Treating kids with ADHD will involve more than just the quick fix provided by medication; they need help on the educational, behavioral, and social level too.  As such, the best way to treat ADHD is through a comprehensive, multi-modal approach – a treatment that involves various techniques like diet, detoxification, and psychosocial treatments.

Psychosocial treatments are among the more well-studied non-medical treatments for ADHD. Also known as behavior modification or behavior therapy, psychosocial treatments are a series of behaviorally-oriented treatments designed to correct the problems posed by ADHD symptoms in daily life.  Children with ADHD are plagued by problems that go beyond hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.  Inability to make friends, poor academic performance, and defiance of authority are just some of the difficulties they have to deal with everyday. It’s important that they overcome these problems because their presence will make a long-term impact on a child’s relationships and academic success. Below are some of the psychosocial techniques that can help your child:

Behavior modification

Behavior modification consists of specific techniques taught by a therapist, which parents and teachers can use in their everyday interaction with ADHD kids.  The goal of behavior modification is to promote desirable behaviors and limit the occurrence of undesirable ones through a series of rewards and consequences.  During a behavior modification program, adults can learn how to give instructions to children, how to provide consequences when a child disobeys commands, and the appropriate response to children’s behavior. Aside from stopping negative behaviors, this approach can also be used to develop new skills. To learn this approach, speak with a mental health professional with experience in behavior modification for ADHD children.

Parent training

Although many of behavior modification’s techniques sound like basic parenting, there are a number of parents who still need some coaching to apply them effectively.  If you think you need help enforcing discipline and other rules, you could benefit from parent training. Parent training will teach you how to use commands, establish structure at home, and praise good behaviors. Sessions can either be done in groups or through individual coaching

Social skills training

Teaching a child to get along with others is an important yet easily overlooked component in ADHD treatment. Studies show that ADHD kids who overcome problems making friends or keeping friends generally do better late in life. If your ADHD child experiences social difficulties, he or she might benefit from social skills training – an approach that teaches social skills and behavioral skills considered important by other kids (e.g. sports skills), while decreasing antisocial behaviors. Social skills training is done in various settings, from summer camps to office clinics.  When integrated with a comprehensive treatment approach, social skills training can do much to decrease unwanted behaviors in three settings- at home, at school, and at the playground.

The last few weeks of winter break are wonderful – lazy evenings by the fireplace, a delightful holiday vacation, and delicious meals with your family.  With all these exciting activities, the last thing on any child’s mind is going back to school once winter break is over.  Don’t end the winter with panicky feelings as you and your ADHD child rushes to get organized.  Set aside some time to prepare during the last few days of the break so your child can slowly ease into the school year.

Preschool

Even if your child has been in day care for years, getting used to preschool might still be a difficult experience.  Don’t dispel your child’s anxieties by saying things like, “Preschool will be so much fun” or “There’s nothing to fear.” Instead, calm your child using information. Take him to the preschool grounds and let him know where he’ll be going, what he’ll be doing in school, what the teacher is like, and who his classmates are. If you can, try to visit the classroom together before school starts.   It might also help to read bedtime stories about children starting school.

Elementary school

Most kids stay up later than their bedtime during breaks, and expecting your child to get used to an early bed-time and wakeup time can make him cranky, tired, and even more hyperactive.  During the last two weeks of winter break, get your child used to waking up early for school by establishing an earlier bedtime and wake-up time.  Do this even if you’re on vacation – this way, you’ll have more time to see the sights and enjoy the daylight.

Together with your child, organize his school materials and study area a week before class starts. It’s never too early for a child with ADHD to get used to these organizational habits and familiarize himself once more with the study area. Shop for school supplies as soon as you get a list of what materials are needed. Buy multiples of basic items like pencils, as these are easily lost.

High school

Teens with ADHD need a structure and routine in order to sail through the school year smoothly.   Agree upon a homework time, curfews on school days, and consequences that will result if any of these rules are broken.  Compliment and reward your teen when he or she follows through with study commitments.  Show genuine concern over your teen’s activities and school work; if you think your teen will have a difficult time with subjects like calculus, start looking for a tutor who can help.

