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Free Tips for the Parents  Problem:
Common characteristics of an ADHD child are: often forgetful
in daily activity, unable to follow through with instructions and fails to finish
tasks, and unaware of natural consequences. This constant difficulty in sustaining
attention in tasks or activities can easily run a parent’s energy down to an exhaustion
level.
Solution:
Create a "time out" area such as the bedroom which the parent consistently
uses when the child breaks one of the house rules. House rules are established
when parents and child sit down to discuss a list of items which are not allowed
as household behaviors. Such as throwing the ball in the house is allowed outside
but not inside the house or eating all foods in the kitchen area and not through
out the house. This allows the ADHD child to know what is expected of him
or her by checking the house rules. All the parent has to ask is, "What are
you supposed to be doing? Lets check the house rules." Problem:
The daily life of a parent of an ADHD child is filled with
behavioral challenges that include: interrupting or intruding on others, difficulty
awaiting their turn, and often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities
quietly. If the parent does not utilize a time out format, the energy in the room
becomes electric and tempers flare. The most critical elements which becomes harmed
is the child’s self-esteem. Solution:
The consequence of "time out" in a room, such as a bedroom, is for the
purpose of an attitude adjustment. The "time out" will last as long
as the age of the child and if the child continues the behavior, the "time
out" continues for an other segment of time. The consistent use of "time
out" for children is not punishment but rather a form of discipline where
the child is being taught behavior awareness and logical consequence. Sometimes
the parent will need to quietly stand in the doorway to encourage the child to
stay in "time out". Consistency in the maintenance of house rules and
refraining from delivering a dissertation of why this behavior is unsuitable are
the biggest challenges for the parent. Problem:
Homework for an ADHD child can be the most difficult task
of the day and another opportunity for parent and child to clash one more time.
Homework can become the most dreaded part of the day. Solution:
Have a structured home work area in your home that both you and your child have
picked together. It is not necessarily a good idea to have them at the kitchen
table where all kinds of activity is going on yet neither is the bedroom a good
idea. It is great if each child can have their own desk to work at in the family
room. They should have all they need to do their homework at their desk, therefore,
not giving them a reason to get up from the desk. Homework should be done in the
same place and at the same time every day because change does not work well with
an ADHD child. Problem:
Busy colorful room decorations, mobiles, and fluorescent lighting
stimulate and ADHD child. ADHD children even
have trouble with tags on the inside of their clothing. Solution:
Unclutter your child’s bedroom. Have as little out as possible and cut the tags
out of your children’s clothing. This will reduce the frequency of your child
being stimulated into busy nonproductive behavior. Problem:
Many times, bedtime for the ADHD child happens under great
stress. Parents tend to think that a warm bath before bed relaxes the child: not
in the case of an ADHD child. ADHD children have difficulty focusing
on going to sleep after they have had a bath because these children are actually
stimulated by a bath. Solution:
Bathe your ADHD child 90 minutes before bedtime followed by a snack, and/or
a low action movie, and story time before going to sleep. Problem:
ADHD children have difficulty making choices of clothing, thus, creating
frustration and arguments before leaving for school. The pathway to choice needs
to be made simple and easy. Solution:
Arrange a few outfits of your child’s clothing in the dresser in the order in
which they wear them from shirts to socks from top to bottom with pictures of
each piece of clothing on the outside of the drawers. This gives the ADHD
child an opportunity of dressing himself without a power struggle. | 
1998
- 2004
