Impulsivity manifests itself in many ways. Kids can start fights without provocation, or run into the street. They can also throw tantrums and have meltdowns without warning. When your child has an ADHD tantrum in public, it can be tough to know how to handle the situation. Do you get angry and punish your child, or do you placate your child by giving into his or her demands? It’s a little tricky, but parents can navigate the road of ADHD-induced meltdowns unscathed. Here are five ways to do it.

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Now that the sun is out and the weather is warmer, helping your child manage his or her ADHD symptoms can be as simple as going outside. We’ve talked about the benefits of exercise and outdoor activities for children with attention deficiencies or hyperactivity before. These benefits are backed up by research; a study published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Wellbeing discovered that even the briefest exposure to green outdoor settings resulted in milder symptoms among kids with ADHD.

Here are four great outdoor activities for your child to try this spring.

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It might not be a good idea to give flashy toys or favorites from your childhood to a child with ADHD. Picture books could be frustrating for a child who can’t sit still, and a Monopoly set may exasperate someone who can’t comprehend its complex rules. The best gift for children with ADHD is one that plays to their strengths, something that suits their interests and builds their confidence in terms of what they can do. Here are some tips on how to find that perfect gift.

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Most children feel a little jittery and nervous about the first day of school, especially if they’re new.  Although it’s normal to experience some anxiety about making new friends or getting homework done, the average child eventually adjusts and develops a routine.  For kids with ADHD, however, it’s quite a different story.  Because of the academic and social problems caused by their symptoms, they cannot seem to get used to the school routine and often find ways to avoid attending school.  This behavior is called school refusal and is quite common among kids with ADHD.

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All kids should be taught a few money skills at an early age, especially children with ADHD.  Money management does not come naturally to those who are disorganized, impulsive or easily distracted; in fact, adults with ADHD are more likely to experience credit card debt due to compulsive shopping than adults without.  That’s why children with ADHD should start learning how to become a smart shopper and live on a budget at a young age.  You can use a weekly allowance to teach your child these essential money skills.

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Sibling fights are normal among families with several children but if one of the siblings has ADHD, these little spats are practically a regular occurrence.  Kids with ADHD tend to be more short-tempered and aggressive, causing them to bicker constantly with their brothers or sisters. Or perhaps the siblings without ADHD feel a little neglected or envious about not receiving any special treatment, which justifies hurtful behavior. Here are a few tips on managing sibling fights and helping all the kids in the family get along.

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Raising a child with ADHD can be difficult and frustrating. The stigma surrounding the disorder makes it easy for strangers to pass judgment on your child, while well-meaning relatives may not understand why your child is going on a strange diet or why your child won’t behave like other children.  When you feel overwhelmed but have no one to turn to, you may benefit from joining an ADHD support group.  In an ADHD support group, you get to talk to the parents and loved ones of those with ADHD and learn from their experiences. You can also use the group to help find play dates for your child, or rally with fellow parents to fight for better services for special needs kids. But what if there is no ADHD support group where you live? Consider starting your own.

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Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention are just more than just symptoms of ADHD; they also signal a developmental delay that makes it difficult for kids with ADHD to interact with peers their age.  Children with ADHD often run into problems in the social arena because they cannot follow the rules of certain games, misinterpret remarks, or fail to follow social, physical, and verbal cues.  Other kids at school may find their behavior strange or aggressive, making it difficult for the ADHD child to make friends and win their peers over.

The problem is that children with ADHD are often unaware of how immature and unapproachable they might seem to their friends, teachers, and adults.  They have problems interpreting responses to their behavior.  Here are some things that you can do that will help your ADHD child make friends at school and learn important social skills.

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Summer is here! School’s out, the weather is warm, and the kids are excited to hit the pool or spend lazy days doing nothing. But for families who have a child with ADHD, summer presents a unique challenge. Children with ADHD often have difficulties adapting to the change in routine after following a predictable schedule throughout the year. Your child will likely get bored easily and more often, which may get him or her into troublesome or dangerous situations. Having structure and an ADHD routine is important for creating a calm, safe environment where your child can recover from his or her symptoms. Here are a few tips on maintaining an ADHD routine during the carefree days of summer.

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When your ADHD child has to face consequences, he or she probably uses a whole battery of comments to try to get away from their responsibilities. ADHD parenting is no easy task, especially during these moments. If you take these remarks to heart, you’ll find that you’re always on the defensive, walking on eggshells around a child whose behavior is out of control. Here are the most common phrases kids use on their parents, what they really mean, and the most effective way to respond to them.

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