Are you a parent of a child who has ADHD?

Maybe you are in doubt that your parenting has anything to do with your child suffering from ADHD in the first place. Well, in either case, you are in the right place, as this post will give you an insight into what ADHD is, its causes, and what you can do as a parent.

Are Parents Responsible for ADHD?

First of all, find solace in the fact that bad parenting cannot cause Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. It is a brain disorder, and science has yet to discover the actual reasons that cause it.

Bad parenting style, lack of affection and discipline, or any other severe behavioral display by the parents does not cause ADD or ADHD. However, all of the aforementioned and more may contribute to the severity of your child's issue.

If you are a parent of a child suffering from ADHD, they need a particular lifestyle, and you must work with them to find the right way to suit them.

Trying to force your wishes and ways upon a child with ADHD may worsen the condition. You must understand that children with ADHD are biologically, chemically, and neurologically different than others.

How to Tell if Your Child Has ADHD

As a parent, you may first not realize that your child has ADHD. Most parents make the classic mistake of ignoring the signs thinking them to be just misbehavior. That said, other parents might feel embarrassed to admit that their child has ADHD.

However, there is nothing to be embarrassed about; there is nothing you or your child did wrong. They are just wired differently, and certain skills do not come naturally to them, that is all. If you learn about your child suffering from ADHD, you can help by working with them to improve and do well in life.

Symptoms of ADHD in a child

As the name suggests, if your child has ADHD, he/she will display more hyperactive, impulsive, and highly distractible behavior compared to other kids. Moreover, your child may struggle to develop skills pertaining to control attention, emotions, behavior, and other activities.

Some of the typical behaviors displayed by a child with ADHD are:

• Need constant reminders to do things
• Acting without thinking
• Doing things they should not, even when they know they should not
• Unable to follow directions
• Poor performance at school
• Rush doing things instead of taking the time.
• Making very simple mistakes due to carelessness
• Disorganized or messy
• Not listening to anyone
• Struggling to pay attention
• Random and unexpected emotional outburst, including losing temper
• Showing hyperactive behavior such as jumping, climbing, shouting, crying, etc.
• Fidgety and inability to sit still
• Interrupting while you are talking
• Being impatient
• Having trouble sharing, waiting, or taking turns.

Can Children with ADHD Function Normally?

ADHD is not news of doom for your child. In fact, if your child has ADHD, he/she can still be very successful in life. All it will take is a bit of careful parenting, mentoring, and understanding the mental health issue you are dealing with.

You need to create a chaos-free home environment to control the symptoms. Any hasty, mismanaged, and the violent environment will only worsen the condition. That said, too much discipline, watching excessive TV, or playing too many video games have nothing to do with causing ADHD in your children.

How Can You Help as a Parent

Remember, parenting can make a significant difference and play a vital role in treating your child's ADHD. While your parenting style may not cause ADHD, it can certainly worsen or improve the condition.

Here are ways you can help a child with ADHD.

• Familiarize yourself with ADHD and follow the treatment advised by your child's therapist or physician.
• It is perfectly alright to speak to your children about their ADHD. Helping them understand what they have and that there is nothing wrong with having ADHD.
• Children with ADHD often live in guilt that they are letting everyone down or being good for nothing. As a parent, you must nurture their self-esteem and confidence. Be understanding and accepting of their mistakes and use warmth, affective, love, and encouragement to help them try again. The relationship between a parent and child with ADHD can make all the difference.
• Observe your child and identify the areas they face problems in. Some children may struggle to listen and pay attention, whereas others may need to slow down how they do things.
• Speaking to your child's healthcare provider or therapist may help you.
• Stay in touch with the child's school teacher to find out how he/she is doing. Work with your teacher as well as your child to make sure they are not suffering in silence.
• Never miss therapy appointments, and make sure that your child takes his/her ADHD medication regularly. Never miss or alter the dose recommended by the doctor.
• Spend quality time with your child on a regular basis. They need your undivided attention, and you must compliment them on good behavior and when they achieve a task, no matter how small it may seem.
• Help your child focus on one thing at a time and praise them for making an effort.
• Discuss the options with your child. For example, if you plan to go somewhere, speak to your child to set clear expectations and the behavior you expect from them.
• Disciplining your child with ADHD is important. However, it would help if you did it with great warmth and systematically. Remember, this will need a lot of patience on your part, and aggressive parenting may worsen the condition.

Remember, it is your duty as a parent to protect your child with ADHD. Avoid any person, place, or event that may expose your child to criticism. However, you can always share your concerns and frustrations with the right people, such as a supportive family member, friend, or your child's therapist. This will help you more open to constructive criticism.

Find An Available ADHD Counselor

Conclusion

ADHD can be a hereditary mental health issue. Sometimes, parents may suffer from the condition without even knowing it. However, knowing about the problem, getting diagnosed, and getting help with ADHA via therapy or other means can help parents personally. Moreover, it will enable them to raise the child with ADHD in a more appropriate manner.

Reference URLs

https://bit.ly/3nzLU7p

https://bit.ly/38vZswb

https://bit.ly/3brJQMc

https://bit.ly/3q9YRGB

https://bit.ly/3ozY41n

https://bit.ly/2LJ4qwD

https://wb.md/3q91MiW

https://bit.ly/3scRVKE

https://bit.ly/2XubRKT

https://bit.ly/3q9YRGB

https://bit.ly/2LpaHhc