Ideas to Help Children with ADHD and ADD

Children with ADHD and ADD are intelligent and capable. However, they need extra support to help them manage their ADHD symptoms. Implementing the following suggestions will increase children with Attention Deficit Disorder’s ability to manage their ADHD symptoms while minimizing factors that exasperate the issues.

1. Exercise

Physical activity is healthy for everyone. For children with ADHD, the benefits multiply. These students literally feel the energy coursing through their bodies. It makes them fidget and squirm in situations where they are required to be still for long periods of time.

Action: Create regular opportunities to release energy. Playing in the yard, going to the park and dancing in the living room give kids the opportunity to release the pent up energy in a healthy way and permit them to better control themselves and focus on what needs to be done.

2. Diet

Limiting sugar intake for children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder often gives positive results. A 2010 study published in the journal of the American Dietetic Association reported that “nearly 40% of total energy consumed by 2- to 18-year-olds were in the form of empty calories.” Of these empty calories, almost half are added sugars found in soda, fruit drinks and desserts. These added sugars cause quick spikes in energy followed by steep plunges in energy. For children who already have issues with self control and hyperactivity, these spikes and declines complicate an already difficult struggle.

Action: Provide children with snacks that won’t push their energy levels to extremes. Fruit, vegetables and dip or a ham and cheese sandwich break down more slowly in the body providing a more consistent energy level and nutrients.

3. Tight Ship

Children with ADHD respond better when there are clear expectations, systems in place to facilitate their responsibilities and adults helping to maintain all these consistent. Students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder need extra help to learn how to succeed in spite of the issues they face.

Action: Create a schedule that includes wake up time, homework time and free time. Help them to maintain it. Devise a homework system so that everyone knows what the homework is and when it is due. Require follow through on the schedule and systems developed. Like anyone else, children with ADHD need consistent practice to form positive habits and routines.

4. Thinking Faster and Making Decisions Faster

Millisecond timing is essential for focus, attention, organization, reading, math, coordination, thinking speed and decision making speed among other skills. By improving the effectiveness of millisecond timing students with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder find they are better able to pay attention in school, control their behavior, and succeed in their academic studies.

Action: Inquire about how brain training helps children with ADHD succeed.

5. Time and Love

Children like “Sam” with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder often hear a lot negative comments in their day. In “Sam’s” perception, his teacher spent the day on his case. She nagged him to sit down, barked at him to get his work done and blamed him for a problem he didn’t cause on the playground. “Sam” needs to know that he will get some positive adult time.

Action: Make time to have fun with your child. Create little rituals like reading before bed, playing a game after dinner or eating a certain meal together. These seemingly small acts provide opportunities for open communication, positive interactions and a consistent reminder that they are truly loved.