| When you find out that your child has ADHD, | | | | child's needs. Ask the teacher to make |
| it's not uncommon to be shocked and concerned | | | | allowances for their behaviors and to try and |
| about what to expect. However, you should | | | | provide an environment that doesn't distract |
| know that although ADHD can be limiting for a | | | | them from learning. This could mean sitting |
| child, there are ways to manage it | | | | at the front of every class away from window |
| successfully. ADHD does not have to be the | | | | and next to students who offer a good role |
| biggest factor in your life as a parent, nor | | | | model. |
| does it define your child. Raising an ADHD | | | | |
| child is achievable without losing your | | | | Mixing up lessons so that they involve |
| sanity with the right strategies and | | | | practical work as well as writing and desk |
| attitude. | | | | based work can also keep them interested for |
| | | | longer periods. |
| Probably, the biggest challenge that a parent | | | | |
| can have in raising an ADHD child is | | | | For younger children a sticker chart can |
| hyperactivity. All kids can be a bit | | | | provide motivation to complete tasks and also |
| boisterous when they are young and exploring | | | | being given jobs to do that allow for |
| the world around them but ADHD children can | | | | movement, like handing out assignments or |
| be particularly so. | | | | materials. |
| | | | |
| Raising an ADHD child may require you to | | | | Maybe the greatest challenge that a parent |
| develop lightning fast reflexes and running | | | | will face in raising an ADHD child is |
| skills as a child with ADHD can get away from | | | | treatment. Every parent wants the best for |
| you in the blink of an eye. | | | | their child and it may seem that suppressing |
| | | | ADHD behaviors with medication is the way to |
| This hyperactivity can manifest itself in | | | | go. Although prescription medicines like |
| different ways. Some children tend to | | | | Ritalin may seem like an easy answer, it is |
| misbehave and be noisy, although it's | | | | important to remember that there are adverse |
| generally not due to willfulness. | | | | effects of these medicines which could cause |
| | | | you to regret using them later in life. |
| Raising an ADHD child can require you to | | | | |
| develop a high tolerance level for chaos. | | | | There is a number of other treatment |
| Nobody is ever prepared for the level of | | | | strategies that can help, from nutritional |
| hyperactivity that children can have. What | | | | supplements and dietary interventions to |
| you need to do is make sure that their excess | | | | biofeedback and behavioral therapies, along |
| energy gets channeled into a productive | | | | with herbal treatments and homeopathic |
| outlet instead of a destructive activity. | | | | remedies. |
| | | | |
| Another challenge of raising an ADHD child | | | | Not all of these treatments will work for |
| lies in education. The structured environment | | | | every child so some trial and error maybe |
| of a classroom can pose some real | | | | involved in finding the right treatment, or |
| difficulties for ADHD children. Because of | | | | combination of treatments, to suit your |
| their ADHD, some children have learning | | | | child. |
| difficulties and to make matters more | | | | |
| complicated a number may have learning | | | | For more tips and advice on raising a child |
| disabilities too. Others may be particularly | | | | with ADHD sign up for the free newsletter |
| gifted in certain areas. In order for your | | | | below |
| child to get the most out their education the | | | | |
| school and parents need to work together. | | | | Raising an ADHD child is just like raising |
| | | | any other child: you need to focus on what's |
| Speak to the school about the possibility of | | | | best for them, not what's best for you. |
| adapting the curriculum to fit in with your | | | | |