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Work together with your child who has ADHD to figure out what routine is best for the both of you.
Parenting children with ADHD can be quite different than normal child-rearing, as you’re likely already aware. Depending on the severity and type of symptoms your child has, you may notice that following rules and household routines is a bit of a dream. While successful parenting of a child with ADHD might take more effort, and may not follow the rules your parents may have used, it can be done. While there are times in every parent's lives that will be difficult, it's important to remember that as a parent of a child with ADHD your child is unique and full of potential. When you work together with your child to find a routine that works for both of you, you might find that your child is more interesting and creative than you could have ever thought.
Create Structure
One of the struggles that many children (and adults if we’re being honest) face is known as decision fatigue. In short, as we go through the day making decisions, even simple choices can become frustrating if we’re too tired. For children with ADHD, decision fatigue can often rear its head quicker, and more frequently, especially when they are not fully able to communicate their feelings and needs. Creating a simple structure and routine, such as laying out clothes for the next day the night before, and establishing rituals for before playtime, homework, meals, and bedtime can be highly effective. These tools allow your child to have a say in their daily lives so that they feel responsible and in control without creating decision fatigue.
Break Up Tasks
It can be easy for all children to become overwhelmed when confronted with seemingly large tasks. Keeping schedules and tasks simple and organized can go a long way toward creating a conflict-free home. Having a large calendar with tasks separated into discrete chunks can help make each item feel more surmountable. Likewise, be sure that the spaces you provide your child to accomplish these tasks don’t add to their stress levels. Allowing areas of quiet and keeping your home clutter free and organized are essential steps towards success.
Encourage A Vocabulary For Success
One of the many problems all young children, but particularly children with ADHD, face is how to express themselves in ways that are conducive. Often, they find themselves unable to get across what’s wrong or what they need, and then begin to act out because it’s the only thing they can do. Creating an environment where your child has better means to express themselves can be difficult, but it is possible. Having an extended emotion chart visible in your home is a good start. We often only speak about basic ranges of emotion - happy, sad, mad - so how will your child know what more complicated emotions like -anxious, lethargic, frustrated- are? Giving them the means to understand and express these more complicated emotions can help significantly when they have them.
Welcome to Family Service Foundation, Inc.!
Family Service Foundation, Inc. has been serving the greater Maryland area since 1936. This nonprofit organization helps residents in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Frederick County, and Prince George’s County across a span of different areas such as mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. We also provide interpretation services for deaf and deaf-blind individuals. To learn more, call us at 240-241-7249 or visit here. Categories: Mental Illness | Tags: depression, mental health, and mental illness This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2018 at 2:40 pm . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
