How to deal with a child suffering from ADHD?
Psychologist,
New Delhi
Q: My six years old son is suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He makes careless mistakes, but he is a quick learner. Sometimes, he throws temper tantrums and talks too much. He can easily be distracted by things happening around him. How should I deal with him?
A:There's a lot that you can do with your child to help him. Children with ADHD do well when there are schedules, order and routines in the house. They require clear expectations, help with executing tasks and a lot of positive reinforcement. When structuring their time its important to engage them in constructive fun activities rather than watch TV or play video games. Also keeping them off junk food, sugar, caffeine etc and encouraging them to get adequate sleep is important.
Also parents need to learn to ignore certain things rather than set perfectionist expectations. Also take care of your own health and take breaks from childcare.
All children, especially those requiring more than average attention, tend to become scapegoats for parental frustration and anger. This is something to remain mindful of.