Children can be large balls of energy. They are excited about life and enjoy having fun. Children who have ADHD usually are even more all over the place and can be difficult to handle if people are not properly educated on what to look for. Understanding children with ADHD can be an uphill battle but it is important to learn, so the child can have the best quality of life.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD causes children to not be able to focus to complete a task or cause them to be hyperactive. In most cases, the symptoms for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder start before the age of seven. It is found in eight to ten percent of children.
Some of the symptoms of ADHD are feeling restless, difficult to get their attention, prefer to play alone, frequent talking, and easily distracted by anything. Parents definitely should not attempt to diagnose their children. The child would need to see a doctor to rule out other things and to be sure they do have ADHD. There are several things that can be done to treat ADHD in children.
Many parents choose individual therapy for their child. This is a way for a therapist to work closely with the child, so they can hopefully get results sooner. They target specific goals that are measurable. By doing things this way, they can truly tell if a child is making progress. It can also help children who are dealing with low self-esteem or depression. The one on one setting also helps them to stay focused. Group therapy is another option. This is a way for a child to get extra help around other children that are similar to them. In a group setting, a child is able to practice their interactions with others.
There are different things that a parent can do to set their child up for success. One thing is positive reinforcement. Parents should definitely overemphasize, the things that a child does right. No parent should only focus on the negative things their child does. When a child knows that their parent or teacher notices something positive they do, they are more likely to do the same thing again. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also an option. This therapy gives children the opportunity to think about responses before they actually do anything. Children with ADHD sometimes lack impulse control. This can be highly detrimental to them in the world as they grow older. So it is important to take the necessary steps to get any impulse patterns under control as soon as possible. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help change the way a child thinks, acts and behaves.
Social skills training helps children to stay focused when they are in a group setting and helps to control behavior. Some things that children may do are watch videos, roleplay, and practice different ways to settle disputes appropriately. If a child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, there are various things their parents can do to help them in life.
