Tips For Treating ADHD: Dos And Don’ts

Understanding that a child with ADHD is not a problem but has a specific condition will help you better target your strategies.

Having a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a daily challenge, with times of frustration and a lot of stress. However, while it may seem difficult at times, giving the best education for a child with ADHD can be easier if you use a few small strategies.

The normal household routine may not work if your child has ADHD, and traditional education formulas are often not effective. It is therefore important to understand that children with this disease have different needs and reactions. It is the parents who must change the way they approach situations.

Characteristics of children with ADHD

Not all children with ADHD exhibit the same behavior, as symptoms can vary in intensity and may even manifest independently. In fact, in most cases, children with ADHD only have one or two groups of symptoms.

The three main characteristics of ADHD are hyperactivity, attention deficit and impulsivity. Each of them has specific symptoms.

Hyperactivity

• The child is restless and has trouble keeping calm
• He talks constantly, even when he shouldn’t
• He makes noises when he’s not talking
• The child has great difficulty in relaxing
• He leaves one activity unfinished and moves on to another
• He gets bored quickly

Attention deficit

• He has trouble concentrating
• The child has difficulty staying attentive for long periods of time
• He is easily distracted by things around him
• He doesn’t pay attention to details
• Also, he tends not to follow orders and instructions.
• He is messy and has difficulty organizing his tasks forgets where to leave his things
• He jumps from conversation to conversation, with no logical connection

Impulsiveness

• The child is impatient
• He acts impulsively, without thinking about what he is going to do
• It interrupts other people’s conversations or activities
• The child often grasps everything that is within reach
• He gives aggressive or domineering responses
• He does not let himself be controlled or dominated

Additionally, 70% of people with ADHD have other correlated conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What to do and not to deal with ADHD

Some adjustments in the way you behave with your child can have a very positive effect on their behavior and the way they deal with situations that arise. In the meantime, some things that work in mainstream education have negative effects on children with ADHD.

No – Use of punishment

Most of the time, when a child with ADHD disobeys instructions or does something wrong, it is not out of defiance, but out of distraction.

Dr Russell Barkley, an ADHD psychologist, believes punishment only works in the very short term. In the long run, the child will lose all motivation to do the things that are asked of him. However, he will feel anger and frustration, quickly forget the lesson, and learn to be aggressive.

Yes – Use ADHD-specific training and motivation

A study from Ohio University has shown that both training and reward have positive results. If you want your child to do something special, do it with them the first few times and praise them when they do it alone.

No – improvise rules

Children with ADHD may have difficulty understanding and remembering house rules and behavior. Learning and internalizing these may take longer, but it will be even more difficult if they are changed. He will make mistakes in the process, but don’t constantly change the rule because of it.

Yes – Set clear rules and allow for flexibility

The rules must be clear and simple, easy to follow. You can write them down on a piece of paper and place them in a visible place. The learning process won’t happen overnight, so be flexible and patient in accepting your mistakes. Remember to reward achievements one way or another and avoid punishment.

No – Individualize the problems

When there is a problem your child is not obeying or following instructions, resist the temptation to blame him. Avoid telling him he’s distracted or lazy. Don’t blame him for what he did or didn’t do with phrases like “Why didn’t you do that?” or “Why did you do that?”.

Yes – Working together to fight ADHD

Do not seek reproaches, seek solutions together. Suggest that your child be part of this solution. Use phrases like “We have this problem, how can we solve it?”. Let him suggest the measures to be taken and, if he is right, reward him with words. If his proposal isn’t the best, don’t rule him out, guide him to the right solution.

“When you work as a team with your child to correct negative behavior, you create an environment where they feel loved and supported,” says Carol Brady, a child psychologist.

No – Saying “no” without thinking

Sometimes it is necessary to say “no”, but it is better to think a little bit before directly prohibiting something. Other times, the “no” is the product of our preoccupation or the habit of controlling, rather than a real need. So it is better to think about another possible answer.

Another consideration is that children with ADHD tend to be rebellious, and excess negative responses can be a stimulus to this behavior.

Yes – Use yes to say no

If you are sure the correct answer is “no”, find a creative way to do it with “yes”. Suggest something else and negotiate. Involve him in this new proposal to encourage him. It doesn’t mean that you should never give it a negative response, but that you should find a kind way to do it.

No – Be flexible about sleeping hours

Children with ADHD often have trouble sleeping. Poor sleep increases hyperactivity and distractions.

It makes sense to think that you should let him sleep when he is sleepy, but if you do, he will not sleep long enough and therefore will not have the necessary rest for his body and mind. When he’s tired and it’s not time to sleep, do other activities that will grab his attention.

Yes – Create a sleep ritual

Design a bedtime routine. Whether it’s a nap or at night, set a fixed time for bed. Turn off all the lights, make the house as quiet as possible, and help him fall asleep.

Stop him from eating sweets, caffeinated drinks, and other stimulants. Also cut down on TV time. In short, create a ritual for sleeping.

Other considerations about ADHD

Don’t underestimate medication

If your doctor has recommended a medicine for you, you should be strict about its administration. Medication is a great help in controlling symptoms. If you have any questions or concerns, speak to your doctor.

Establish specific exercise programs for ADHD

Physical activity helps burn energy. They will also help your child to concentrate and reduce his impulsivity.

Divide the tasks into several parts

Things that may seem simple to everyone can be daunting challenges for a child with ADHD. That is why it is advisable to break them down into small activities which may be more manageable for him.

Help him make a written schedule of these activities and separate them with colors that are easier to tell apart and make them appear separate things. Don’t make a single list that they find impossible to tackle.

Limit distractions

Everything around him can get his attention. Whenever possible, create special environments for your activities. Do not put a television or video game in the bedroom where he sleeps or where he does his homework, put his toys away at bedtime, or turn off the television while the family is eating.

Take breaks

You and your child need breaks. He needs breaks between his activities so as not to feel overloaded. It’s also not a good idea for him to be dependent on you all the time. He must learn to trust himself. You also need some free time to relax and not feel overwhelmed.

Seek professional help for ADHD

Even if you think you can handle everything without help, you can’t. An ADHD psychologist will give you tools for working with your child that will open up a whole new world of alternatives for you.

You can also ask for help at home from specialized babysitters, which will allow you to take breaks knowing that your child is in good hands.