Coping with ADHD in Children

No parent expects for their child to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, or ADHD, but the occurrence of the disorder has affected more than 4.5 million children nationwide between the ages of 5 and 17 since 2006 alone. The exact causes of ADHD in children are still widely unknown to the medical community, but heredity seems to be the biggest contributor.

Complications of ADHD in Children

It is important to understand some of the complications and difficulties that are commonly experienced by children suffering from ADHD if the problem goes untended. This list is a sample of the many complications of ADHD in children, but is in no way completely comprehensive:

• Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders often suffer from extremely low self-esteem and have much difficulty creating and maintaining relationships.
• Children with ADHD struggle in school, earning poor academic scores and judgment from peers and professionals alike.
• Children with ADHD are much more accident prone than children without the disorder.
• Children with ADHD are much more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs as a means of coping with the isolation they feel.

Fortunately, most of these complications can be remedied in part or in whole with behavior modification. While following the regimen your child’s doctor has prescribed whether that includes medication, therapy, or both is important, it is good to know that there are things that you as a parent can do at home to help your child improve behavior. All children have a great need for love and compassion, and this is particularly true of children suffering with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Show and tell your child that you love them regularly.

• Praise positive behavior much more enthusiastically than you point out negative behavior. While it is important to correct inappropriate behavior, positive reinforcement helps to build self-esteem and creates the desire in the child to continue that behavior.
• Stay organized and on schedule. Children with ADHD don’t adjust to change very well, so it is important that things occur predictably for them. Meals, playtime, bath time, and bed time all should come at regular times.
• Provide positive channels for your child to improve their self-esteem and self-discipline. Music, art, dance, and martial arts are all activities that ADHD children can benefit from, provided they are truly interested in the activity and not forced.
• Advocate for your child at school. Make sure teachers know your child’s struggle and how to handle it. Ask that they monitor your child’s behavior and performance as well as make a point of practicing positive reinforcement.

Parents and Kid Pointz: A Partnership for Your Child's Success

You may have noticed that the key to helping your child improve behavior revolves around positive reinforcement. This is where Kid Pointz can help. Sometimes parents know what the right thing to do is, just not how to go about establishing and implementing a system that works. The Kidz Pointz system does work and is recommended by parents and professionals. Here are the basics:

• Parents create rules for children to follow. You may create your own rules, select from a list of popular rules, or both. Then your child agrees to follow these rules.
• Next you will create rewards. This can be anything you like from extra television time to financial rewards.
• Once your system is created, you will track and chart your child’s behavior online. You may award points for good behavior and even deduct points for bad behavior if you wish.
• When your child has accumulated enough points they may redeem them for one of the rewards you created.

Kid Pointz is an affordable, easy to use online point and reward system that gets the results you want in a fun and positive way. If you feel your child needs additional help, you have the option of enrolling in the premium Plan which gives you access to a licensed family therapist. You'll also receive assistance in creating reasonable rules and rewards that will motivate your child. There is no cure for ADHD, but there is help and to make parenting your child a bit easier.