How do you deal with a child with ADD or ADHD?
Dealing with a child with ADD or ADHD
Raising a child with ADD or ADHD can sometimes be quite difficult. How do you deal with this as a parent or teacher?
A while back, a therapist gave me a valuable list of tips on how to best deal with a child with ADD or ADHD. I have written the tips below. Check them out for yourself and feel free to print the page to keep it handy.
Would you rather read tips for yourself? Then click here. You will find good tips that support people with ADD, ADHD, HSP.
Tips for dealing with children with ADD and ADHD
- Make sure there are clear (house) rules for the child. This provides structure and prevents chaos.
- Give short and clear assignments so that it is manageable for the child. This way, you make sure the child is not overwhelmed with information.
- Children with ADD and ADHD are generally creative and visual. So make learning material and assignments clear by making them visual, for example with drawings and colours. This also boosts self-confidence because the child is less likely to doubt itself.
- Provide structure and regularity in your child's life. And prepare your child for new environments. Even if the child is allowed to decide what to do, make sure it remains orderly.
- Processing information and stimuli is important. Therefore, give the child space to be creative on their own and retreat to their own space if they feel the need.
- Speak to your child calmly and in a soft voice
- At school, give the child extra time if he needs it. Because concentration is lower, it will need more time to complete a task.
- Train your child to learn to concentrate when it is really needed. You can do this by indicating in advance that important things are important. This will help your child learn to pay attention at the right moments. Afterwards, give your child space to process things calmly and do not expect an immediate reaction.
- Don't think of ADD and ADHD as a disorder. There are traits that will make things harder in your child's life. Learn to deal with this and focus on the positive traits.
Recommended for parents or carers of children with ADD and ADHD
Could you use some help in raising your child with ADD or ADHD. Then take a look at the book 'Opvoedwijzer ADD en ADHD'.
This book is specially designed for parents of children with ADD and ADHD to make parenting as easy and enjoyable as possible. It is full of tips and strategies. The book is also recommended for teachers or supervisors of children with ADD and ADHD.
Looking for more tips for your own life with ADD, ADHD and/or HSP? Then click on the link below.
> Tips for your own life with ADD, ADHD and/or HSP
Good evening Jochem,
Thank you for your tips on dealing with children.
I have ADHD myself and I suspect my sons aged 4 and 6 also have it. I find that because of my impulsiveness, I don't give them the space they need to process the informations and stimuli.
I cannot find any information anywhere on how parents with adhd can best deal with their own children who also have it.
Do you know anything about this?
Thank you
Hi Navas,
There is a special book for it, http://www.bol.com/nl/p/opvoedwijzer-add-en-adhd/1001004006485639/">raising guide ADD and ADHD.
You can find the book in the overview here. There you will also find other information and help books for people with ADD and ADHD.
Good luck.
Greetings,
Jochem
Thanks!
i am faced with the following:
in 2012, my daughter's boyfriend ( now 30 years old ) died suddenly, at certain times like, Christmas, birthday, death anniversary etc.
my daughter is having a very hard time, she cannot cope, also she has already been to a grief counselling process, but this has not helped anything. Also, she has, his memories in a cupboard.
what can we do to help her, my daughter has adhd and autism.
Hi Gerda,
How intense for you. They do say that time heals all wounds, but something this intense may never fully heal.
I think it is important to try to stay busy and give life meaning. That way, in time, new people might come into her life.
Above all, stay busy and do things you enjoy to shift attention.
It will always be tough but at the moment I wouldn't really know what else to do about it.
Perhaps a psychologist is an option that could help with this.
Good luck in any case.
Greetings, Jochem
I have learned that CBD drops bring balance, especially calm emotions with people with ADHD and autism.... This is a blissful natural product that removes stress and headache b for me too
i have add and am doing my presentation about it do you have some for this too
Hi Leonie,
You are free to use the information on the website for your talk.
Hi jochem and for n child with adhd and giftedness, do you have any valuable tips for that. Jolanda
Hi Jolanda, I have little knowledge of giftedness, sorry.
Hello Jolanda,
Even though your question dates from April 2014, I would like to pass on Nel Visser-Schuurbiers. She is based in Middelburg. If you haven't made any progress already, she may be able to help you further.
Best of luck!
From another Jolanda
And what if you have ADD yourself and so does your child?
I have no structure and no regularity, and no overview at all ;)
Hi Christine, at the top of the piece there is also a link with tips for people who have ADD, ADHD or HSP themselves. I think you can probably get a lot of useful info from there. Greetings, Jochem.
Good morning Jochem I got a lot from your emails I learn a lot from them only I still sleep badly fine work week