| Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Attention Deficit | | | | 5) Set limits for homework. If your child |
| Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? | | | | loses the ability to concentrate, or loses interest after |
| | | | | 30 minutes of homework, structure the homework so |
| 10 Things Every Parent Should Know to Help their | | | | that he/she is working on it in 25/30 minute intervals |
| Child with ADD or ADHD. | | | | with 15 minute breaks. Factor in unstructured time |
| | | | | throughout the day so that your child does not feel |
| | | | | overwhelmed by too much structuring of their time. |
| Approximately 3- 5% of children will carry a diagnosis | | | | 6) Limit extracurricular activities. If you have |
| of ADD/ADHD by the time they reach elementary | | | | a son or daughter that is very interested in sports, |
| school. Many children are helped by medication, | | | | make sure that they chose 1 sport per season so that |
| counseling, tutoring, structured time management in | | | | they do not become overloaded by running to and |
| the home, and healthy nurturing by parents, teachers | | | | from various activities, practices and meetings. |
| and caregivers. | | | | 7) Do not push your child beyond their limits or |
| | | | | set unreasonable expectations. It is very likely that |
| Prior to beginning medication you should get a second | | | | your child will feel some embarrassment regarding their |
| opinion to make sure that your child has not been | | | | diagnosis. Pushing your child will intensify their |
| incorrectly diagnosed and that he/she accurately | | | | frustration and yours as well. |
| meets the DSM-IV criteria for ADD/ADHD. You may | | | | 8) Do not allow the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD |
| want to rule out that certain behaviors are not caused | | | | to become an excuse for everything that goes wrong. |
| by life stressors including major changes in home, | | | | Giving your child an out because they have ADD |
| school, or caregivers, prior to the determination of a | | | | ADHD will help only serve to help them underachieve. |
| diagnosis. Additionally, you may want to try some | | | | While excessive pressure is not recommended, |
| dietary changes to rule out food allergies, including | | | | allowing your child to underachieve due to their |
| excessive sugars, food colorings and additives in the | | | | diagnosis of ADD will be detrimental as it will set the |
| diet. | | | | bar low for expectations from self and others. |
| | | | | 9) Limit videos and television and excessive |
| Here are some things that you can do to help | | | | multitasking. Many children claim they can study with |
| structure your child’s day to eliminate added | | | | the music/television on especially in a culture that |
| stressors. | | | | promotes multi-tasking. Multi-tasking in general adds |
| | | | | significantly to stress levels and does not promote |
| 1) Make sure that your child has a tutor to get | | | | good habits or discipline in most people. Keeping your |
| extra help with homework. As a parent you will need | | | | home quiet (as much as possible), eliminating |
| to help structure your child’s time. Enlisting outside | | | | environmental stressors (i.e. loud television, music, video |
| help for homework will help you focus on your | | | | games, etc), will promote healthy habits and limit stress. |
| child’s time management skills and limit conflict | | | | 10) Focus on your child’s core strengths, help |
| and excessive frustration. Communicate openly with | | | | them identify key areas in which they excel or show a |
| teachers and other caregivers regarding your | | | | high level of interest. Give positive feedback for |
| child’s diagnosis. Review periodically what is | | | | accomplishments. |
| working and what is not working for your child. | | | | |
| 2) Help structure your child’s time so that | | | | Helping your child develop positive self-esteem will be |
| he/she has ample to time to get ready for school, | | | | critical. Children and adolescents with ADD/ADHD |
| appointments and any extracurricular activities. Trying | | | | may be more susceptible to juvenile delinquency, |
| to do things last minute will be disastrous and | | | | peer-pressure, depression and substance abuse. |
| frustrating. You need to plan ahead. | | | | Helping your child develop key strengths, interests and |
| 3) When you give your child a task or chore | | | | special skills will go a long way to help combat these |
| that you would like accomplished, be very specific as | | | | issues. If your child is showing an excessive amount of |
| to what your expectations are. Don’t just ask | | | | frustration, anger or defiance at home or in school, |
| that he/she clean their room. Make a checklist of | | | | review with a counselor your daily routines, medication |
| each chore that you expect completed (i.e. pickup | | | | and any additional psychosocial stressors. For |
| clothing on floor, organize books, change sheets on | | | | parents of children with ADD/ADHD, consider getting |
| bed, etc.) | | | | counseling and support. You may need help managing |
| 4) Make sure you give a very specific time | | | | your child’s time, academic life and social activities |
| frame for when you would like something completed | | | | in a way that is balanced and can be managed |
| (i.e. “Please take out the trash after school today | | | | effectively and incorporated into your family routine. |
| before 5 pm”). | | | | |