For those of us that have been through the experience of parenting ADHD children we can look back and think about what we should have done, or could have done better.
But if you are in the mist of parenting ADHD children all of the sudden there may be no clear cut solutions and you may feel as if no matter what you do things simply continue to go downhill.
I am here to say that from my perspective there aren't any really easy quick fix solutions that can turn your disorganized daydreaming academically challenged ADHD child into a model picture of focus and academic prowess.
Nevertheless, I will offer up a few idea that worked well for me and hopefully you will be able to extract a few pearls of wisdom to help you both now and later on.
*My first suggestion is to sit down, when you have a quiet moment or two, and list the areas you believe your child could improve on.
Is it academically? Is it socially? Do you wish your ADHD child got into trouble less often? Or is it all of the above and more? When writing this list be honest with yourself.
I know for me I tended to be less than honest, always giving them a break, thus reducing my effectiveness in parenting my ADHD children.
Don't do it! It will only hurt in the long run.
Once you have determined the problems you are trying to solve then it is time to set expectations and rules.
This is not done by yelling, screaming, hitting, teasing, or arguing.
Simply be level headed, loving, and straight to the point.
Remember children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder not only tend to exhibit the primary symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity but also can easily develop secondary mental health concerns such as low self esteem, hopelessness, and depression.
Surprisingly, it is the secondary symptoms that may produce the bulk of the challenges involved in treatment going forward, so parenting ADHD children is as much as avoiding the secondary symptoms, when possible, as it is about treating the primary symptoms.
*My second suggestion is don't be vague when laying down the rules.
One of the common behaviors exhibited by ADHD children is to only hear what they want to hear.
It is also important for everyone to be on the same page when parenting ADHD children.
Nothing is more confusing to those with attention deficit disorder than to receive mixed messages at home or at school.
In other words one parent or teacher laying down the law only to have another tell them it is not the case.
Do your best to get everyone on the same page.
*My third suggestion is to reward positive behavior and always reinforce your love for them.
When your child shows improvement in school, in their behavior, or begins to interact better socially, let them know how great you think they are doing.
Give them a big hug and tell them how much you love them.
If something more formal is your cup of tea reward their positive behavior with a trip to see a movie, buy them that video game they have been wanting, or let them stay up a little later than normal doing something they enjoy.
*My fourth suggestion for parenting ADHD children, and the one that seemed to do the trick for my kids was getting them involved in athletics.
Athletics seem to be very helpful in improving attention span and social skills.
It also may make them focus on personal goals they want to achieve.
Some ADHD children will gravitate toward team sports, others will tend to like individual sports better.
It was my experience that both types of sports proved beneficial.
In summary, parenting ADHD children has it challenges and takes on a different form depending on the personalities involved.
Hopefully, you will be able to use the above ides to find the key that unlocks the door to your child's academic and social success.