“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.

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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.

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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.

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News of children dying due to an overdose of ADHD medications and antipsychotics have made more parents aware about the issue of using such drugs to “cure” behavioral problems in children.  While these tragic occurrences show the most extreme outcome of the issue, they serve as a good reminder of the decisions parents must face, especially when their children receives the ADHD diagnosis.  Should you medicate your child in the hopes of getting good behavior? Here is a straightforward look at what these stimulants can do to your child.

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Once again, ADHD is a hot topic in the news.  Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference took place in Boston, and unveiled a surprising new set of guidelines for diagnosing and treating ADHD.  There were a number of changes, but the one that sparked a bit of controversy is that the AAP now permits the ADHD diagnosis among children as young as 4 and as old as 18. While there is nothing wrong with extending the age limit upward, the new recommendation to diagnose down to age 4 is very disturbing.

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Every October 31, children around the world dress up in their most ghoulish costumes and knock on doors in search of a wonderful prize – candy.  The days before Halloween are almost as exciting as trick-or-treating itself, what with all the pre-holiday festivities like decorating the house for Halloween, pumpkin carving, and shopping for a costume. While this holiday is certainly fun for any child, a nine-year study discovered that Halloween is among the top three holidays that result in the most pediatric emergency room visits. Injuries to the finger or hand account for 17% of injuries, while 20% of injuries were fractures. Naturally, their impulsive nature and high energy levels make children with ADHD the most accident-prone of the bunch. Here are some Halloween safety tips you can use to protect your ADHD child.

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Taking care of a child with ADHD is a 24-hour challenge. From getting your child out of bed in the morning to making sure he sleeps at night, it feels like you’re engaged in a tug-of-war all day long. While there are certainly many resources that can help parents cope with ADHD behavioral problems, it seems that the more they read, the more confused they become as to how to discipline their child. The key to ADHD parenting is to realize that your child’s brain is wired differently from his peers. One-size-fit-all parenting approaches won’t always work with your child, but here are five secrets that do.

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Is it possible to be diagnosed with ADHD even if your child only has a few of the symptoms?

This is a question that many worried parents ask about their hyperactive or inattentive children.  The first thing you need to know about ADHD is that it is a very individual experience; some kids may have a lot of symptoms while some will only have a few.  No two children will have the exact same symptoms or problems.  The diagnosis, however, should depend on much more than just the quantity of the symptoms.

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When counseling parents of children with ADHD, one of the most common questions I receive is whether or not their child is ready for a sleepover.  Parents are only happy to help their kids build friendships, especially when their child has had difficulties doing so in the past. At the same time, they worry that their child’s ADHD symptoms might be too much for the host to handle, that they might cause trouble, or that their child might feel homesick.  While these instances are certainly plausible, your child can enjoy a fun sleepover at a friend’s or relative’s house with a few preparations. Before saying yes to the slumber party, consider these issues first.

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Stimulant medication may be the most widely-used treatment for ADHD, but more and more parents are looking into natural ADHD treatments after learning about the debilitating side effects of these drugs.  Still, the transition from ADHD medications to natural treatments isn’t always easy. A lot of lifestyle adjustments have to be made, and it takes weeks for any positive changes to appear.   For this reason, parents prefer the quick fix of medication over drug-free treatments, especially if the symptoms are severe. But if there was a way to beat your child’s symptoms without medication and its side effects, wouldn’t you take it?  Here are the most popular ways to beat ADHD without medication.

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