WELLNESS

PARENTING STRATEGIES

FOR KIDS WITH ADHD

WRITTEN BY DAVID MARKS

All children sometimes have difficulty sitting still, paying attention, completing work, or controlling impulsive behavior. For some children, though, these behaviors occur so often that they limit the child’s ability to excel. Parents may just think a child is misbehaving, which can leave parents feeling stressed, frustrated, or disrespected. They may not realize these behaviors are part of ADHD. “Hyperactive kids are usually easy to spot as more active than other kids their age, fidgeting and moving as if ‘driven by a motor.’ It is more common in boys, whereas inattention is more common among girls,” explains Julie Brack, MD, primary care physician for AdventHealth Prairie Star. For the parents of a child with ADHD, life can be challenging and even overwhelming. But with compassion and consistency, parents can help create home and school environments that greatly improve their child’s chances for success. “Setting up organizational systems can smooth the path, such as laying out clothes the night before and preparing backpacks and lunches for the next school day. At home, having a set structure, schedule, and known house rules will also help,” says Dr. Brack. It’s also important for parents to know they’re not dealing with this struggle alone. Talking with other parents facing similar challenges is not only a way to share their struggles, but also to receive solutions and different ideas about particular issues. Joining an organization like CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) can be a great source of support and information. If you’re the parent of a child with ADHD, it’s probably no surprise to you that there can be a lot of overlap between ADHD and anxiety. In fact, nearly three in 10 children diagnosed with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder.

A child’s ADHD symptoms can take a toll on parents and teachers, but they can also increase stress levels for the child. For example, if a child is frequently corrected or criticized for talking or interrupting others in class, they are very likely to experience higher stress and lower self-esteem. Here are some clues a parent can look for that indicate anxiety: • Heightened social sensitivity (e.g., they recognize and worry about how they look to others) • A consistent need for reassurance and preparation for activities • Physical symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, racing heart • Less problematic behavior when they are calm and feel safe Fortunately, there are things parents can do to help. “Reward good behavior and focus on effort, not grades. And to make for a less frustrating experience at home as well as school, give instructions one step at a time and make sure the instructions are understood,” says Dr. Brack. If your child is struggling socially, academically or—later in life—occupationally, please talk with your physician about the situation. Medication is sometimes needed for either a short time or can be successfully used for many years. But it is best to work together for the best outcomes with the lowest dose. Find a primary care physician at one of AdventHealth Medical Group’s 12 primary care offices. Visit AdventHealthKC.com/PrimaryCare.

What’s the best way to know if your child has ADD or ADHD?

Talk to your physician, discuss your concerns and share the true story of how their days at school are going, along with their grades. There are many questionnaires used, such as Conners Scale for ADHD Assessment or Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale, that the provider may give so both a parent and a teacher fill out a questionnaire to get a better sense of the struggles and situation to best help your child.

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