getting help for ADHD parenting
Sometimes getting help for your ADHD parenting can seem like a pipe dream.
There are so many things for us to attend to when it comes to our ADHD kids. The appointments, IEP meetings, homework help, trying to cook healthy meals, staying on top of the latest supplements.
We can’t do it all
As parents of neurodiverse kids, we have to be able to reach out and turn a few responsibilities over to someone else. Finding one or two people to share the load can be life-giving, plus your kids get to learn from someone else!
Look through this extensive list of people and services that will get you instant support for your ADHD parenting.
How to get support for parenting an ADHD Child
Reach out to people who work with your child Regularly:
Teachers really do have a lot of leeway and can assist in so many ways.
For kids who show a bit of effort teachers can:
- give extra help before or after school,
- show kids how to study for a test,
- help outline a big essay,
- read over an assignment before it’s handed in,
- let your kid redo an assignment,
- allow for more time before a test, and
- allow for work to be handed in late
Counselors/School Social workers have a broad skill set and can: Talk through your kid’s anxiety, help with peer issues, teach time management skills, set up social lunch groups to help make friends, and act as liaisons with tough teachers or coaches.
IEP coordinators are meant to be a big help. They can help your kiddo complete missing assignments. act as a liaison with teachers at the school, help with skill building, plan for post-high school life.
Get more help for school work
Student tutors/friends/siblings are often over-looked, but can be a great source for help. Find a friend who has had the same teacher, hire a student tutor for a fraction of the cost, and/or encourage your child to study with a friend,
Library tutors are FREE and are usually high school students getting hours for Honor Societies which makes them great at helping other students.
Your spouse/partner might be able to take on some additional duties. Perhaps they are great at checking over homework, or staying calm when checking for missing assignments. Can you put them in charge of a few meals a week?
Hire teachers as tutors. Your child’s teacher(or another teacher at the school) very well may be hired off-hours, over vacations, and during the summers as a tutor. This can be fabulous because they know exactly what the expectations for the assignment is.
Seek professional help:
A therapist can help you develop behavior management strategies and provide emotional support for everyone in the family. It can take some time to find a therapist you and your kiddo jive with. Don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations and then shop around.
If you already have a therapist, let them talk to your kiddo alone. You don’t always have to be in on every session. Go more frequently during difficult times. If you are driving to therapy, see if telehealth is an option. It is so freeing when my kids get online with our therapist and I get an extra hour in the evenings.
Hire a coach
Student coaching services can be a one stop shop for helping your kids manage and execute their work. Many coaching services, like Russell Coaching, work specifically with ADHD kids.
Lighted Your load
Keep things as simple as possible. Reduce the number of extracurricular activities or family outings. Kids can have one activity a season.
Use a grocery delivery service. Even for someone like me, who actually likes to grocery shop, getting the basics delivered has been a wonderful time saver! I use Imperfect Foods and get bi-weekly deliveries of fruit, veg, and healthy pantry items. This link gets you $10 off.​
House cleaning service: You don’t have to get a weekly maid, unless you want to! Getting someone to come and clean your house once a month, or even seasonally, can ease your load tremendously.
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne is an amazing book to help you simplify your life and prioritize what matters.
Take time to focus on yourself:
It is imperative, as usually stressed out parents, that we take time for ourselves. Focus on one or two areas to take better care of yourself: eat well, exercise more, meditate often or take nice long baths.
Read a good Parenting book
With so many great books out there for parents of ADHD kids, advice is as close as it takes to download a book from Audible. You can see our favorites here or peruse the section at the library, your local bookstore or Amazon.
Build routines into your days
Implementing routines around transition times, like bedtime and school mornings can be life changing. Routines help ADHD kids carry out needed tasks independently because they become so engrained in their brain, they’ll have no trouble remembering the expectations.
Routines create pockets of calm into your day and stop you from having to micro-manage your kids every minute. Here is some guidance on how to easily start a bedtime routine.
Which one sounds like the easiest for you to incorporate into your family’s lifestyle and budget? You only need to choose one or two to make a difference in your life. You deserve to be well-rested and calm. Undoubtedly, you will see it trickle down to your kids, too.
