Saturday

WHAT YOU AS A PARENT CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD WITH ADD

With the diagnosis of your child with Attention Deficit Disorder, you may feel a shower of emotions: remorse, a feeling of not being in charge, or comfort for now being aware of your child’s problem, or frustration. However in the midst of all this turmoil, do not forget that your child’s situation is not out of control. There are a number of ways in which you can help your child use his talents, and deal with ADD.

The first most important step is to properly do your research and know everything about ADD. You would thus be in a better position to help your child, and understand the problems. You would also become more aware of the popular treatments, and be more prepared to face what might come next. It should also be helpful in preparing you to work with the doctor for managing the disorder successfully. With the advice of your doctor, you should also plan whether you should get your child medicated. This depends on your individual opinion and the decision is entirely personal. According to some parents, being able to provide their children with means to lead a normal life is the best opportunity that they can give. But, for others, medication is not a good choice.

However, no matter what you decide, you should be sure of it and well informed about your choice. In any case, even if you are using medication, some strategies of behaviour therapies should be applied to help manage you child’s actions. These prepare your child with lasting skills to provide them with help in becoming efficient and productive. The strategies for your child’s actions and the consequences should be set by you. Children suffering from ADD need to have well defined limits set on their actions and must be treated with steady discipline. You should be your child’s best supporter, and must encourage your child. Make sure that the way they are treated at school and at home, in such that it would guarantee you child’s progress.

You, along with the teachers and doctors, should be like a team whose target must be to assist your child in being successful. So lend a hand and help your child grow to be a self-assured and joyful person. Recognize their potential and let them know to what extent you love them. A child diagnosed with ADD habitually goes through depression and low sense of worth. So if you see such cases arising then take necessary actions to steer clear of this outcome. And if the situation demands, request for expert help. Joining a good support group and reaching out to people who share the same state of affairs, could be useful. Often the top suggestions you can get is from a person who has been through a similar situation. Make use of the experiences of life!