Parenting a child with ADHD

May 22, 2024

By Alba Piedra BSc, Psyc, MA.

Trying to manage a child with ADHD or understand the condition can be daunting. Some children might be labelled as naughty, and some parents might rush into getting a diagnosis. It is vital that you inform yourself of the condition and get support for yourself and your child. I will briefly give some guidance on how to parent a child who suffers from ADHD. However, I strongly recommend you seek professional support.

What is ADHD:

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been classified by the DSM V (2015) as a neurodevelopmental disorder. The main features of ADHD are persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and being impulsive. These symptoms significantly affect the child’s daily functioning and its normal course of development.

Parents often notice the symptoms before the age of 4 due to excessive motor activity and constant difficulty with concentration at school. It can worsen into the adolescent years and may lead to behavioural problems, anger, and social difficulties. ADHD symptoms can be present in high intensity to a minimum. My advice is not to panic, seek support, and learn about the condition.

These are the main symptoms of ADHD according to the DSM–V:

Inattention
- Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
- Frequently forgetting or losing things.
- Easily distracted.
- Often fails to complete tasks and struggles to follow instructions.
- Difficulty with organizing.
- Avoiding or resisting to engage in activities that require sustained mental effort.
Hyperactivity
- Fidgeting, squirming, or tapping their hands when sitting down.
- Difficulty remaining sitting down when required.
- Constantly running or climbing.
- It is difficult to engage in social activities.
- Talks excessively and seems to be driven by a motor.
Impulsivity
- Replies impulsively before questions have been given.
- Struggles to wait for their turn.
- Often interrupts other’s conversations or games.

To be diagnosed with ADHD, six or more of these symptoms need to be present before the age of 12. These symptoms are present in different settings and affect the child’s daily activities.

Although some of these symptoms can be visible in the form of behaviours, they can also be the result of traumatic events the child is going through. Therefore, it is recommended to inform yourself and seek parenting support to understand the child first and improve your parenting strategies before seeking any diagnosis. ADHD can present unique challenges for parents. Therefore, it is essential you seek support. Here are some tips and strategies that may help.

How to parent a child with ADHD:

Environment:

Your child must have a distraction-free environment so they can focus on important tasks. Also, reducing stress levels can help the child to manage their symptoms. Provide activities and a space that can help the child to take time to relax and regulate himself if he/she needs. Overstimulation can make a child feel unsafe in their self and act out in the form of tantrums, anger outbursts, or withdrawal.

Healthy diet:

In the aim of understanding ADHD, researchers have found some links between sugar and Western diets with ADHD. Concerning sugar and its effects on ADHD, research has found contradictory results. A study done by Kim, Y. (2011) demonstrated that children with ADHD who had a diet based on products high in sugar consumption seemed to be at risk of ADHD. Whereas other studies found no correlation between sucrose consumption and ADHD (Del-Ponte, Anselmi, Assunção, Tovo-Rodrigues, Munhoz, Matijasevich, Rohde, and Santos, 2019). Concerning Western diets and ADHD, a 14-year follow-up study found a link between ADHD and Western diets that are full of fat, calories and sugar. The results showed that children who had a healthy diet did not have ADHD. While those with the Western diet were more likely to have the condition. It has been suggested that ADHD could be associated with the Western diet (Howard, Robinson, Smith, Ambrosini, Piek, and Oddy, 2011).

Although these results show some light on ADHD, more research needs to be done to confirm this evidence.

Nevertheless, having mentioned these results, it seems that sugar and an unhealthy diet might influence ADHD and its symptoms mentioned before. It seems that a sugar-free and healthy diet which includes vegetables, fruits, and proteins prevents further intensification of the ADHD symptoms and possibly the condition itself. In general, having a healthy diet can increase your child’s well-being physically and mentally.

Exercise:

An article by the ADHD Centre website (2022) has mentioned that exercise can

boost dopamine in the brain, improve self-control, help with concentration, and provide a routine. Exercise can also facilitate social interaction and building their self-esteem by achieving in sports, as academically might be difficult due to their inability to concentrate.

It is foremost to provide time to practice any exercise where it includes interacting with others if possible, connecting with nature or simply keeping the child active. Similarly, be aware that excessive amount of exercise might lead to exhaustion and more hyperactivity, find out what is the right amount of exercise for your child.

Parenting Strategies:

To do:

Maintain a routine where your child can have structure and is clear on what is next. Use calendars, planners, and reminders to keep track of activities and tasks. Avoid giving your child high goals as it might be too difficult and get easily frustrated. Instead, try to break the goal into small chunks at the time and actions that they can achieve. Praise your child when the task has been completed, even if it is smaller.

Not to do:

It could become contagious to believe your child is misbehaving, and labels can add to it. Avoid any labelling, and do not punish your child physically or emotionally, as it might create more behavioural problems.

Do not nanny your child with devices, involving playing video games, TV, or tablets. This can create more disruption in your child’s behaviour and eventually affect their brain’s neurological pathways and their overall development in the long term.

Self-Care

Being a parent can trigger negative feelings and your past traumas when dealing with difficult moments with your children. I strongly recommend taking breaks to recharge energy and taking care of your wellbeing is paramount. Practice mindfulness, meditation, or sports activities that can help you destress.

References:

Del-Ponte, B., Anselmi, L., Assunção, M., Tovo-Rodrigues, L., Munhoz, T., Matijasevich, A., Rohde, L., Santos, I. (2019) Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders Vol 15 (243), pp.:290-296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6193136/

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2015), Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association.

Howard, L., Robinson, M., Smith, J., Ambrosini, L., Piek, P., and Oddy, H. (2011). ADHD Is Associated With a “Western” Dietary Pattern in Adolescents. Journal of Attention Disorders, Vol 15(5), pp. 403-411. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054710365990

Kim, C. (2011). Correlation between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sugar consumption, quality of diet, and dietary behaviour in school children. Nutrition Research and Practice. Vol 5(3), pp. 236-45. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3133757/

The ADHD Centre (2022) Why are Sport and Exercise Crucial for ADHD Symptom Control? Available at: https://www.adhdcentre.co.uk/why-are-sport-and-exercise-crucial-for-adhd-symptom- (Accessed: 15 July 2024)