How would you deal with a kid who has ADHD?

@djoyce71 (2511)
Philippines
August 30, 2008 8:29am CST
I think it's very hard for parents to deal with a kid who has ADHD. Kids with ADHD are said to be inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive. If you have a kid like this, what would you do improve his condition aside from treatments? Without treatments can this be corrected by merely teaching the child?
4 people like this
10 responses
@joyadalia (1408)
• Philippines
30 Aug 08
My husband's 7-year-old cousin has ADHD and it really is so hard to keep him still even for one minute. I usually give him something to do that takes a lot of time and effort so that he can channel his energies there. For example, I taught Cilo how to do cross stitch. He was doing alright when the stitches were difficult and he has to count a lot. He was doing a little shark. But when he was at the part where he has to make stitches for several rows and he does not have to count he got restless and stopped doing the pattern. Imagine, he even broke a NEEDLE into two! I love him a lot . The best thing to do is to challenge the child, really.
3 people like this
@djoyce71 (2511)
• Philippines
31 Aug 08
A child is really a love of ones life, whether he has ADHD or none. No matter how hard it is, he should be loved at all times. Good day!
@dong1970 (1572)
• Philippines
30 Aug 08
Personally,i have a friend had a kid with ADHD.They have an hardship to deal with their kids.I saw their patience and teaches this kid everyday.Patience is the best key for this kind of problem
2 people like this
@djoyce71 (2511)
• Philippines
31 Aug 08
The child is very lucky for having parents like them- patient and teach the child to improve. It's been hard for them but the kid needs them and they should help him. Good day!
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Any thing you do to try to help the child with his/her symptoms would constitute "treatment", but I assume you meant medication. I think each parent must decide what works best for their child & family. I would start with diet changes, and schedule changes to see if that improved the behaviors that were concerning me. I wouldn't try medication until I had exhausted all other avenues. Personally I think ADD/ADHD is over diagnosed right now, but at the same time that doesn't mean that some kids aren't genuinely affected & need medications.
2 people like this
@yogeshdhusa (2236)
• India
1 Sep 08
Hi djoyce, I think only love can change this type of kids.. Love and talking to them and then understaning what they are thinking wil change the kid.. i know its very hard but everyhing is possible if done with full heart.. thanks and enjoy :)
1 person likes this
@djoyce71 (2511)
• Philippines
1 Sep 08
I agree, love and affection to the child. Let him feel that he is loved and cared for. Thank you for responding. Good evening.
@msedge (4011)
• United States
9 Sep 08
If i would have a child like this,i think its really hard to deal with it.Its even hard to deal with normal children but having a child is a blessing so treating and understanding the child well would help alot to make her/him get along with other children normally.I think we should understand about this ADHD and learn how to deal with children having this.
@redkathy (3374)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Both of my boys were ADD I think. Not to the point that they were medicated though. I really don't think that most kids need medication, simply more attention and structure!
1 person likes this
@djoyce71 (2511)
• Philippines
31 Aug 08
It must have been very hard kathy. It's good that you give them the attention they need. Great mom! Good day!
1 person likes this
@redkathy (3374)
• United States
31 Aug 08
They were boys all the way, which tend to be always moving running jumping etc. I saw a commercial about adult ADD. It shows a remote changing the channel. That's how my brain works so I guess the kids got it from me. The key to handling that is to multi task! Have a great day!
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Sep 08
I actually did some research about a year ago for one of my child development classes and discovered something rather interesting about what may naturally help children with ADHD. I was doing a report on why children should go outside and play more and a few of the articles I stumbled across said that children that spend at least an hour outside a day playing actually can control their ADHD better than children that do not get to play outside. I think getting children outside and allowing them to run around and just run off some of that energy can help them calm down. Kids spend too much time inside anymore and they're not actually doing anything to burn any energy.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Treatment is not just teaching. It is a combination of medication, behavior therapy and other therapies. If you were to look at my kids when they were small you would probably say my son was ADHD. He had all the classic signs. My daughter was quiet and the complete opposite of her brother. Which one has ADHD? My daughter. The impulsiveness of the disorder does not always show outwardly. The issue with medications comes down to how and what is given. While a few kids can do without it, I know some kids who do well with the medication. Without it my daughter had difficulty getting through the day. Bear in mind that she also has multiple disabilities. It is different for each child.
1 person likes this
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
31 Aug 08
One of my sisters is adopting a child with Aspergers, that's a form of autism, I think I am not to familiar with this. She is now 4 yr old. The doctor just put her on medication. She is a smart little girl but a terror in her own way. Real hyperactive, never quiet at all. My sister had an episode with her at WalMart. When they got home my sister just told her older children to take care of her and she went straight to bed it was daytime.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Sep 08
my son has adhd and he was diagnosed just recently within the last couple of months and this is very strange because he is 17. there are so many issues that go along with this: being a teenager and being diagnosed this late actually means that either the chid is very shy and or they are very intelligent, usually a little bit of both. i would be happy if people would respnd to this and give me any more advice on teenagers and adhd. also i may be able to help if people have questions also
1 person likes this