Home life with a child who has ADHD can be both rewarding and demanding. As a parent, you can control many aspects of home life. As a result, you may find the home among the easiest environments for you and your child with ADHD.

Some children with ADHD, however, may lack self-control. As a result, they can demonstrate disruptive behavior and cause friction at home. That behavior may have a negative impact on your home life. As a parent, you can help. Provide a structured home environment, follow daily routines, and provide positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviors. The result may help your child develop more self-control, and improve your home life.

You may find the following tips helpful in managing disruptive behavior:

1. Provide your child with your guidance throughout the day, right away. Try not to wait until later to bring up a topic. Instead, make every interaction with them a chance for communicating.
2. Use more immediate consequences.
3. Use age-appropriate incentives before applying consequences to your child. Try to select incentives from which your child can easily see the rewards. Short-term incentives can be effective, too (for example: an extended bedtime, extra time playing outside, a trip to the movies, etc.).
4. Aim for consistency.
5. Be forgiving.
6. Plan ahead for problem situations.
7. Remember that your child has a medical condition that he or she alone cannot control. Patience and positive encouragement are great ways to further the bond with your child during this time.

What causes ADHD?