Advice for parents and carers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

This might be a mix of learning, fun and play, calm time and meals. It’s particularly important to plan each day so your child knows what to expect – perhaps you could create a colourful timetable and stick it to the wall so everyone can see it?. Try to help your child maintain regular sleep patterns too even if they don’t need to get up early for school.

If your child is on medication for their ADHD, you might find this can be adjusted, especially timings. Ask your prescriber for advice. You may find using shorter acting versions are more flexible than the long acting, if they are not attending school, for instance.

All children have energy. Children with ADHD generally have high energy! Find ways to burn it off and get the whole family involved. Could you all go for a walk or bike ride? Play ‘hide and seek’ or ‘musical statues’? There are also lots of online workouts for kids that they might enjoy.

When you’re helping your child with their schoolwork, don’t expect them to concentrate for long. Short bursts of learning are best. Work out what suits your child. Try using a timer so they can see how long they have left. Make it a fun experience!

Give them a stress ball, play putty, a paperclip or a string of beads. Let them sit on a football or an exercise ball so they can wriggle around. This kind of fidgeting and fiddling can actually help your child to stay focused.

Make sure you find the time to focus on your hobbies and interests. Prioritise exercise and sleep to help you stay physically and mentally healthy. Connecting with others is really important – have regular phone, text and face-to-face conversations with your loved ones and try to speak to other families in the same situation as they can often provide invaluable advice.