Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a common problem that affects both children and adults. If you are the parent of a child with this condition, you know how stressful it can be to help a child cope with the symptoms. Difficulty concentrating and following through with tasks can create big challenges both at school and at home. Following are helpful tips so that you can help your child deal more effectively with his condition.
Establishing Routines
Children with ADHD need a regular routine most days of the week. Maintain set times for going to bed, waking up and eating meals. Children function better with sufficient sleep, so make sure that your child is getting a minimum of eight hours each night. If your child has difficulty going to sleep, adhere to a consistent nighttime routine that will help your child prepare for bedtime.
Daily structure with scheduled activities is also important for a child with ADHD. Have your child complete his homework at a set time every day. Sometimes a child does better if the homework is completed in small segments of time with short breaks in between. Regular physical activity and fresh air can help an ADHD child achieve better focus, so get your child outside to play every day.
Effective Communication
One symptom of ADHD is a child who does not appear to listen when spoken to. Ensure that your child is heeding your directions by requiring eye contact while you are speaking to him. Have him repeat instructions back to you to ensure that he is listening. Use short, concise sentences to relay instructions and don't pile on too many steps at once. Instead, give your child one or two steps at a time and make sure that those steps are completed before moving on to the next.
Kids with ADHD generally respond well to a checklist for their morning and evening routine. Post the list in the bedroom or bathroom so your child can refer to it. A chore chart allows a kid to collect stickers when he completes tasks. A reward system is an excellent way to encourage a child with ADHD to stay on task and finish his chores.
Building Organizational Skills
Someone with ADHD has trouble staying organized. You can help your child regain order by establishing simple organizational systems. Create a homework box that contains all the supplies he needs to complete assignments. Go through completed homework together at the end of the night and put papers into the backpack before your child goes to bed. Give him a spiral notebook to write down assignments and make notes to himself.
Stock your child's bedroom with labeled containers that make it easy to put things away. Use a hanging shoe organizer on the back of the door to keep things off the floor and desktop. Keep a clock in your child's room and more throughout the house to help keep track of time. Teach your child to lay out school clothes the night before so he can get ready more efficiently in the morning.
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