Strategies at Home
For kids with ADHD, some of the most important work happens at home, where parents play a vital role. A big part of it, experts say, is for parents to let go of the idealized child they envisioned and to embrace the child who is actually sitting (or standing there, as the case may be) at the breakfast table. They offer these tips:
Focus on your child’s gifts and talents, rather than “what’s wrong” with him or her, advises Kirk Martin, founder of the parent resource CelebrateCalm.com. ADHD has its evolutionary advantages, including a talent for thinking outside the box. Maybe that means tackling homework in an unorthodox way, like incorporating music or movement. Be open.
Don’t obsess over grades. Fixating too much on grades and school can create a rift between kids and parents, says Kristin Linder Carpenter, founder of Linder Educational Coaching. “It’s a full person you’re working with, not just a student. Try to stay on the same team with your kid.”
Encourage healthy habits. Cutting down on processed foods and sugar may help to minimize the symptoms of ADHD. Kids need a variety of colors in their food, says psychologist Debra Brosius. They need to eat throughout the day and exercise. And they need good sleep, as a good night’s rest affects a person’s ability to pay attention.
Leave time for unstructured play. It serves a purpose that’s different from organized sports. “All kids, after a full day in class and holding it together, need downtime,” Brosius says. “Without that time it’s harder [for them] to concentrate, to push through a math worksheet. And that leads to power struggles.”
Set limits on screen time. Studies suggest that video games are addictive (they stimulate the same parts of the brain as drugs) and can become an obsession for ADHD kids who have “time blindness” (meaning little awareness of the passage of time), says pediatrician Ronald S. Bashian. Researchers have also found that the use of electronic devices right up until bedtime can interfere with sleep, so create a policy about when it’s time to shut down.
Tamara “Tammy” Lytle is a freelance writer in Northern Virginia who covers politics, parenting, personal finance and other topics. She wrote about the winners of our annual Extraordinary Teens competition in the July/August issue.