Suggestions To Parents For Management of ADHD Children

1.   ADHD children thrive on structure, order and predictability.  Be firm, but fair and loving.  Permissiveness, unanticipated change, and indecision are the child's enemy!
   
2.   Discipline in a calm, firm, demeanor!  Nip it in the bud!  Don't wait to discipline until you are mad and are losing control!
   
3.   When you discipline, state a rule of acceptable behavior, describe the consequences of unacceptable behavior clearly and simply, and then apply the consequences promptly if they are broken.
   
4.   Excessive physical punishment only trains your child to avoid you or to get your attention by unacceptable behavior.  It makes you feel guilty.  Use non-physical punishment like loss of tv time, sitting in a chair, or being sent to the room.
   INSTRUCTIONS
   
5.   When giving verbal instructions, touch the child firmly on the arm or shoulder, give the instruction to the eye, not the back of the head or the ears.  If the child is not attending while maintaining firm touch, stop talking until the child reestablishes eye contact and then resume instructions.  Have the child repeat instructions back to you.
   
6.   To get work done, give one instruction at a time and then patiently check on the work, providing praise for work completed.   Over time, build the child's pride in being able to do two and three part commands successfully.  Reward each step of the way to the final and complete goal.
   
7.   Teach problem solving!  Help the child to "stop, look, listen!" and THINK before he goes into unproductive action.  Teach him to define the problem, consider alternative solutions and then test and evaluate solutions until the problem is solved.  Award persistence persistently!
   MANAGEMENT
   
8.   Strengthen your positive relationship with your hyperactive child by playing with him on his terms.  Play along with him, do not control, direct, or influence play unless it gets too wild.  Enjoy your child and let him enjoy your following his play.