Every parent has a different way they discipline their child, but some parents unknowingly cause more harm than good.
From grounding their children to screaming at them, to expecting them to behave a certain way without telling them ahead of time their expectations, many children become confused during the discipline process.
And for children with behavioral issues like ADHD, it can be even worse, as their minds work differently than other children.
It’s critical to make sure those who are working with your children know how to respond when problems arise – don’t assume they know.
In fact, some childcare workers are not trained on how to manage children with ADHD – like the swimming coach who humiliated a small boy with ADHD by making him cry in front of other children.
If you’re looking for a few tips to discipline a child in love who has ADHD, here are a few suggested tips.
Set Up Your Child For Success
The key to parenting a child with ADHD is to work in prevention.
If you know your child has a short attention span, make sure when they are doing their homework they aren’t distracted with excessive stimuli like music or television.
Have a child that has sensory processing disorder?
Don’t buy them uncomfortable clothes and force them to wear them, knowing they’ll have a full-blown meltdown each time they leave the house because of the material.
If your child operates better with a schedule and timeline knowing what’s ahead – provide that for them.
Even having timers that go off when it’s time for bed or dinner can be helpful.
Another option is to give verbal reminders such as “In 5 minutes, we’re going to get ready for bed”, so it’s not sudden and all at once.
Communicate Clearly
Yelling and screaming at a child will only cause anxiety.
Instead, communicate what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t.
If your child hits a sibling, explain that this type of behavior is hurtful, and won’t be tolerated in your home and that you are to treat everyone with respect.
Let them know ahead of time the “rules” of your home – whether it’s something small like taking off one’s shoes or doing chores.
This way, there are no surprises and everything is communicated clearly.
And note some children don’t process verbally – they need to see things in writing.
Introduce Consequences
If your child is constantly rough with their possessions and belongings, instead of going out and replacing what they break, teach them that their actions have consequences.
They’ll start to learn the importance of taking care of things.
If they broke a toy, and you replace it, and they are rough with it again – try saying something like “I’m sorry your toy is broken, but I’ve already replaced it once. When you are rough with toys, they break.”
The child will learn that you aren’t “punishing them” such as grounding them or spanking them, but you are teaching them a life-long lesson – actions have consequences.
Raising a child with ADHD can be challenging, but with a few simple tips you can make sure you are helping them grow into a healthy well-balanced adult!
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