Research and experience shows that there is a relationship between the food ADHD children eat and how they act, think, and feel.  Neurotransmitters, the chemical messages that transmit actions and thoughts along the brain’s neural pathways, are affected by nutrients and minerals. Since food has this direct effect on neurotransmitter action and neurotransmitters are responsible for mood and behavior, it makes sense to conclude that food does affect mood.  This can also explain why ADHD diets are a popular natural treatment for the disorder. Some children are more sensitive to certain foods like bread or milk, while others can eat a sandwich without any changes in mood. While it’s easy to identify these kids, it makes you wonder how much of the ADHD behaviors we encounter are actually the effect of nutrition.

While the food-mood relationship tends to vary from child to child, here are the most common effects of different food groups.

Energizing carbohydrates

Refined sugar, such as those found in soft drinks and pastries, tend to make children crankier because of the fluctuations in blood sugar levels. First, the child experiences a boost of energy, then a low as the sugar finally runs out.  The child becomes more irritable as his or her mood parallels the highs and lows of blood sugar.  The mood fluctuations caused by refined sugar tend to be less severe if these foods are eaten with a fiber or fat that slows its absorption into the blood stream, but children with ADHD are generally better off without these carbohydrates.

Calming carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates like fruits, legumes, and whole grains, or foods with a low glycemic index, provide a constant stream of energy without causing a crash. That’s because they do not disturb blood sugar levels as much and do not trigger the release of stress hormones.

Happy foods

If your child tends to be gloomy and moody, consider adding more bananas, milk, and leafy green vegetables to his or her diet. These “happy foods” aid the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which causes feelings of pleasure and motivation. Foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan relaxes, so you might want to consider enriching your hyperactive child’s diet with red meat, soy products, turkey, and tuna.

Using foods to regulate mood

Every child has a unique response to each food type, and you need to identify which foods bring positive effects to your child’s mood. Here are a few ways you can do so.

• Make a food journal to record what your child eats and what time of the day this was eaten.
• Record when bad moods, ADHD symptoms, or behavior problems occur.
• At the end of the week, examine your food journal and try to find connections. If, for instance, you see that your child becomes more irritable after having an energy drink, you might want to consider eliminating this from your child’s diet.
•  Continue keeping the food journal to help you decide what dietary changes need to be made.

ADHD parenting can be particularly challenging when the weather turns cold and snow starts to fall. Kids have to stay indoors, and the four walls of the house might not be enough to contain their excess energy. Here are some activities that will help manage hyperactive behavior during the winter.

Plan several energy-burning activities

Kids with ADHD lose interest in one hobby or pastime too quickly. When thinking of ways to keep your child entertained, always plan more than one activity. Some great activities include:

• Taking a quick walk after dinner. If the snow isn’t too deep, take a quick stroll around the block with your child.
• Build indoor tents and forts. Stimulate your child’s imagination while staying cozy and warm. Use old blankets and comforters to create your indoor fort, and make sure this is done away from fire sources.
• Creating a jump-only space in the house. You don’t have to put a trampoline indoors; just designate a corner of a room where your child can jump around as often as he or she likes.

Enroll your child in indoor sports

Sports will not only burn off the excess energy your child might have; they will also harness your child’s attention span, impulse control, and focus. Consider signing your child up for ADHD-friendly indoor sports like gymnastics, kung fu, figure skating, or indoor wall climbing. Dance classes are another great way to stay fit and active indoors.

Accomplish winter chores

The snow might be fun to play in but they can also block driveways, doorways, and bury the car. Ask your child to help you shovel the snow and ice. The physical activity involved in doing winter chores have a calming effect on hyperactive kids and keeps them busy.

Walk the dog

If your child is old enough, he or she can be the family’s winter dog walker. If not, walk the dog together anyway; it’s a great way to get some exercise and have some alone time. Plan your route together and carry a few dog treats with you.

Create a homemade gym

Convert your garage or guest room into a homemade gym for the winter. You don’t have to buy expensive gym equipment for this; great additions to your homemade gym include exercise balls, a hula hoop, a tension band, and a yoga mat. Just make sure you place breakables and hazardous materials away from your child’s reach.

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but you can’t deny that it also comes with its own set of stressors.  When you work ADHD parenting magic while dealing with holiday havoc, it’s easy to see why you might feel frustrated, exhausted, and overwhelmed.  The fast and busy pace of the holiday season stimulates an ADHD child and increases his or her need for instant gratification. Unfortunately, this also aggravates the symptoms he or she might have.  Here are some ways to help your child during the holidays and keep your sanity.

