4 Tips For Parenting A Child With ADHD
Posted on: 9 May 2016
If your child had ADHD, know that he is not alone in the world. Approximately 6.4 million American children between the ages of 4 and 17 have this condition. Nonetheless, parenting a child with ADHD can be very difficult at times. Your child may be very impulsive or frequently forget to do his homework and chores. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make life much easier for both you and your child.
Establish a Routine for Your Child
A child with ADHD will be able to accomplish tasks better if there is a set routine. If you create structure for your child and have him do the same activities every day, he will be better for it. For example, you can have him do his homework immediately after school and then eat a snack.
Set Rules
If your child has ADHD, it is even more important to set clear rules that he can easily understand. It may be helpful to write the rules down on a piece of paper and hang it up in the kitchen. To encourage your child to follow the rules, give both rewards and consequences. If your child is following the rules, you can reward him with a privilege, such as letting him watch an extra hour of TV one night. If your child breaks a rule, take a privilege away or give him a timeout.
Encourage Exercise
Kids with ADHD often have excess energy, so it is important for them to be active. If you encourage your child to exercise frequently, he can get rid of some of that energy and be able to focus better on his tasks. For example, have him participate in a sport after school, like basketball or volleyball.
Pay Attention to Your Child Positive Behavior
Parenting a child with ADHD can make it easy to just concentrate on the negative behaviors. However, if you only focus on your child's faults, you can set a bad tone and make your child even more self-conscious. Pay attention to the positive things your child does and praise him for it. For instance, if your child has been cleaning his room well, tell him how proud you are of him.
Dealing with a child with ADHD does not have to be a terrible experience. If you follow these helpful tips and support your child, you can make the situation a lot easier. For further assistance, contact local professionals, such as those from Living Hope Clinic.
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