symptoms will lessen with time. Moreover, there are different degrees of severity to the condition.
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ADHD at Different Times in Life
Before getting onto some behavioral management tips for kids with ADHD, it is worth looking at what is particular about having ADHD at this point in life. ADHD is normally categorized according to what stage of life those with the condition are in as it effects different age groups differently.
The environmental factors are especially important. For example, if an adolescent is diagnosed with ADHD, then there is the challenge of navigating one’s particularly important school years at this time.This is because ADHD can be a hinderance at this time of life. The brain is also still developing, so that is significant factor too.
For adults with ADHD, there are all the responsibilities of adulthood to manage, which can make the condition quite difficult to deal with if it was not diagnosed earlier in life. Of course, ADHD at this time is all about practicing techniques to prevent becoming overwhelmed. Next Level Daily, a company producing a handy ADHD daily planner, say that effective time management techniques can help a lot – and there are tools to help with that.
Tips for Managing ADHD Children
Of course, though, no child is particularly adept at things like time management. That’s the downside, with the upside being they have no responsibilities and can be helped by the care of parents. If you are one of these parents, here are some tips you can follow:
Give Praise and Rewards for Good Behavior
Good behavior is what you want to encourage in any child. ADHD children, however, are usually more sensitive to criticism, which can affect self-esteem. Take care to reward good behavior, even if you really need to look for it.
Give Clear Directions
Do not over-complicate things. Get your child’s attention with a touch on the arm or shoulder and give brief, simple steps that are easy to follow. This will be easier for your child to deal with, and they will feel good for having done so successfully.
Develop Routines
Routine is important for everyone and having things in order will make it easier for the child to behave properly. For example, if homework is to be done at the same time every night, this will make it easier for them to get up the effort to concentrate during this time.
Ultimately, childhood is a great time to get good habits in place for a lifetime with ADHD. It is certainly a silver lining that you have identified the condition early.
