5 ways to manage ADHD in children

Extremely exhausted running behind your little one all the time? Do you find him trying to grab your attention constantly? Seen your kid being restless day in, day out? Find yourself wondering what really has taken over your toddler? Why isn't your child like other normal kids?

Well, your little one could be suffering from something called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADHD in children makes it very difficult for them to pay attention and control impulsive behaviour. The symptoms of ADHD start in childhood and it can continue through adolescence or adulthood. However, the good news is that as parents you can do many things to reduce ADHD symptoms in your child, without compromising his natural energy, playfulness, and creativity.

Here are 5 ways to manage ADHD symptoms in children that every parent should try:

1. Establish consistent rules for your child

Parents must be as consistent as possible in their approach to ADHD children, which should reward good behavior and discourage destructive behavior. Rules should be well-defined but flexible enough to incorporate harmless idiosyncrasies. It is very important to understand that children with ADHD have much more difficulty adapting to change than do children without the condition. (for e.g., the child should do homework every day but might choose to start it after a TV show or computer game). Parents should establish a predictable routine, and provide a neat, stable home environment (particularly in the child’s room).

2. Establishing a reward system for your child

Children with ADHD respond particularly well to reward systems. You can create charts with points or stars for good behavior or for completed tasks. It is important to give points for even simple positive behaviors, which may be taken for granted in other children (responding happily to a change in plans, listening to you without interruption). As the children accumulate points, they can use them for larger tangible rewards, such as a favourite video game or CD.

3. Helping your child improve concentration and attention

ADHD children perform significantly better when their interest is engaged. Therefore, you should be on the lookout for activities that hold your child’s concentration. Options include swimming, tennis, and other sports that focus attention and limit peripheral stimuli. (ADHD children may have difficulty with team sports require constant alertness, such as football or basketball.) Martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, can also offer an appropriate and controlled emotional outlet, and help to focus attention, and teach self-restraint, self-discipline, and tolerance. Learning an instrument can help a child to develop a more rhythmic and balanced sense of self.

4. Role of the parent in school teaching

The parent can help the child by talking to the teacher before the school year starts about their child’s situation. The first priority for the parent is to develop a positive, not adversarial, relationship with the child’s teacher. Inattention is a major factor in low academic performance and can cause children to frequently forget homework or miss assignments. Children with ADHD often require frequent reminders or visual cues (such as posters) for rules and regulations. Having the child sit in the front of the classroom may be helpful for both increasing attention and reducing noisy activity. Finding a tutor to help after school may also be helpful.

5. Be a good role model for your child:

Parents are the child's most influential role model. If you as a parent cannot control yourself, is it right on your part to expect your child to exercise self-control? Yelling sets a bad example. We often think that the louder we get, the stronger impact we have on our children. On the contrary, the child when yelled at sees only anger and things can go out of hand. It is perfectly normal to feel angry, irritated or frustrated at your child's behaviour, but it is not OK to yell at the child continuously or say words like “lazy”, “hyper”, “good for nothing”. So the next time your child ends up doing something that makes your blood boil, then try not to yell, probably take a few deep breaths, walk out of the room until you calm down and are fit to handle the situation objectively. Your self-calming techniques also end up teaching your child better management of their emotions. In the instance that you do lose your temper over your child, do not hesitate to apologize. This helps connect with your child better.                                         

Along with these simple behavioral and lifestyle tips, ADHD treatment helps the better outcome. Therefore, instead of dealing with your kid alone, seek medical help at the earliest. You can take help of homeopathy for treating ADHD symptoms as it addresses the problem from the root and offers a safe solution for ADHD. ADHD treatment in homeopathy helps bring about a change in the hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour of kids. Moreover, kids love taking sweet homeopathic pills and they can be taken safely for a long time.