8 Practical Parenting Strategies to Support Your ADHD Student
Students with ADHD often face more challenges than their neurotypical classmates. These difficulties don’t end with the student, as parents often struggle to figure out how best to support their ADHD student. Here are 8 practical (and sanity-saving) strategies parents can implement to support their ADHD student.
#1: Help your child create structure without you becoming a drill sergeant
ADHD brains thrive on predictability, but often ADHD students have a hard time sticking to predictable routines. Collaborate with your student. Brainstorm and decide on routines for mornings, homework, meals, and bedtime. Once you both decide on a routine, create visual schedules or checklists and put them in places your student will see them. This can help reduce power struggles. While it may take more work on the front end, it definitely will lead to less nagging and power struggles on the tail end.
#2: Help your student learn how to break tasks into bite-size chunks
Telling your ADHD kid to clean their room is a lot like telling them to climb Mount Everest in their PJs. It seems like an overwhelming task. Instead, help them break down room-cleaning into bite-size chunks. It may look something like this:
Pick up your clothes
Put your books on the shelf
Organize your desk
You get the idea. It may not make any sense to you how overwhelming the task of cleaning a room is for an ADHD student, but when you collaborate with them to break a larger task into smaller chunks, you teach them skills that will last a lifetime.
#3: Use positive reinforcement as often as you can
People with ADHD are incredibly hard on themselves. So, it’s best to avoid criticism and focus instead on positive reinforcement. You can praise outcomes, but it’s even more important to praise their effort.
Say things like, “I like how you sat down and started your homework right away.” This is much more powerful than, “Good job finishing.”
ADHD students hear more correction than praise. One of the best things you can do for your student is to create an environment where they feel understood, supported, and encouraged.
#4: Help them channel their energy, not suppress it.
ADHD students are often fidgety. They have a hard time sitting still. If your student needs to move, let them. Find tools that work (like fidget toys) or give them movement breaks. Five minutes of moving will reset their brains far better than 30 minutes of nagging.
#5: Collaborate, don’t dictate
Work alongside your student to create strategies that work for them, instead of handing down rigid rules that work against their ADHD. When you give them the ability to strategize, it not only reduces power struggles, it also empowers them to work with their ADHD instead of against it.
#6: Don’t assume that what works for you will also work for your student
When I was growing up, I was told I had to study in complete quiet - no TV and no music. However, as an ADHDer, quiet makes it next to impossible for me to focus. I need background noise. Ask your student what works best for them and let them try it while monitoring the results.
#7: Model emotional regulation
Students (and adults) with ADHD struggle with emotions that feel much bigger than the emotions of neurotypical students. If you can keep calm while your student is reacting, it not only empowers you to help them at a deeper level, you’re also teaching them self-regulation in the moment. I realize this is easier said than done, but deep breaths or a brief break beat yelling every time.
#8: Focus on their strengths, not just their struggles
ADHD kids are often creative, curious, energetic, and passionate. Point out their strengths and highlight their wins. You don’t want them growing up accepting the labels that ADHD kids often have forced on them. Confidence is fuel for resilience.
So... what’s next?
I realize this list can seem overwhelming. You don’t have to implement all the strategies. Start with one and put it into practice this week. Practice it for 2-3 weeks. When you feel comfortable with that strategy, choose another one to practice. Not only will your life be easier, you’ll see your ADHD student blossom.
