A Parent’s Role in ADHD Care
A parent can be a child with ADHD’s best advocate, biggest supporter and their key to success.
When it comes to raising children, parents wear many hats. They are chauffeurs, clean-up crew, storytellers, party planners, best friends, personal chefs, peacekeepers and menders of broken hearts. A parent who has a child with ADHD throws on a few more. Luckily, parents can learn the skills needed to help themselves and their child cope with their diagnosis. Parents of children with ADHD can become:
Case Managers
Managing ADHD care takes a lot of careful planning and effective communication. Your child may be seeing several health care practitioners to help manage their symptoms, they may be taking medication, receiving or needing accommodations at school all on top of regular childhood activities like playdates or sports. Be sure to keep accurate records of their medical history, school reports, prior treatments and outcomes so the information can easily be shared across your ADHD care team. Being an effective case manager can help your child stay organized and set them up for success in school and at home.
Educators
Education is the first step to understanding ADHD, its symptoms and its treatment. Stick with reputable sources like government, non-profit, university or resources provided by your child’s care team. Parents of ADHD often become educators for those closest to their child to help them get the best care when they are not around.
Advocates
A child with ADHD may need extra accommodations or support in order to be successful, but that might not always be available. A parent's role is to represent and protect your child’s best interest, especially in school. Become a part of the team deciding what accommodations your child gets and what services they can access.
Team Captains
The best ADHD care happens with a team, and parents can be the best team captains. From teachers, doctors, therapists, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings, there are many people involved in a child’s care plan. It is up to the parents to organize the team, make sure they have the information they need, they are following the same plan and are meeting the child’s needs to ensure a big win. This means communicating regularly, providing care members with the resources they need to understand the child’s treatment plan and maintaining open lines of communication.
Cheerleaders
Celebrating your child’s wins, coaching them through losses and cheering them on every step of the way will help your child build the confidence they need to be successful with ADHD. Help them find role models, identify their strengths, make friends and be their own advocate for when you are not around.
Experts in Self-Care
Regular self-care helps to ensure that you can be there for your child in all the ways they need you to be, by allowing yourself the time to rest and recharge. Self-care looks different for everyone, but usually includes things like eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and spending time doing the things you enjoy. Even if it is only a few minutes every day, regular self-care is the only way to give yourself the compassion and care you need to take on so many roles.
WonderWork is a digital program that teaches parents the skills they need to successfully parent a child with ADHD. With the help of a behaviour coach, a licenced therapist and a community of peers, parents learn everything from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Contingency Management Strategies, to success in school, managing behaviours in public and of course how to make it all last. Specially curated content, personalized goal setting, a peer support network and expert instruction all work together to create an effective and long-lasting intervention. To learn more check out our website or email us at info@hellowonderwork.com for more information and to get started.