ADHD and Your Child

ADHD AND YOUR CHILD SYMPTOMS OF ADHD IN CHILDREN ADHD LOOKS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT CHILDREN-HERE ARE SOME COMMON SYMPTOMS: INATTENTION EXCESSIVE DISTRACTIBILITY AND FORGETFULNESS • FAILING TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS OR FINISH TASKS • AVOIDANCE OF TASKS REQUIRING A HIGH DEGREE OF MENTAL EFFORT AND ORGANIZATION DIFFICULTY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO DETAILS OR MAKING CARELESS ERRORS HYPERACTIVIITY RAPID, EXCESSIVE SPEECH CONSTANT MOVEMENT, INCLUDING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES FIDGETING WITH HANDS OR FEET OR SQUIRMING WHILE SEATED DIFFICULTY COMPLETING QUIET TASKS IMPULSIVITY EXTREME IMPATIENCE, LOW FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! • SPEAKING WITHOUT THINKING, ANSWERING A QUESTION BEFORE SPEAKER HAS FINISHED • No REGARD FOR CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS AND HOW THEY AFFECT OTHERS FREQUENT INTERRUPTING OF CONVERSATIONS OR ACTIVITIES TIPS FOR PARENTS ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN STRUCTURE TAKE STEPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD STAY ORGANIZED SET PREDICTABLE ROUTINES FOR WAKING UP, GOING TO BED, AND DOING HOMEWORK TASKS COMMUNICATE CLEAR AND DIRECT EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CHILD ENCOURAGE PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES LIKE SPORTS, MUSIC, OR ART CLASSES WILL CHALLENGE YOUR CHILD AND PRODUCE A TANGIBLE RESULT OF WHICH HE CAN BE PROUD HELP YOUR CHILD TO SET GOALS AND TO ACHIEVE THEM STEP BY STEP LIMIT TELEVISION AND VIDEO GAMES, WHICH PROVIDE UNPRODUCTIVE STIMULATION USE APPROPRIATE REINFORCEMENT "IF YOU DON'T DO YOU WON'T GET REINFORCEMENT SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE, NOT WORKING TOWARDS LONG-TERM PRIZES ALLOW CHILD TO HELP DETERMINE SPECIFIC REINFORCERS TO ENSURE INTEREST SEEK A PROOGRAM THAT WILL ADDRESS YOUR CHILD'S UNDERLYING PROBLEM • ADHD IS A RESULT OF UNEVEN BRAIN CONNECTIVITY - "FUNCTIONAL DISCONNECTION" INCREASED GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITY AND SENSORY AND COGNITIVE STIMULATION WILL HELP DIETARY CHANGES CAN ALSO HELP MANY CHILDREN BEHAVIORALLY INFOGRAPHICS PROVIDED BY: BRAIN BALANCE NEW JERSEY Brain Balance www.BRAINBALANCENEWJERSEY.COM SOURCES: HTTP://www.HELPGUIDE.ORG/MENTAL/ADHD ADD PARENTING STRATEGIES.HTM HTTP://www.BRAINBALANCECENTERS.COM/ABOUT/ HTTP://www.NIMH.NIH.GOV/HEALTH/PUBLICATIONS/ATTENTION-DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY-DISORDER/WHAT-ARE- THE-SYMPTOMS-OF-ADHD-IN-CHILDREN.SHTML HTTP://www.EMPOWERINGPARENTS.COM/BLOG/ADHD-ADD/DOES-YOUR-CHILD-HAVE-ADDADHD-8-TIPS-THAT- WORK/# HTTP://www.PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM/BLOG/THE-GIFT-ADHD/201012/TOP-TEN-TIPS-PARENTING-ADHD-KIDS