| Raising a child with ADHD does not need to be any | | | | Step 4: Surround Yourself With Like-Minded People |
| more difficult than raising any other child. Parents all | | | | If you surround yourself with people who believe |
| over the US, Canada, and the world face the same | | | | ADHD is a deficit, then you will take on that persona. |
| unique challenges, frustrations, and struggles with their | | | | On the other hand, if you surround yourself with |
| children. Even those children who do not have ADHD | | | | positive people who will support you, and help you, then |
| face their own unique struggles. | | | | you will develop a more positive outlook towards what |
| The key to successfully raising a child with ADHD is | | | | your child is capable of doing. |
| simply taking a different approach. For some reason, | | | | Step 5: Block Out The Bad |
| most people will have you believe that you should | | | | When you choose to surround yourself with the right |
| change your child and make them like everyone else. | | | | people...supportive people...you also need to tune out |
| But that's a clear way to continued frustration for you, | | | | the negative people in your life. Most people don't |
| your family, and your child with ADHD. Instead, you | | | | understand ADHD, and the majority of people don't |
| want to work with your child's individual talents and | | | | understand children with ADHD. It's your job to select |
| skills to help them succeed. The following 7 steps will | | | | who you surround yourself with, and part of being |
| give you a guide on how to best support your child: | | | | successful is building a team without people who bring |
| Step 1: Make A Commitment To Education | | | | you or your child down. |
| Parenting a child with ADHD is different. There's no | | | | Step 6: Get Involved |
| argument there. The best thing you can do is learn as | | | | Being proactive is part of this, but you also want your |
| much about ADHD as you possibly can. But not just | | | | child involved in the community and other activities |
| from anyone. You need to carefully choose who you | | | | where they accepted and embraced for who they |
| listen to and take advice from. | | | | are. Your child needs to experience little victories and |
| The quality and accuracy of the information you have | | | | success in as many ways as possible. Being involved |
| access will help determine the level of success you | | | | in activities will increase the chance of this happening. |
| and your child can expect. | | | | But not just any activity will do. |
| Step 2: Be Prepared | | | | Step 7: Get Others Involved |
| You've got to think like the Boy Scouts motto: "Always | | | | This is a little bit of peer education and a little bit of |
| be prepared." No matter what your child struggles with | | | | building the right supports for you, your family, and your |
| or excels at, he or she will face challenges. Expect it to | | | | child with ADHD. As the parent of a child with ADHD, |
| happen, and be prepared by knowing how to respond | | | | you have to let others know about your child's |
| to the situation and not react to it. | | | | individual challenges. But even more so, you need to let |
| Step 3: Be Proactive | | | | them know about his or her unique strengths and |
| The difference to responding to a situation versus | | | | talents. You cannot and should not rely on what other |
| reacting to a situation is in how proactive and prepared | | | | people know, or think they know, about ADHD. |
| you are. When you know challenges are ahead, being | | | | Parenting a child with ADHD can be a challenge. But |
| proactive means you are in front of the situation and | | | | you do have a choice on how you see your child, how |
| not chasing it after it happens. | | | | you encourage him, and how others see your child. |