Coping Skills for Parents of Children With ADD

Children with ADD, or attention deficit disorder, have trouble maintaining attention. This is also known as ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They have low impulse control and difficulty with planning and organization. Parenting children with ADD can be frustrating and overwhelming, but there are skills you can develop to help you cope and make your life and that of your child more fulfilling and enjoyable.

  1. Stay Healthy

    • If you don̵7;t take care of yourself, physically and emotionally, you won̵7;t be able to take care of your children. It̵7;s vital for parents of hyperactive children to eat healthy diets and take regular breaks from attending to the child̵7;s needs. Stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing can help reduce the pressure that builds throughout the day. Exercise is an effective means of blowing off steam and maintaining physical fitness.

    Get Support

    • Parents of children with ADD need a broad support system they can turn to on a regular basis. Look for doctors and counselors who understand your daily dilemmas and are willing to talk to you about options for treating your child. Let teachers know about your child̵7;s condition and what kinds of medications the child takes. Join a support group with other parents of ADD kids so that you can share your experiences and tips for coping. At the same time, you can vent with a group that understands your frustrations and won̵7;t judge you.

    Plan Routines

    • Children with ADD often respond well to regular routines for bed, bath time and meals. If you have other children, they too appreciate routines that don̵7;t become interrupted because of a sibling̵7;s outbursts or refusal to participate when asked. Ignore behaviors that don̵7;t really have any consequences other than being annoying; giving too much attention to the ADD child may just exacerbate the problems. Notice the times and situations that trigger your child̵7;s misbehavior and develop strategies for avoiding certain situations. For example, if your child interrupts when you have guests, spend time teaching him appropriate behavior when guests are present.

    Set Rules

    • While parenting in general requires consistency and parental rules, it̵7;s especially important that you stick to your guidelines with children who have ADD. Make sure your entire family knows the important rules that will be enforced as well as the consequences when rules are broken. Praise your child when he follows the rules. Provide immediate payoffs and consequences for certain behaviors. Children with ADD are not equipped to wait for rewards and often don̵7;t appreciate punishment when it̵7;s too far removed from the actual event.

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