It’s obvious when a child with ADHD has left a therapy session. There’s usually a trail of items around the room, evidence of all the ideas that came to life during their appointment. They’ve likely spent the time moving quickly from one activity to the next. Sometimes, they share their ideas, but never get started on them because they’ve found something more interesting instead! Obviously, a kid with ADHD experiences the world in a very unique way. Parents who understand this know how to give their kids the support they need.

ADHD is basically an issue of time perception and executive functioning. There is a sort of “eternal now” in which a child with ADHD lives. They have limited memory of past experiences to teach them, and there isn’t much future to consider the possible results of their decisions. This is the foundation of the common patterns associated with ADHD: low impulse control, distraction, hyperactivity, and more. A child with ADHD will assume they have the time to engage with a distraction, and will underestimate the time spent on the distraction. Before they know it, they only have 10 minutes to finish their morning routines before the bus comes.

Despite appearances, a child with ADHD wants to do well. In fact, they likely want the same things as their parents. They don’t want to argue their way through regular routines and tasks. A child with ADHD can feel frustrated and discouraged by the frequent parent interventions on their behaviours. When an impulse occurs, they don’t have access to the executive functioning that would apply those rules in a new situation, even though they know and understand the rules. So they get micromanaged or singled out.

What do Kids with ADHD Need?

Kids with ADHD need reminders. They need reminders of the rules, they need reminders of the reasons to do boring work, and they need reminders of the things they do well. This is why a frequent recommendation from professionals is to bring rewards or consequences to the present. They serve as reminders to help guide a child’s behaviours when they have an impulse. A child with ADHD will need these reminders more frequently than a child who does not have ADHD.

This especially applies to transitions. A child with ADHD tends to lose themselves in an activity quicker and deeper than other kids. They might understand and agree to a five-minute warning, but once they are drawn back into the activity, they lose their sense of time and get lost in it again. A five-minute warning may not be enough to tell a child with ADHD about an upcoming transition. A gradual transition, with several reminders is better. This may even include helping them stop what they’re doing (e.g. turning off the television, putting the toys down). Parents should be prepared, during a gradual transition, to step in and do some of these steps for their child to help them through it.

ADHD Therapy

We have two main goals when we work with families and kids with ADHD in therapy. The first is to build everyone’s insight into the unique needs and challenges that ADHD presents. The second is to help families figure out the way their child’s needs are met. Some of this might come from play sessions where a therapist observes the child’s behaviours unfold in real time. Play therapy can also help a child organize their experience, expand their focus, and build their self-esteem.

The other major part of the process are parent consultations. Therapists might have lots of book knowledge about ADHD, but only you know what works for your family. We give parents the important information they need about their kids, and guidance as they make decisions moving forward.

In all likelihood, if you’re a parent of a child with ADHD, you aren’t surprised by what you’re reading. You’ve probably observed much of it for yourself. Hopefully the full picture helps clarify your initial observations, and gives you some information to guide your parenting decisions. We are always happy to help if you feel a parent consultation with one of our therapists would be beneficial. You can click the link here to contact us and get the process started.

ADHD Resources