How to Handle Children with ADHD

Children with ADHD can be quite difficult to handle because of their hyperactivity and inattention. They adopt a lot of risky behaviors and often do not follow rules. They also find it difficult to cope with school and other social demands. This article suggests some ideas on how to handle children with ADHD.

Helping children with School Work:

Children with ADHD often struggle with school work. Most of the problems they have with studying are related to inattention and disorganization. To help your child to concentrate and study, set up a study space like a table and chair where the child is expected to sit and study every day. Some children may study better in a corner on the floor, or lying on the floor, so you can try out different options. The study space must be free from distractions, that is, it should not be next to a door or window. All the child’s study materials must be nearby so that they do not have to move out of the place for anything. In addition, study sessions must be short and can be alternated with a physical activity. This is seen to help children with ADHD stay focused and concentrate. Help your child get organized with homework by writing it down in a diary at school and ticking it off at home when it is completed. Similarly, the child may benefit from a checklist that they mark off every night to make sure that their school bag has everything they need for the next day.

Helping Children Organize their Time:

Children with ADHD find it difficult to get things done because they are so disorganized. They are easily distracted from what they are doing, and often forget or miss out on important events. One way of helping them in this area is to make a routine or schedule for the day. Parents and the whole family need to be involved in helping the child stick to this schedule. Schedule time slots for play, study, meals, and even some household chores. Initially, you can make a chart where the child gets to place a sticker, or tick a box every time they complete a scheduled activity.

How to Handle Children with ADHD - Helping Children make Friends:

One of the causes of anger and frustration in ADHD children is their lack of skills in making friends and building relationships. Social skills training can help children learn and practice social skills in a structured environment. However, if you do not have access to a therapist, here are some ideas that you can try at home.

Teach your child to share and help other children. Provide opportunities for your child to play with one or two other children at home, where you can observe the social interactions and give feedback. Support and encourage your child, so that they develop a good sense of self-esteem, and are able to accept themselves and face criticism more easily.

Channeling Hyperactivity:

Children with ADHD are hyperactive. This behavior does decrease as the child grows up, but the body’s need for physical activity remains. Regular morning exercise can be made a part of their daily routine. Exercise could be as simple as jogging around the neighborhood. Over the day, the child must receive adequate opportunities for physical activity. Some ideas are sports at school, after school classes for any sport or other physical activities such as dance, self defense and skating. They can even help with physical chores in the house. Providing such opportunities helps the ADHD child to concentrate better when they need to study.

Supporting Positive Behavior Change:

Encouraging and supporting positive behavior change will make it much easier for parents to handle a child with ADHD at home. Behavior modification techniques like time outs and removal of privileges have been found to be useful for children with ADHD.

References:

Organisation and Time Management: National Resource Centre on ADHD, https://www.help4adhd.org/en/living/organdtime

Psychotherapy: National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/psychotherapy.shtml

ADHD: Pubmed Health, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518#adam_001551.disease.treatment