Parents help ADHD. Or rather, parents can help ADHD. Here at Fastbraiin, we believe the parents’ involvement acts as the number one factor of success with any child’s ADHD treatment plan.

Many parents feel frustrated with trying to find help and solutions in dealing with their child’s ADHD. Many times, parents feel helpless and powerless. Unfortunately, this oftentimes leads to feelings of wanting to give up altogether or back away.

We want to encourage you to do just the opposite. Get more involved. Your child’s success depends on your involvement. Many studies show us that family involvement improves behavior and academics in children with ADHD.

Here at Fastbraiin, we call this getting into hero mode and we believe that your child needs your involvement in real practical ways. You can be your child’s hero by getting into the nitty gritty of managing their ADHD symptoms.

Now you might be wondering how do parents help ADHD? What can I do? In this blog, we outline some of the real practical steps of getting active in your child’s ADHD treatment plan.

1 - Support What Your Child Loves

Parents help ADHD most when they support what their child loves to do. Always remember that your child thinks and acts differently from you. Your child has their own life and dreams their own dreams.

You should never make little of your child’s dreams. Your child’s dreams drive their enthusiasm. Their dreams provide drive and energy. Utilize that drive for the good that it can be.

Never tell your child that they cannot do something. Rather, encourage them in what they do well and support them as they work towards their goals.

They might never fully realize their dreams, but they will most likely discover who they really are in the process. Give them examples of the success of others which can help them overcome ADHD challenges and achieve their dreams, too.

2 - Be Your Child’s Cheerleader

Your child won’t be good at everything. No one ever is. Sometimes, even after years of work, we perform badly at the very things we like to do the most.

Regardless of your child’s performance, you should nevertheless be encouraging of their positive behaviors. They might tackle poorly and only make the second string of the football team. If playing football, though, gives them a positive release of ADHD energy, keep encouraging them.

Acting as your child’s biggest cheerleader makes the list on this blog on 5 lessons I’ve learned parenting a child with ADHD. Sometimes, you won’t feel like always being an encouragement. Just remember, your child needs you more than you think they do.

3 - Tell Them What They Are Good At

As the old saying goes, honesty really is the best policy. While, you should always be positive and cheer on your child in the activities that provide them a positive release, you yet can still be honest with them. You don’t have to tell them they play the best when they don’t.

You should be encouraging, but you can also tell them that playing a sport might not be a long-term occupation. Instead, always tell them what they do perform well at. They might not play the best at their favorite sport but maybe they play the guitar really well.

Your child wants to hear from his parents what he does well. Always tell him and continue to encourage him to incorporate what he does do well into his future goals.

4 - Remind Them That Everyone Fails

Everyone fails. Hopefully, as an adult, you have realized this by now. Your child, though, most likely only sees when he fails.

Children with ADHD many times feel like failures in school. Encourage them and tell them of your own failures. They need to know that failing is a part of life not just something they experience.

Parents help ADHD in their children when they show their own weaknesses and failures. Your child doesn’t need you to be a superhero, they need you to be a real human with real faults. Remind your child that everyone fails and help them get back up when they need it.

5 - Show Them It’s a Team Effort

No one wants to fail or feel left out. Unfortunately, ADHD many times makes a child feel just that. They feel weird and alone and as if they have something that no one else has.

You need to let your child know that you play on their team. Not only do you support and cheer them on, but you fight in the trenches alongside them. Tell them that they can bring their issues to you and build a level of trust so that they feel safe doing just that.

Parents help ADHD in their children through identifying with their child's ADHD with them. Your child doesn’t want to feel alone. Make sure they know you are with them by showing them that you are on their team.

Parents Help ADHD Through Continual Effort

While we have covered a few helpful areas here where parents help ADHD, we have not covered everything. We recommend using online and in person resources to always continue working on your parenting skills. Look for resources such as this one on parenting kids with ADHD or this one on parenting techniques for your ADHD child.

Just remember that parenting takes full time commitment. While parenting a child with ADHD oftentimes can be frustrating. In the end, you find reward in your child’s success. Parents help ADHD in their children through being there and being involved.