Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are conditions with complex roots in neurobehavior, psychology, and development. Children who have AD/HD showcase persistent impulsiveness and inattention. Depending on their unique presentation, they may also display hyperactivity.

Children with AD/HD, as with all children, are inherently good kids. They just need a customized plan for dealing with their behavior. Below are some key tips for setting the foundation.



1. Reinforce the Sequence of Events

Time management is a developed skill, not a natural one, for any child. It's especially difficult for children with AD/HD to develop these skills. The first step is learning the sequence of events, which is taught in preschool and kindergarten. You'll want to reinforce this learning at home to help your child develop time management skills.

Start by emphasizing sequencing words such as first, next, and finally. So, instead of saying, brush your teeth and go to bed, say, first brush your teeth, then go to bed.

You could also question your child with those sequencing words, asking what they did first, after that, and so on. Make it into a game, alternating who gives directions using the sequencing words.

Eventually, children become accustomed not only to using the sequencing words but to the abstract concept of events coming in a sequence. This knowledge will serve as a foundation for learning time management.

2. Give One-Step Instructions

The above tip is good for providing an important learning foundation for your child. However, in the day-to-day grind, sometimes chores just need to get done. When that's the case, don't give a sequence of instructions. Instead, be clear about the first task that needs to get done before providing instructions for the second chore.

For instance, say you want your child to put some toys away, take out the trash, and get started on homework. Give concise instructions for the first chore: Pick up all your toys and put them in their bins. Once that task is accomplished, move on to instructions for the second task.

3. Make Both Rewards and Consequences Immediate

Just because you give clear instructions doesn't mean your child will follow them. Even mildly oppositional children will disobey. What's more, children with AD/HD get distracted. They may stop doing their one task and move on to something else that's caught their attention — and is inherently more interesting than chores.

When that happens, you want consequences to be immediate. At bare minimum, you want to express that you notice your child hasn't completed the given task as soon as you see it happening. However, you'll also want to develop discipline strategies that align with your parental beliefs, such as time outs or redirection.

That said, rewards should be equally as swift. When you see your child exhibiting the target behavior, offer immediate praise. If you've promised a specific reward, you should also immediately offer it or acknowledge it's coming: I see you've finished cleaning your room. That means ice cream for dessert.

4. Set Clocks and Timers for Key Activities

All children need established schedules. Children with AD/HD especially need a routine schedule to help with that time management issue. Otherwise, they can become distracted and do 10 more interesting activities before they even get to unpacking their backpacks. So, you'll want to set up a schedule with specific times to accomplish key tasks.

To reinforce the schedule, have clocks with timers in the relevant areas of the house. Set each clock for a time you want your child to start a given activity. Reinforce with rewards and discipline that the buzzing clock indicates said activity must start.

Getting started is only half the battle. If time is of the essence, you can also start timers. So, let's say you've set in the schedule that 5:00 is homework time and 6:00 is dinner time. Children with AD/HD may need a timer to understand homework time ends after a specific period. The timer will reinforce they need to keep working on the given task.

Children with AD/HD need specific behavior management protocols. Consult with the experts at Advocare Lerch & Amato Pediatrics for help developing a plan tailored to your child's needs.