ADHD help guide
It is no secret that having a child diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can be overwhelming and challenging. The truth is that you do not have to do it alone. A short and basic help guide to encourage you that your role can be effective in making the child’s life and yours much more rewarding while living with ADHD.
1. POSITIVITY – Don’t doubt that your positive, calm and focused attitude will help your child to react to situations in the same manner. Our ADHD help guide encourages you to re-affirm your child that you believe in their attributes and their abilities
2. STRUCTURE – Our ADHD Help guide strongly advises that structure enables a child to predict patterns and therefore making it easier for them to engage in tasks and what is expected of them. Follow an easy routine by setting a time (Clocks & Timers) and a place for everything. This will be evident in the points to follow in the help guide.
3. ACTIVITY – To keep a child with ADHD busy idle time may worsen their symptoms, but their schedule should not be so condensed that they feel overwhelmed. Ensure that activities range in the demand in places on the child. Unfortunately, this help guide encourages you not to use television or computer/video games as time-fillers can increase symptoms. Sport, art class, or music and at home, simple activities like helping you cook, playing board games, or drawing.
4. SLEEP – More activity, as explained above in the ADHD help guide, and less the energy at the end of the day will lead a child with ADHD to sleep better. Due to their overstimulation, they can experience trouble falling asleep. Low activity, quality time, relaxation sounds can increase the chances of better night sleep for a child with ADHD.
5. CONSISTENCY – Rules, systems, rewards and consequences have to remain constant and have to be followed through with every instance for a child with ADHD. Make the rules visual where the child can easily see as well as their process to a reward and wat the reward entails. Always praise good behaviour as further explained in the help guide.
6. REWARD – Rewards have to be child-specific and according to your child’s preference. Rather than using rewards such as food or toys, consider rewards that involve social praise, privileges, or desired activities that will improve and encourage the self-worth child with ADHD.
7. CONSEQUENCE – It is important that your child knows what the consequence will be of certain misbehaviour before it takes place. It is your role to ensure that environments and conditions that can lead to such undesired behaviour are avoided as far as possible and teach and help your child to an alternative reaction to these situations.
8. DIET – Diet is not the cause of ADHD but it plays a vital role in the state of a child diagnosed with ADHD mental functions. Fresh and healthy foods and regular meal times incorporated in their schedule can help to combat the symptoms of ADHD. Our help guide also suggests making Vitamin-and-mineral supplements an additive to their daily routine.
9. PERFECTION-LESS – A child with ADHD won’t do everything perfectly as you expect, but they will try. Don’t get mad at the one thing they didn’t do, and look past the 10 other things they have accomplished that day. Let the small things go.
Also remember to look after yourself as well, seek help and support. You do not have to do it alone. A child even with ADHD will look to at the end of the day for help and support, therefore make sure that you are also considering your holistic health in the midst of the battle with ADHD.
