PARENTS
Recommendations for parents that have children with ADHD can be found below.
DISCIPLINE THE RIGHT WAY
Zoe Kessler, in her article “The Secret to No-Shout, No-Tears Discipline,” explains that spanking or yelling at children with ADHD will only worsen the condition. Using physical force on a child can lead not only to physical scarring, but to deep emotional scarring as well. Instead, Kessler suggests that parents always take a positive approach to disciplining. One tactic she recommends is creating a game with your child such as a disappearing magician; when your child acts out this game can be employed where you can suggest that you both disappear like magicians. Another method Kessler recommends is to always make consequences for actions known. If a student with ADHD has a clear understanding of the repercussions of certain actions, they are less likely to act out.
NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR CHILD
Peg Dawson, in her article titled “5 Ways to Steer Your Teen Without Hovering,” gives several tips for parents who have teenage children with ADHD. She says that teens like to have options. She recommends always negotiating with your child. She states: “When a problem arises, ask your child how they would like to solve it … Teens are more likely to participate in a plan if they feel they are an equal partner in creating the rules” (Dawson, n.d., para.4). Treating teens like they are adults with options, instead of barking orders at them is a much better approach to solving issues arising from ADHD.
EMOTIONS VS MISBEHAVIOR
A last way that parents can help teens with ADHD in particular is to realize that “an adolescent with ADHD who has an emotional meltdown is not being ‘bad’ – they are being emotional” (Peter Jaksa, n.d., para.4). Misdiagnosing behavior can lead to a misdiagnosis of the resolution resulting in a cycle of distrust and frustration. Parents should not punish their children for emotional outbursts involving feelings of sadness, resentment, failure or disappointment. On the other hand, punishment for behavior such as stealing, hitting, or bullying is justifiable and should be enforced. Recognizing the difference between these two types of ‘misbehavior’ is a very important skill that parents of children with ADHD must acquire.
References
Dawson, P., & Barkley, R. (2018, March 28). 5 Ways to Steer Your Teen Without Hovering. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/improving-executive-functioning-skills-video/
Jaksa, P. (2018, March 22). Hormones, High School, and ADHD: A Parent’s Guide. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/how-to-discipline-teenager-adhd-high-school/
Kessler, Z. (2017, August 07). The Secret to No-Shout, No-Tears Discipline. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/discipline-without-yelling-calm-parenting-for-kids-with-adhd/
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Educating children with ADHD is no easy task. Know that you are not alone. Please enlist the help of our school to find the right plan and solution for your child.