The following tips and strategies were designed to help parents and families living with an individual affected by ADHD. As you scroll down, you will see we have provided useful tips that may work with certain individuals, and for others, different strategies are required. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological disorder and is generally characterized by a child's inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The child appears not to listen and seems easily distracted. They may have difficulty completing work or tasks. Very often, the child doesn't finish a task they've started. They may also experience difficulty with social interaction. A child with ADHD is in constant motion and appears to always be on the "go." They have difficulty sitting still and are fidgety. A child with ADHD may find it challenging to sit in their seat at school and may end up distracting others. They may experience excessive activity  during sleep and may not feel restful in the morning. These children often act without thinking and later regret their actions. They have difficulty organizing their work. The child will also shift excessively from one activity to the next. They may speak out loud in the classroom and may require a lot of supervision. The child doesn't like to wait for their turn in games or groups. Emotionally, these children are very sensitive to criticism from others. They may engage quickly in fights with other children. Children with ADHD may also be socially isolated or considered "social loners." They will blame others for their problems and may experience angry outbursts.

According to Dr. Russell Barkley, ADHD is a problem with inhibition and not a deficiency of attention per se. In other words, the brakes in the brains of children affected by ADHD don't work.

• Unable to put brakes on distractions which leads to inattention (www.pediatricneurology.com/sound.htm).
• Unable to put brakes on inside thoughts which leads to impulsivity.
• Unable to put brakes on acting upon distractions or thoughts which leads to hyperactivity.

Children with ADHD have "leaky brakes." Their brakes just ain't working properly! Our brakes reside in the frontal and prefrontal lobes of our brain. These lobes are responsible for our Executive Function (memory, analysis, plan, organize, executive, judgment).

Tips & Strategies for Home

• Take out processed foods from diet.
• Consider a gluten-free, casein-free diet for your child.
• Provide juice and water instead of cocktail juice and pop (soft drinks).
• Consider giving your child a daily multi-vitamin and fish oil (omega 3's are great for focus, concentration, memory, etc).
• Provide consistent structure and routine (allow for some free time as well).
• Create a list of activities to have on hand when needed that are easy, fun and creative.
• Try buying cloths that have natural fibres such as cotton mix. Children with ADHD have a hard time tolerating synthetic materials on their skin. You may also want to remove the clothing labels because they can irritate a highly sensitive child.
• Increase the amount of time spent playing outside.
• Have your child wear a watch which has a timer. Use the timer as a reminder for specific activities.
• When talking with your child, always maintain eye contact to ensure s/he heard you. Ask your child to repeat to you what you just told her/him, this ensures s/he heard the message. Make sure s/he has eye contact with you when s/he talk to you or answer your questions.
• When asking your child to do something, provide them with one small "bite size" activity. After s/he are finished; provide her/him with the second activity. (For example: ask child to brush their teeth. After they are finished brushing their teeth, then ask them to put their pyjamas on).
• Always provide your child with water & snacks when outside, travelling or before bed (snacks of fruit/vegetables/crackers/cheese/healthy snacks).
• Use the watch trick for bedtime and set it for ten minutes prior to bedtime to allow your child to get ready.
• Have a homework book that the teacher can quickly look over before your child goes home.
• Create a routine after school: When at home, provide 30 minutes for relaxation. You may then be able to do homework till supper. If the homework is not finished, continue after supper.
• Make sure the room where your child is doing her/his homework is quiet and there are no distractions. If this room can be within your sight, even better.

Sources:

1. Martin L. Kutscher, Kids in the Syndrome Mix, Jesica Kingsley Publishers.
2. Jeffrey Freed, Right-Brain Children in a Left-Brain World, Simon & Schuster.
3. Wildberry Productions Inc.