Parenting can be a challenging task for people having children suffering from attention deficit disorder. To ease out the process, we have collated a list of tips that can help in managing your little ones:
- Primarily, parents need to be convinced that their child is suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADD) by ruling out other medical problems. This can be ensured by conducting vision and hearing tests until you are convinced.
- Building your support is necessary so that you can seek the assistance of and consult knowledgeable people whenever you face a problem. Oklahoma City mental health counseling has a rich experience in dealing with kids suffering from ADD and can offer ready help to parents.
- Kids with ADD fail to structure their environment internally and require the same to be done externally. Making lists can benefit such children as they can refer to the same on feeling lost. They require previews, reminders, direction, repetition, and limits to perform all daily activities with maximum focus.
- Parents should set rules for these children, and have them written down and posted in full view. This helps in reassuring the little ones as they are constantly reminded of what is expected from them.
- Kids with ADD need to hear the same instructions more than once. Parents can expedite the process by repeating directions whether by writing them down or speaking them out.
- It is possible to bring back a child with ADD from a daydream with simple eye contact. You should try and look them in the eyes while speaking and repeating directions as this helps in offering them silent reassurance.
- While setting boundaries, parents need to do it promptly, predictably, and consistently rather than getting into complications and holding lawyer-like discussions.
- Following a predictable schedule can soothe children with ADD as unannounced changes might be difficult for them to handle. You can write down their daily schedule and post it on the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, etc. If you are planning on bringing variations, then make sure to give plenty of warning so that your child is prepared for the same. Procrastination is one of the biggest hallmarks of ADD and you can help your child avoid the same by helping them make their timetables.
- Offering regular feedback helps keep your little ones on track as they get to know about what is expected from them and if they can meet their goals. Parents should offer frequent encouragement and praise for even the smallest of actions.
- Breaking big tasks into smaller sub-tasks is a crucial training technique for dealing with kids having ADD. It is very natural for kids to feel overwhelmed when they have a big task at hand. They might lose confidence and recoil emotionally. Smaller tasks, on the other hand, are easier to deal with.
Conclusion
The persistence of the parent is one of the prerequisites of dealing with a child having ADD. There is no easy way out and guardians need to keep on trying to help their children cope with the attention deficit.
