Kids with ADHD might be sensitive to criticism. Correcting their behavior is best done in a way that's encouraging and supportive rather than punishing. Set clear expectations. Before you go somewhere, talk with your child to explain how you want them to behave.
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.
A child with hyperactive/impulsive type ADHD might benefit from a highly active, physical sport (such as wrestling or swimming), whereas a child with inattentive type ADHD would do better with one that has more short-term, focused goals (such as track and field).
For many individuals, ADHD impairments are made worse by their struggles with excessive anxiety, persistent depression, compulsive behaviors, difficulties with mood regulation, learning disorders, or other psychiatric disorders that may be transient, recurrent, or persistently disruptive of their ability to perform the ...
“Often, kids with ADHD are so sensitive to the anger, they may not hear what you are saying about their misbehavior. Or the child may begin arguing, and things will escalate. If you get angry, you're lowering the chance she will learn from the discipline moment.”
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.
Is ADHD inherited from Mom or Dad? You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents.
Similarly, people with ADHD can also experience 'meltdowns' more commonly than others, which is where emotions build up so extremely that someone acts out, often crying, angering, laughing, yelling and moving all at once, driven by many different emotions at once – this essentially resembles a child tantrum and can ...
Sensory overload can trigger meltdowns easily, especially when we cannot do something about it. When we are faced with intense or too much external stimuli, breakdowns can be hard to avoid.
It may seem like a child is just misbehaving. ADHD can leave parents feeling stressed, frustrated, or disrespected. Parents may feel embarrassed about what others think of their child's behavior. They may wonder if they did something to cause it.
The symptoms of ADHD can make school, family, and social relationships difficult. School requires attention and organizational skills, things that can be difficult for kids with ADHD. They may lose homework, have difficulty organizing their thoughts, and have problems thinking ahead and planning.
The NIMH recommends giving positive reinforcement when rules are followed. NIMH reminds adults that children with ADHD often get criticism, and over time, they even expect it. So instead of focusing on negative outbursts, giving attention to positive actions will make life easier for both you and your kid.
So, it's important to stay calm when you discipline and keep the focus on correcting the behavior. In fact, research shows that cutting back on yelling and harsh punishment can make a big difference in how kids with ADHD behave.
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.
Similar to the hyperactive symptoms, impulsive symptoms are typically seen by the time a child is four years old and increase during the next three to four years to peak in severity when the child is seven to eight years of age.
The ADHD Connection
Electronics can send steady doses of dopamine – a neurotransmitter – straight to the brain's reward center. And the damage doesn't stop with an ADHD diagnosis. Ongoing screen overload can cause symptoms to get worse, and cause other problems as well.
Gain your child's attention by saying her name or making eye contact. If getting his attention is a challenge in itself, it often helps to stand or sit directly in front of him, make eye contact, and maintain frequent eye contact during listening practice.
Keep punishments short and appropriate, but let them remind your child that he is responsible for his own behavior. A good rule of thumb for time-outs is one minute for each year of a child's age. Discourage a problem behavior by “charging” for each infraction.