Parents of kids who have ADHD worry about people labeling their children, and how they’ll cope in life. Children with ADHD struggle with disorganization, forgetfulness, and especially problems in school. Some of these parents have said that their kids tend to only live in the moment. In other words, they never learn from past mistakes and experiences. They also have no vision for their own futures.
4 Tips to Help You and Your Child Cope with ADHD
But, with the proper evaluation and effective ADHD treatment, you’ll find very bright spots in the future. With some dedication and hard work, both you and your child can learn to cope with ADHD. Here are four tips to ensure that you both function properly:
Be honest and explain to your child about ADHD. There are parents who choose to hide their child’s ADHD diagnosis from her/him. Telling kids that their ADHD medication is some type of “vitamin”, is simply a joke. Expert studies have shown that the majority of these kids know that they’re taking actual medication. By lying, you’re simply enforcing that you’re ashamed of their disorder. Therefore, they’ll be ashamed as well. It’s not their fault. So, why should they feel shame?
- Don’t use or allow your kids to use ADHD as a convenient excuse. Yes, ADHD can be considered a learning disability, depending on the expert being questioned. But, it’s definitely a disorder that can be managed quite effectively. Children with ADHD often have to work harder than other kids to obtain good grades. But, with time, dedication and your commitment to help them succeed, new habits can be formed quickly. Never allow ADHD to be an excuse for your child’s low achievements in life.
- Stay calm, but still enforce rules, regulations and consequences. Kids who have ADHD often need more reinforcements than other children. Try to set your expectations verbally, but put them in writing for reinforcement. House rules, responsibilities and chores are easier to manage when kids can see them at-a-glance. It also helps them feel a sense of achievement when they’re able to mark off completed tasks as they go. And, when they break rules, or disregard expectations, be sure to enforce the already understood consequences, while remaining calm.
- Help your kids uncover skills and discover strengths. Oftentimes, adults will compare kids with ADHD to other children. This can lead to depression and low self-esteem. These feelings can also lead to feelings of helplessness, with patches of incompetence. Your job as parents of kids who have ADHD is to help them discover strengths that outweigh their weaknesses. Then, help them develop these strengths, until they’re fully-mastered skills. Raise your expectations of your kids, even when they have ADHD, and they will raise their expectations of themselves.