Children with ADHD
Children with ADHD are just like every other child in this world, and they need to be treated as such. ADHD is the acronym for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Notice that ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is not a disability, rather a disorder that affects the child's ability to pay attention and stay focused on tasks for sustained amounts of time. Children with ADHD should be treated accordingly and everyone involved with raising the child should understand that some of the behaviors that they see are not the result of the child misbehaving. The behaviors cannot be controlled so caregivers must understand this and be patient when disciplining children with the disorder.
The first part of ADHD is the attention deficit. This part of the disorder means that the child usually has trouble paying attention to any one thing for a long period of time. If the child enjoys what he or she is doing than they will stay on task longer, but the amount of time is much less than children without the disorder. The attention deficit can also be noticed when the child seems to be so easily distracted by common things in their environment. Parents and teachers need to know that they need to provide a low stimulus environment for the child if they are really focused on having the child learn. This does occur for all children at sometimes but children with ADHD suffer from this many times each day and this behavior continues for an extended period of the child's life.
The second part of ADHD is the hyperactivity. This can often be the most difficult thing to deal with because the child just seems to be unable to sit still or do anything other than being extremely active. The biggest sign of hyperactivity is the constant need to be moving, especially during activities that the child truly enjoys. Children that are hyperactive simply cannot control what their brain is telling them to do, so you must be patient and understand this fact.
The best way to treat children with ADHD is by providing them with a very consistent schedule and a living environment that does not create too many distractions. You need to learn what the child loves to do or play and focus much of your child's attention toward that love that they have. As time goes on you should try to explore new opportunities for your child. Some medical professionals also recommend specific drugs that can help to combat the ADHD tendencies that many children have. Putting a child on medication is a big step, so make sure that you are comfortable with the idea and remember to always do what is best for your child.