Keep your child involved

Just as with school and your child’s treatment plan, keeping your child involved with the aspects of holiday planning will increase his or her feelings of self-worth and satisfaction.  Bring your child with you during charity events, to remind him or her that good deeds and good feelings come with the holiday season. You can also let your kids make suggestions about family activities to do during the holiday break; this will help your ADHD child interact better with siblings and feel more involved with the family.

Avoid crowded places

If you must take your child when you go shopping, avoid the times where large crowds flock to the malls. Busy, crowded areas may make your child feel overwhelmed, which will make his or her symptoms flare up. Generally speaking, the noisier and more hectic an ADHD child’s environment is, the more impulsive, hyperactive, and unfocused they become.

Plan stress-free parties

The holidays are a great opportunity to catch up with friends, family, and loved ones, but do not bring your child to large, busy parties. Unfamiliar faces, new environments, and interacting with strange new people can cause anxiety and aggravate symptoms. If you must bring your child, make sure to let him or her know what to expect. Coach your child on social cues, like what to say when being introduced to someone or how to behave in parties.

Plan in advance

Do not make your child make snap decisions about parties, what to wear, and what presents to get. As with any child, an ADHD child is likely to resist participating if he or she is forced to make an unprepared decision.  Plan everything ahead of time and let your child know about the holiday schedule so he or she can prepare for the holiday activity ahead.

Let your child host a holiday party

If grown-ups can throw parties, why can’t kids? Let your child host a small Christmas party for friends and help him or her decide about the food, drinks, and games to be served. The party doesn’t have to be a fancy one; a simple sleepover will do the trick. The important part is that your child learn social skills you cannot teach, and help him or her foster friendship and respect from friends.

“What toys should I buy for my ADHD child?” This is one of the most common questions parents ask from experts, especially during Christmas or birthdays.  Kids with ADHD need the right kind of toys that allow them to express themselves. The tricky part is making sure they find these toys stimulating and exciting; otherwise, these presents end up gathering dust at the back of a closet.  Generally speaking, simple toys that encourage pretend play and artistic ability are enough to capture the imagination of kids with ADHD.  These Christmas gift ideas for kids with ADHD feature some toys they will surely love playing with.

Playhouses

A playhouse or play tent is a great way to stimulate a child’s imagination.  Even if it’s just a sheet stretched over the living room furniture, ADHD kids enjoy using this space to make up scenarios or role-play.  A playhouse is also a great way to get your child to play with others and develop socialization skills.  It might be more practical to just get an actual playhouse or play tent; aside from being more durable, this can also double as a storage space for your child’s toys.

Blocks

A basic set of building blocks is a favorite of kids of all ages.  Not only do building blocks stimulate a child’s imagination as they stack them up to create structures; they also improve problem-solving skills as a child discovers how mixing and matching produces different shapes.  Building blocks are also very practical, versatile, and durable; if kept well, they can service many generations of children.

Art supplies

Art supplies are probably the most inexpensive and easy-to-find presents you can buy.  Clay, paint, chalk, or crayons provide a child with a wealth of opportunities for creative self-expression.   Simply place a piece of paper on a table or tack a giant paper billboard and let your child go wild with colors and different media. Just make sure that the furniture or the wall is well-covered and protected from spills and accidents.

Puppets and dolls

Puppets and dolls are a great way for a child to act out different roles, character voices, and develop their storytelling skills.  You can get a puppet theater set and encourage your child to prepare skits for the family to enjoy.  It might help if you join your child in creating a skit, as your direction will provide more structure to the activity and keep your child interested longer.

Toys to avoid

If you want to make sure your presents get played with, avoid buying toys like elaborate puzzles, complex construction sets, and complicated board game.  Younger kids with ADHD may not understand the rules or instructions of these games, while older kids may not have the patience to spend hours playing with them.  Not to mention that kids with ADHD may lose some of the smaller pieces of these games.  Kids with ADHD can still play with board games and puzzles, but just make sure they have familiar shapes or uncomplicated rules.

Well-meaning relatives, friends, and magazine articles have probably given you lots of advice on how to parent your ADHD child.  However, the so-called “rules” of good parenting don’t always work, especially when many of these techniques are only fads. Here are the five most ineffective ADHD parenting approaches and how you can make them work for your child.

