How to Manage ADHD Children
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a behavioral disorder wherein kids or adults exhibit hyperactivity in their lives. Hyperactive people almost always act without thinking, fail to complete tasks fully, cannot focus on one subject matter or job, thinking is usually very scattered with only a little time spent on each thought, and are physically active, disruptive, and extremely inattentive. They occur mostly in the early childhood stages, but cases of real disorders extend until adulthood.
ADHD affects around 10% of children during their school-age. It is considered a common disorder, and a greater number of these cases occur in boys than in girls (three times higher occurrence), for reasons not understood. They can’t sit down to focus on studying or working, are unable to zone in on the most minute of details, or even cannot sit or stand still for how many minutes. They dart off before a task of any kind is finished. Because of their penchant for acting without thinking of the consequences, they may pose problems for others. They also have a greater risk of exposing themselves to danger, such as crossing the street without second thought.
It is considered normal for kids to exhibit these symptoms of ADHD when they’re in this age range, but the true ADHD cases are those that extend into the person’s adult life, where the symptoms can be a real hindrance to the person’s social life and other areas of his lifestyle. Thankfully, ADHD can be treated during the childhood years, and with the proper treatment, the symptoms will go away once a person reaches puberty or the teenage years.
Here are some essential tips for managing ADHD-inflicted children.
Make Good Use of Consequences.
The use of consequences as a tool to stem the symptoms of ADHD cannot be understated. When we say consequences we really mean giving rewards instead of punishment. Too many parents with ADHD children often give in to the temptation of punishing the child rather than giving due credit where he/she did right. While it is not totally wrong to punish, do it more and more infrequently than giving rewards; the right rewards will reinforce good habits in the child.
It is not enough to give the child tangible, beneficial consequences to positive actions; the parent/teacher also needs to increase the frequency and the impact of the consequences. The consequences should be something that you know the child loves or hates. It should be something that drives them to do what they do, such as their favorite food, candies, sweets, or even television time. You might even try something bigger like buying them their favorite toys or taking them to their favorite amusement parks.
Give Praise when Appropriate.
Aside from giving material, tangible benefits, a parent should give verbal praise when it is the right time to do so. Simple stuff like saying “It’s a good thing you closed the bathroom door,” or “You behaved very well in the mall today, son,” or something to that extent, will encourage the child to think more of their actions.
Remain calm and emotionally uninvolved.
Lastly, it is important that parents and teachers of ADHD children be objective and calm about giving their rewards and praises to the children. It is important to understand that the child’s problems are not something that should be taken personally.
These few steps are quite helpful for keeping parents, facilitators, and teachers handling children with ADHD sane. With patience and perseverance, ADHD symptoms will fade away in due time.
