Medications are just one treatment for children with ADHD. There are a few simple lifestyle changes that can make all the difference in the world concerning your child’s attitude and behavior. Start using these 5 tips at home to not only have a better relationship with your child, but also make a positive impact with inattention and hyperactivity.

Stop Enforcing Negativity- ADHD kids hear things like “stop”, “don’t” and just plain “no” on a regular basis. They become so desensitized to these words that they become meaningless and don’t phase the child at all. Try to explain why you said no or want them to stop in a calm and rational way for best results. Of course there are times you will need to say stop or no, but try not to say these things all the time.

Set a Schedule and Stick to it- Children with attention deficit and hyperactivity rely on a schedule to balance them out. Once their schedule is interrupted they are more prone to having a bad day of acting up as a result. Try to make a realistic schedule that the family can live by to add stability and a sense of comfort to your child’s life. This is probably the most simple treatment for children with ADHD, but it does require that you stick to it.

Recognize the Warning Signs of Trouble- You know your child and how they act when they are having a bad day. Pay attention to your child’s body language, tone of voice and how the situation escalates when he has problems or disagreements with friends and family. Being able to intervene before tempers flare too much is your best course of action. Recognize the signs and be ready to calmly talk over what to do when a bad situation develops.

One Thing at a Time- Reading while listening to music or watching television while doing homework is just asking for trouble. Even those without ADHD have a hard time focusing when their attention is being pulled in separate directions. Avoid multi-tasking and make sure there are no distractions during home work, at playtime only one activity at a time and try to delegate one chore at a time and not an overwhelming list. When one activity is complete they can move on to the next.

Demonstrate Problem Solving- When your child asks a question about home work don’t just tell them how to do it, show them. ADHD kids are usually more visual learners. A concept that is completely foreign with a simplistic explanation might be easily understood if they see the process of why things are done in a certain way. This treatment for children with adhd applies to social skills, walking away from bad situations and self-control issues as well.

In many cases medications and other treatment for children with adhd isn‘t necessary. Tweaking some of the common problem areas with ADHD kids helps to replace negative actions and behaviors with positive alternatives. With support, structure and patience you can make a positive change in your child’s day to day life as well as make your day go a lot smoother as well.