Your child is your pride and joy, so watching them struggle in school and at home with ADHD is a scary experience. However, ADHD isn’t the end of the world, and various treatments are available to help your child succeed.
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, the Southfield Pediatrics team provides tips to help you and your child cope with the disorder. Our team includes nine expert pediatric physicians with a lot of experience with ADHD and other childhood disorders.
Signs of ADHD in children
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a medical condition that primarily affects children, but can also develop in adults. ADHD affects the brain, especially the areas that impact self-control and attention.
Children who have ADHD exhibit various symptoms that affect their ability to concentrate in school, their friendships, and follow directions at home. Symptoms of ADHD often fall into the following three categories:
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is one of the main symptoms of ADHD. Kids with this condition are often fidgety and bored easily. They’re restless and may have trouble sitting still in school or at home. Your child might rush through assignments or chores, making careless mistakes.
Impulsivity
Kids with ADHD are very impulsive and may have trouble waiting their turn or often interrupt while others talk. You might notice your child makes risky decisions or has emotional outbursts that don’t fit the situation with ADHD.
Easily distracted
When your child has ADHD, it’s hard for them to concentrate on a specific task. They’re easily distracted and need to listen better to given directions. Your child may need to finish chores they started and quickly lose track of their belongings.
Tips to help your child cope
ADHD isn’t uncommon, but can be devastating to you and your child. However, there are plenty of resources to help you understand ADHD so you can be there for your child every step of the way.
The team at Southfield Pediatrics offers you several tips to help your child cope with an ADHD diagnosis, and they include the following:
Stay involved in their care
Being involved in your child’s care is essential to their success. Learn everything you can about their ADHD diagnosis and go with them to therapy appointments and doctors’ appointments to be supportive.
Reach out for support
It’s hard to watch your child struggle with ADHD, and you shouldn’t do it alone. Reach out to friends or a support group to help you navigate ADHD and the struggles that come along with it.
Talk openly about their diagnosis
Be a good listener when it comes to your child and ADHD. They may have strong feelings they want you to hear and understand. Be open to listening to your child when they want to talk.
Develop routines
Routines are essential when it comes to a child with ADHD. It’s helpful to sit down with your child to develop habits around their schoolwork, chores, and bedtime. Checklists are an excellent resource to help your child stay on task and get things done.
Give praise for good behavior
Children with ADHD have a hard time with behavior at times. When they do something good with their behavior, reward them as much as possible. While it may be easy to yell or get frustrated, understanding what they’re going through is a better coping tool.
Help develop friendships
Friendships and relationships are crucial in your child’s development. It’s sometimes hard for children with ADHD to develop friendships because they come off as intense or interrupt often.
Help your child understand how to develop relationships by teaching them how to listen and read social cues and body language.
To get expert help for your child, call one of our offices in Novi or Bingham Farms, Michigan, today, or request an appointment on the website.