A significant challenge people with ADHD encounter in their daily living is forgetting to complete all the tasks planned for the day. One way to address this is by setting regular reminders to verify and prepare for upcoming tasks. They should develop multiple countdown reminders until the planned time for the task. Additionally, individuals with ADHD often face challenges remembering verbal instructions. A great way to address this would be to use visual aids, such as digital calendars, sticky notes, and whiteboards to keep track of tasks. Lastly, adults with ADHD find it difficult to stay organized. An effective strategy to improve organizational skills in ADHD patients is to look for training programs and glean insights from these interventions in managing their tasks, creating schedules, or tracking assignments (see footnote 2).
Most parents with children having ADHD experience challenges in family functioning. They may engage in negative parenting by providing inconsistent discipline, criticizing their kids, and being over-reactive. Understanding the signs of ADHD in children can help them raise their children in the best way possible. Essentially, children with ADHD show signs related to the three primary symptoms of the disorder: inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity (see footnote 1). They may display inattention by not listening when someone speaks to them, forgetting daily activities, and quickly get distracted. Signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness could include speaking excessively, trouble waiting for their turn, interrupting others, and restlessness.
Parents should identify the critical areas to address for children with ADHD and create effective strategies to manage the symptoms. For example, they should schedule play time to bond with their children in a conducive environment for both. They should also develop visuals to supplement verbal instructions for children with ADHD. Visuals help them see the chronology of events that will happen for the entire day, such as waking, brushing teeth, taking breakfast, playing, bathing, and sleeping (see footnote 2). Lastly, parents should also set clear boundaries regarding screen time for kids with ADHD. They should manage the content and time spent on screens.
References:
Halevy-Yosef, R., Bachar, E., Shalev, L., Pollak, Y., Enoch-Levy, A., Gur, E., ... & Stein, D. (2019). The complexity of the interaction between binge-eating and attention. Plos One, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0215506
Smit, S., Mikami, A. Y., & Normand, S. (2021). Parenting children with ADHD: Associations with parental depression, parental ADHD, and child behavior problems. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(5), 1156-1170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01944-0
Thomas, N., & Karuppali, S. (2022). The efficacy of visual activity schedule intervention in reducing problem behaviors in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder between the age of 5 and 12 years: A systematic review. Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.5765%2Fjkacap.210021