Building your child’s self-esteem will improve behavior

One of the most prevalent theories today is that if a child with ADHD feels good about himself or herself, then any behavioral problems this child might experience will go away.  While this might work in theory, the problem is when parents make it easy for their child to develop high self-esteem. Maybe they ask the teacher to go easy on their ADHD child, or they praise their child endlessly. However, self-esteem does not come from empty praise; rather, it is earned from doing things that are difficult, or things that your child can feel proud of.  In order to give your child healthy self-esteem, teach him or her to solve problems and how to function well.  Start by giving your child more responsibility at home, and then have them work their way up to bigger tasks.

Talking about feelings calms down an angry child

Whenever your ADHD child acts out, you first reaction is probably to ask why he is upset. The theory is that if your child understands what he is feeling, your child will calm down and have control over his behavior. Unfortunately, upset children are not very good at reflecting about their feelings, and children with ADHD often don’t have the vocabulary to express why they are upset.  Instead of asking your child why he’s upset, teach him the appropriate ways to express his feelings.  The goal is not to help your child understand what he feels, but to make your child understand the proper ways to behave regardless of what they feel.

Children with ADHD need different standards

It’s tempting for parents and teachers to uphold ADHD children to different standards so they don’t have an even harder time than they already do.  However, this is probably the worst thing any parent can do to their ADHD child. When your child turns 18 and enters the real world, no one will care what disorder your child has.  If your child cannot perform well and get along with others, he is going to fall behind.  While children with ADHD may not have the same academic proficiency as other children, they still have to be proficient in meeting behavioral expectations, performance expectations, and following cultural norms.  Instead of making it easy for your child, help him learn to be accountable and responsible for his behavior and performance.

It’s just a teenage phase

Adolescents and teens may sometimes experiment with dangerous behaviors like drugs, alcohol, or violence.  For many teens with ADHD, however, these aren’t just phases. They might start out as things they just want to try, but they end up getting used to the behavior as a coping mechanism to the stress or frustration they experience.   Make it clear that doing drugs and drinking alcohol are high-risk activities, not only because they’ll get into trouble with the law, but because they’ll impair your child’s judgment and ability to solve problems. The good news is that teens whose ADHD symptoms have been managed at an early age are less likely to engage in these high-risk behaviors.

Punishment has to hurt

Dealing with a misbehaving child with ADHD can be very frustrating, especially if they repeat the same mistakes.  It’s not uncommon for parents to feel the need to implement a bigger and harsher punishment in order to get through to their child. However, punishment does not translate into better behavior unless your child learns from it.  Instead of just grounding your child, give your child consequences with a learning experience – remove a privilege or impose an unpleasant task until your child performs a desired behavior. For instance, you want your child to treat his brother with respect. So say to your child, “You can’t use the PlayStation unless you don’t cuss at or hit your brother for 24 hours.”

Ever wonder why your ADHD child gets more lethargic and fidgety after lunch? That’s because popular lunch time options put the brain to sleep rather than wake them up. Here are great lunch ideas that will help your child stay alert, calm, and attentive all afternoon.

Achieve the right balance between carbohydrates and protein

Your child’s ability to absorb information after lunch has a lot to do with the amount of carbohydrates and proteins he or she eats. Turkey, milk, eggs, and bananas contain high amounts of the amino acid tryptophan, which sedates the brain and can cause drowsiness. Eating carbohydrates with these tryptophan-rich foods only increases its sedative effect. Carbohydrates trigger the production of insulin, which drives the tryptophan into muscle tissue and helps it reach the brain more quickly.

On the other hand, eating more protein and fewer carbohydrates improves alertness after lunch, especially if they contain the amino acid tyrosine. Seafood, legumes, tofu, and tuna are just some examples of tyrosine-rich foods. Try a salad topped with legumes, turkey, and tuna if you want to improve how your child works and learns in the afternoon.

Even the order by which the food is consumed can influence afternoon performance. A high-protein breakfast or lunch enables tyrosine to wake up the brain. On the other hand, if the brain needs to relax, eating a high-carbohydrate dish before protein will neutralize the effect of tryptophan.

Provide a light and healthy lunch

High-calorie, high-carbohydrate dishes like pasta with meat sauce might sound like an appetizing lunch for kids, but it will only diminish their performance when their meal is done. Same goes with fatty meals – high-fat foods divert blood to the stomach instead of the brain because they are difficult to digest. Instead, serve your child a healthy lunch that has only 600-800 calories. A great example of this is a whole wheat tuna sandwich with tomato, lettuce, and low-fat mayonnaise and a glass of milk.

