The H in ADHD: Insights That Help

High energy? No impulse control? Incessant talking and interrupting? Welcome to the world of hyperactive ADHD. As the parent of a child with this diagnosis, you know this world well. Hyperactivity and impulsivity issues are challenging for parents and kids alike, and when these issues are misunderstood, the frustration mounts.

Just asking something simple like, “Sit down, please” can cause all kinds of aggravation. People in your child’s world, like teachers, coaches, or other parents, may assume kids with hyperactive ADHD as just misbehaving when they won’t sit down, stay in their seats, or sit still. One thing is clear: the complexity of hyperactive ADHD can’t be reduced to a behavior. And at Esteem, we understand that the struggle your kid faces every day to follow directions, stay in one place, or wait patiently for anything, is a little more complicated than the label misbehavior would imply.

Because ADHD affects each child differently, so it’s important for you to understand how it presents specifically in your kid. Understanding your child’s specific symptoms, strengths, and needs is not just helpful, it’s good parenting. In fact, at Esteem, we believe it’s a crucial step toward making progress with your child on their ADHD journey.

You know hyperactivity and inattention look different, but even within the different variations of the condition, the same list of general symptoms can show up quite uniquely in different children. For example, while some have so much energy they’re bouncing off the walls, others may just need get up and sharpen their pencil a dozen times a day. Because each child is different, parents need insight on how hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms manifest in their kid so they can adjust parenting strategies and expectations. This helps kids feel understood and supported and helps parents feel like they’re on the right track.

With just a small investment of your time and attention, Esteem can shed important light on the areas where your kid is struggling and the areas where they are succeeding. Knowing where they excel is often just as important as defining their challenges. Designed with busy schedules in mind, Esteem’s Insight Activities will lead you through a series of simple games, activities, and small projects that won’t take much time or preparation will go a long way toward helping you see how hyperactivity affects your kid on a daily basis. By zeroing in on things like active listening, mindfulness, and controlling impulses in fun and non-threatening activities, small steps will guide you in understanding where they really are in the day-to-day of life. This will help you tailor your expectations and the path toward better outcomes for your child. Each exercise also includes some suggestions on how to talk through what you’re both learning while reinforcing the positives. Topping off your hard work with a follow-up assessment at the end of all the exercises will let you see the progress you’ve made together.

And at Esteem, we know making progress is important to you. That’s why we’re here.

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Sources:

Goodwin, Tracey, Oberacker, Holly. (2012, November 3). Hyperactivity misunderstood. Retrieved from https://www.navigatingadhd.com/blog/hyperactivity-misunderstood/

Low, Keath. (2019, July 25). ADHD in children symptoms and treatment. Retrieved fromhttps://www.verywellmind.com/adhd-in-children-20844.