Kids Awareness Series

Talking to your child about ADHD should be done in a very reassuring and constructive manner.  Tell them the truth, but do not “sugar coat” things for them.  The reality is that your child will have to work at this just as much as you as their parents will and his/her teachers.  As parents, you have most likely taken you child to his/her pediatrician or a health care professional and your child was evaluated by them.  Your child is probably by now wondering what is going on and if there is a problem.

Start the conversation in a very positive way and emphasize that their brain works “very fast” and even faster than most people around them.  When you tell your child that they have ADHD let them know that they are not alone.  Every single, solitary person is different in a lot of different ways and we should celebrate these differences.  If you keep it a secret from your child that they have ADHD, this actually implies that to have ADHD is shameful and they should really be embarrassed.  As with everything else in life, there are positive aspects and negative aspects to absolutely everything.  Reinforce that ADHD is something that they also can get control of with help from you as the parent, but they have to do their part as well.  Above all, be realistic in what you tell your child and make sure they understand what you are saying.  If your child is looking at you with that blank stare, it probably means you lost them in your explanation of what ADHD is and how it affects them.

Part 3: What to say and what not to say.