Discourage your child from eating desserts or consuming soft drinks with the meal. The junk sugars in these foods might increase energy, only for your child to “crash” in thirty minutes or so. Aside from being lethargic and inattentive, this blood sugar low will also cause mood swings.

Fight for healthy school lunches

Parents who do not have time to prepare lunch for their kids need to lobby for healthier school lunches. Lunch options in most public schools are nutritional failures; fast food options like burgers, pizza, and French fries are quickly taking over the menu. Get involved in your child’s parent-teacher organization if you can and make nutrient-rich school lunches a top priority.

The holidays are a great time to catch up with family members you haven’t seen, enjoy good food, and simply relax for a couple of hours. That is, assuming that your ADHD child will behave. In the typical family gathering, adults usually gather together in one room while the kids play in another. Although you try your best to pay attention to the relatives you’re talking to, you’re also alert for any signs of trouble. After all, you don’t want family members to judge your ADHD parenting skills or assume that your child is in the middle of any trouble that might happen. Here are some tips you can use to help manage your child’s ADHD symptoms and make your holiday family gatherings fun and tantrum-free.

Mange your child’s expectations

You have been in many of these family gatherings and have more or less a good idea of what to expect. Remind your child about who will be there and which cousins will be around to play. Let your child know what behaviors are acceptable – greet all your relatives, say thank you when someone gives you gifts, take turns with your cousins.
Use the same discipline methods

Consistency is the key to disciplining a child with ADHD. Use the same discipline methods whether you are at home, at the supermarket, or in a relative’s house. That way, your child knows what to expect when he or she steps out of line. For instance, if you have a time-out corner at house, ask the party host if you can use a spare bedroom as the time-out room if your child misbehaves. Doing so will also keep you from causing a scene, as you can talk to your child in private instead of at the party, where all guests can hear.

Be proactive

Don’t wait for your child to get extremely hyperactive or cause a tantrum. Every hour or half hour, check the children’s room and see how everyone is getting along. If you see your child starting to act out, take him or her out of the room for a few minutes – not to discipline, but to help him or her calm down. Chances are, your child might be overstimulated by the activities going on inside; taking a break from the chaos can help him or her quiet down and be ready to play in a few minutes. And if your child is behaving well, let him or her know – positive reinforcement is the best way to encourage proper behavior.

Using ADHD medications has become the modern solution for a child’s behavioral and academic problems. Medicating troubled children has become even easier with the American Academy of Pediatrics’s new ruling last month. They declared that children as young as 4 years old can receive the ADHD diagnosis and get treated with dangerous amphetamines like Ritalin. It just goes to show how drug companies have successfully marketed their “chemical imbalance” theory as the root of childhood behavioral disorders.

However, alternative theories to the causes of ADHD are also becoming widely accepted. One of these is the idea that family stress can be as toxic to children as it is to the parent, triggering troubled behavior and other symptoms that resemble ADHD.

I know of a few family therapists who have been working with this theory for decades. Instead of viewing behavioral issues as a genetic or biochemical issue, family therapists look at a child’s home environment and see how he or she is being nurtured. A family is a very complex social system, and the smallest change can disturb the balance and cause unexpected changes in a child’s behavior.

For instance, a colleague recently had a four-year-old boy in his office because the teacher suspected that he had ADHD. He literally transformed into a different person overnight, from a caring, well-behaved boy to a restless tornado that would hit his friends and refused to listen to his teacher.  When my colleague asked what was wrong, he said he was worried about his father, who starts fights at home and cries all day after losing his job. It’s amazing how young children can be so attuned to the moods of their parents and experience emotional problems because of this.

My colleague then spoke to the child’s parents and requested that they avoid having arguments around their son. In fact, he suggested that they discuss serious issues in the car with the windows rolled up or while their child is at school. Secondly, since the boy seemed worried about his father, my colleague asked him to avoid looking sad in front of his son and tell him two good things that happened in his day. In two weeks, the child’s behavior improved. Although he still displayed moments of aggression, he was for the most part the same sweet boy everyone at school knew. In a little over a month, his aggressive tendencies disappeared and he was his usual cheerful self once more.

What may seem like symptoms of a behavioral disorder may actually be a child’s reaction to his or her family environment.  As parents, we can adapt healthy communication habits to protect young children from family stress. This means arguing when the children aren’t around, avoiding serious financial or political discussions at the dinner table, or telling your child a positive thing or two about your day. An ADHD evaluation should only be considered if the child displays behavioral problems despite a healthy home environment.