6 Guidelines for Educating and Raising Children With ADHD
When your child is first diagnosed with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder, aka ADHD, by experts, maybe your first reaction is disbelief. How is it possible, that at first you thought your child was just a very active and curious child, in fact being diagnosed by experts with ADHD?
However, it is impossible that you are not constantly denying reality? Of course, you have to take steps how to educate and raise your children in these conditions. Here are ways you can educate your child with ADHD.
1. Be honest with your child about their ADHD
Parents are not encouraged to keep ADHD secret from their children. Parents are also not encouraged to lie to their children about ADHD. Tell your child honestly about their ADHD.
Also let them know that this ADHD was not caused by their fault or delinquency. By being open to your child about their condition, you are lightening the stigma that your child has on ADHD. Your children need to know who they are and understand that they can control it.
2. Do not require children to be “better”
Indeed, children with ADHD may be more inconsistent than normal children. For example, today their test is worth 90, tomorrow it might be 60. The day after tomorrow might be a different story, maybe it’s 70. But next week, maybe it’s 95.
If you have this, parents generally say immediately, “If you were good yesterday, why not today?” But what actually happens with ADHD kids is that they are actually very intelligent. They know what they have to do, but sometimes they don’t know how to get started.
Besides, as already mentioned, sometimes they are inconsistent. This is what is sometimes misinterpreted by the average person.
3. Don’t let ADHD be an excuse for irresponsible children
Yes, ADHD makes it more difficult for children to do things. However, that does not mean that ADHD is an excuse for irresponsible children. For example, a child with ADHD says “I don’t need to do homework because I have ADHD.”
In fact, the child can do homework, even though it takes more effort than normal children. Change your child’s mindset so that they say, “Yes, I have ADHD. But I can still do my homework. “
4. Implement rules and consequences slowly
For children with ADHD, it is easier for parents to apply rules and consequences verbally and in writing. For example, parents could post a list of children’s responsibilities and rules in the home.
If you want to give rewards aka a gift to your child, that’s fine. However, don’t give your child a lure of gifts for something that is still old, for example, “Daddy will buy you a bicycle when you go to class next year.”
ADHD kids have trouble planning the future, so it wouldn’t make sense to promise a new gift for next year. Otherwise, rewards given try to be given in the near future, for example given a license to play games outside the predetermined time, and so on.
Parents must also explain the consequences clearly. After that, apply the consequences that have been made slowly but firmly. Maybe sometimes parents feel frustrated and tired of dealing with their children, but try not to educate your children in anger.
It may be difficult if the parents of these children also have ADHD, because ADHD can be congenital. Parents who also have ADHD may scold their anger because they themselves also have problems with their impulsive behavior. For this, parents are encouraged to control their ADHD first, then try to be a good example for their children.
5. Help your child discover their strengths
Children with ADHD are often excluded. This can cause the child to feel insecure and depressed. Children with ADHD have a feeling of lack of self-worth since they were 8 years old.
These kids may feel “There’s nothing I can do about it. Why do I have to be so tired, try? Besides, people still won’t think of me, really. ” Many of these children are discouraged and feel depressed.
Here, parents play a role to revive the enthusiasm of their children. Usually, if these ADHD kids are interested in one thing, these kids can master it as much as the ability of people 5 years above their age.
Therefore, you can say to your child, “Look, maybe you are weak in this area. But, you have another advantage, right? Even your friends haven’t been able to do what you can already do. “
6. Don’t be overprotective of your child
Over time, of course, these kids with ADHD will grow up. They need to learn to be independent. Most parents try to solve all the problems experienced by their children. This is not good, because the child will think, “I have shortcomings and for sure daddy I will solve all my problems.”
Try not to make you have to tell everything what your child should do, but try to make your child ask what they have to do. In the early days, maybe these kids still need your direction. But increasingly, get used to it until they really make their own decisions to solve their problems.
Teach your child to learn to be independent, which indeed, for children with ADHD, is difficult to do.
Behavioral treatment for children with ADHD
If you are having trouble educating your child with ADHD, don’t worry. There is an alternative therapy for you, which is called “behavioral therapy“. Basically, this therapy aims to make you apply the 6 things that have been mentioned above. It’s just that, with this therapy, you will be given a program and a kind of class by mental health experts. This therapy can be done by taking medication or not taking medication.
Here are three elements of this therapy:
1. Set goals / targets
You and your supervisor will help the child to set and achieve a specific goal. Examples of goals that can be made such as completing homework, playing with friends in the park, sitting at a desk studying for an hour, or others.
2. Create rewards and consequences
Your child will get a reward or punishment depending on what he does. For example, if they reach the goal they scored, they will be given additional time to play on the computer. Conversely, if they behave negatively, then you will spend less time playing games they.
3. Be consistent in running therapy
It is very important to apply the 2 elements above until the child can do what he has been taught himself (without the help of a parent or tutor).
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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