In over 25 years of working with youth and families, I have seen that there are ways of being a capable ADHD parent and raising capable ADHD kids that really work. They are what I call the 5 C's of ADHD parenting: self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, Consistency and Celebration.
I call this approach the 5C's of neurodiverse parenting: self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, Consistency and Celebration.
Saline's five C's of ADHD parenting—self-control, compassion, collaboration, consistency, and celebration—provide a comprehensive guide for nurturing success in your child's life. You build a strong foundation of trust and support by modeling self-control and showing compassion.
Help kids understand that having ADHD is not their fault, and that they can learn ways to improve the problems it causes. Spend special time together every day. Make time to talk and enjoy relaxing, fun activities with your child — even if it's just for a few minutes. Give your child your full attention.
In between these two extremes is authoritative parenting, a distinct style that decades of research has shown to be the most effective. Authoritative parents are nurturing and empathetic, but they also set very clear expectations and reliably hold their kids accountable.
Parents with ADHD may have trouble managing their emotional reactions when their children misbehave. And it's sometimes harder for them to pay attention to their kids' positive behaviors, which should be acknowledged and praised. Treatment can help with these issues as well.
Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges.
Make sure your child is getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet consisting of three meals, a snack and adequate fluids daily, and has an outlet for some form of daily exercise. These healthy habits will help your child to feel his or her best and help minimize ADHD symptoms.
Some people with ADHD have fewer symptoms as they age, but some adults continue to have major symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.
Kids with ADHD may argue or throw tantrums to get out of boring things. It can be tempting to give them their way, but that can teach them that misbehaving works.
Many children with ADHD – approximately 20 to 30 percent – also have a specific learning disability. The principle characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
seeming constantly “on-the-go” and unable to sit still. running or climbing at inappropriate times. having difficulty taking turns in conversations and activities. fidgeting or tapping the hands or feet.
Treatment. Standard treatments for ADHD in adults typically involve medication, education, skills training and psychological counseling. A combination of these is often the most effective treatment.
For children with ADHD, sugar can further disrupt an already dysregulated brain. Sugar can also have a negative impact on the gut. Children with ADHD may already have gastrointestinal symptoms, and sugar could make them worse. Essentially, sugar affects ADHD by increasing brain dysregulation which exacerbates symptoms.
In general, avoid food with simple carbs, especially sugar, corn sugar, and high fructose corn sugar, which is often used as an additive in processed food. Avoid sugary sodas! Avoid foods with artificial ingredients and artificial dyes. Some have been found to worsen ADHD symptoms.
Children can have a sensitivity to certain foods — dairy, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, nuts, and citrus are common culprits — that can exacerbate symptoms. Try eliminating these foods, and watch behavior carefully.
Increased anxiety: Yelling may trigger a “fight or flight” response, aggravating ADHD symptoms. Diminished self-esteem: Chronic exposure to harsh words could cause a decline in self-worth and self-confidence.
Mothers with ADHD are dynamic, socially anxious, creative, disorganized, passionate, emotionally sensitive, and sometimes all of the above at the same time. No two moms with ADD are alike, but many of their children recall similar snapshots of growing up under the umbrella of neurodivergence.
Other parents with ADHD talk about things such as persistent stacks of papers around the house, to-do lists created but never used, uncontrollable emotions and feelings of inadequacy, guilt and frustration because they can't seem to “get it together.”