Can I help my child with ADHD?

Yes there's a lot you can do to help your child by being actively involved in a collaborative treatment approach. In fact, without specific assistance, children with ADHD find it difficult to adjust to the world around them. Collaborative approach - what's that? Basically it's teamwork! The outcome for your child is much better when everyone and everything - parents, family, teachers, doctors, other health workers and, possibly, medication - all work together. Every child is an individual and every family is different, so it's important to put together a plan that works best for you, your child and other family members. A collaborative approach to ADHD will also aim at treating any related problems your child might have, such as learning difficulties or psychological problems. Reinforcing positive behaviours: You can have an impact on your child's behaviour! A psychologist can work with you on strategies to help improve your child's behaviour at home. They can assist you in helping your child to achieve realistic goals such as paying attention to a game for 10 minutes, finishing a homework task or getting a household chore done. A psychologist can also give you ideas of how to reinforce your child's positive behaviour. Verbal praise from parents can provide important feedback for children of all ages. Tangible rewards such as stickers work well with some school-aged kids. Another idea is for children to pull an envelope out of a box, where each envelope has different rewards written inside (e.g. that the child can a weekly video to hire). Adolescents often respond to a points system that helps them to work towards a long-term reward. The key point is to involve your child in choosing rewards that are valuable to them. Although ADHD children need frequent reinforcement, tangible rewards can quickly lose their value to your child if given too often - a fine balance is required. Changing negative behaviours: Be consistent in your discipline for problem behaviour. A psychologist will be able to give you lots of strategies to use. Taking away something the child likes or enjoys is often enough to discourage negative behaviours. Another strategy that is very effective is "time-out". Time-out aims to stop problem behaviour and change the situation. It is best used with children aged 2 - 12 years. An example of how to do "time-out": send your child away from the trouble spot to an isolated area such as a room, corner, chair, hallway or bed - anywhere that is safe but uninteresting. If they don't go to the "time-out" place immediately, lead them by the hand or carry them. Briefly explain what your child has done so they can connect the behaviour with the "time-out - a simple phrase such as "no hitting" is enough. The child must not be allowed to watch television or interact with anyone else during time-out, including you. Time-out should last for one minute for each year of your child's age, but for no longer that five minutes. Make it clear that you control when time-out should end. Don't discuss the problem behaviour once time-out has finished; just move on by suggesting another activity. If your child repeats the problem behaviour, go through the time out process again. Time-out will eventually work if used properly. Simple strategies for helping kids with ADHD: make sure your child is looking at you before you talk; give short, clear instructions - one or two steps at a time; use visual support for instructions, like a whiteboard or checklist; have consistent daily routines; establish some simple rules for behaviour at home; as much as possible, minimise situations that make your child stressed; praise your child for good behaviours and try to ignore minor irritations.