Do You Have an ADHD child?
By Cindyh2k
@Cindyh2k (308)
United States
October 21, 2006 10:01am CST
What are some of the experiences you have had with this child - and do you have to treat this child differently from your other children - i.e. when it comes to discipline, etc......
5 responses
@berryman34 (40)
• United States
28 Oct 06
I also have a child with adhd and nothing works for me. I tried grounding and i tried punishing. He has his ups and downs, but currently he is taking medication for his adhd. I didn't want to give him medication, but the school and doctors thought it would be best for him. I have said I was going to take him off of the meds. but the school and doctors said if I did it would not be good for him and I want to do what is good for my child.
1 person likes this
@Cindyh2k (308)
• United States
28 Oct 06
Sometimes it is extremely hard to find something that works with an ADHD child - and sometimes, it is the parent who has to change their way of thinking. You have to keep in mind when giving instructions that a child with ADHD needs one instruction at a time.
Putting a child on medicine is a big decision to make - I had a hard time making the same decision. While I wanted my daughter to have the best possible chance available to her, you hear all these horror stories about kids who have been on medication. As with any medication, you have to weigh the risks and the good that will come from the child taking medicine.
My daughter did not have a behavior problem at school, but she did have trouble learning - so, we decided that her chance at a good education was worth the risk. She went from a student making D's and F's to A's and B's because once she began taking the Adderall, she could concentrate on her work. She has been on the medication for 8 years and is doing very well.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
23 Oct 06
I had a foster son with ADHD, and I've had several children with it in my primary classroom. I never treat these children any differently than I do the rest of the children. We have to expect just as much from them, or how are they going to ever fit into society as adults. It may be harder to teach them proper behavior, but we owe it to them.
My foster son was 15 when we took him. I was working with his high school class at the time. He was a handsome, intelligent boy, outgoing, loving, and very charismatic. But, he was in special ed. because of low reading skills and because he often exhibited wierd behaviors such as making noises, removing parts of his clothing at inappropriate times, and saying things that made no sense. Of course, part of his problem was that he'd been in and out of placements since he was 2. In fact, the year before we took him, he'd been in 8 different placements. He did not have the ability to maintain close relationships with anyone. He seemed vulnerable on the outside, but he was solid steel inside. Incorporating him into our family was a challenge.
He finished out his high school career with us and went out on his own. He's had his good and bad times in life, but he's carved a niche for himself in society which he'd never had growing up.
1 person likes this
@Cindyh2k (308)
• United States
23 Oct 06
Hi! Thanks for you response! In my post, I didn't mean that I treat my daughter with ADHD differently from my other children - she is expected to do her chores, do her best in school, and she has consequences when she doesn't. I think I should have phrased it "didn't methods of discipline", because the same forms of discipline that work for my other children do not work with her.
I applaud your family for the impact that you have made in this young man's life! My parents were foster parents for many years - and, I think that is one of the most wonderful things that a family can do - and, the entire family has to be involved for it to really work!
Thanks for sharing your story with us!
@wahmbuddy (391)
• Canada
23 Oct 06
I do have an adhd child. Yes I do have to treat him differently. He works well when things are very scheduled for him, he likes to have visual aids such as a calander of events. As far as discipline I find that immediate and logical consequences work best for him. There is no sense in grounding for a week it is much more effective to take a something away for a few hours or an evening longer than that he forgets why. I try and use positives as often as I can, "way to go for making your bed by yourself" that kind of thing. How about you?
@Cindyh2k (308)
• United States
23 Oct 06
I have also found that my child with ADHD does better with discipline that happens at the moment - grounding does not work, for the reason you stated.
And, the schedule is a must - my daughter has to remain on basically the same schedule, and if things are going to change, we try to introduce the changes slowly. When doing chores, we give her instructions and when she finishes that chore, we give her the next step. We can't say - pick up your toys, put away your clothes, and vacuum. We send her to pick up her toys. When she is finsished with that, we send her to put away her clothes, and then to vacuum. One thing at a time.
And, positives work well with her. We always compliment her on her accomplishments - sometimes more than our other children because she has to work harder to accomplish her goals.
Thanks for your input!
