New Resource Introduced for Families Living with ADHD
(BPT) - Many families relish summer, weekends and holidays as opportunities to reconnect with each other through vacations, special events and relaxed schedules. But changes in schedule and travel can often be disruptive for children and make it difficult to get back in the swing of things for school, particularly children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), who typically need routine and structure.
ADHD affects nearly 1 in 10 children in the U.S. between the ages of 4 and 17. While the specific causes of ADHD are unknown, there is evidence that it may have its basis in genetics. Children with ADHD may exhibit hyperactivity, impulsivity and have problems paying attention to tasks at hand. These symptoms often play out in the classroom setting.
Elaine Taylor-Klaus, CPCC, PCC, a writer and mother in an ADHD family of five and co-founder of ImpactADHD, an organization dedicated to helping and coaching parents of children with ADHD, says, “After years of trying to ‘normalize’ my child’s behavior, I finally accepted that she often had different needs. Of course, we had been managing those needs with therapies, nutrition plans, doctors, medication, etc., for years. But, I eventually realized that beyond treating the symptoms, I had to re-evaluate how I viewed my family and ask for support when I needed it. ADHD is more than a clinical diagnosis, and families need practical tools at their disposal to manage the day-to-day challenges.”
If you would like to supplement your positive approach to raising a child with ADHD, check out Making Moments™ (available at www.ADHDMoments.com), an online resource that features practical tips and strategies from experts specializing in education, sleep, coaching and parenting children with ADHD, sponsored by Pfizer. The Making Moments H.O.M.E. (Helping Our Moms and Dads Everyday) Team experts draw on their area of expertise as well as personal experience in working with children with ADHD to create short videos and articles. Ms. Taylor-Klaus is one of four H.O.M.E. Team experts who helps to navigate the challenges of the back to school transition and provides tips on setting up strong routines.
“Every parent will lose their cool sometimes, but speaking as a dad raising a child with ADHD, I’ve learned that one of the most important things I can do to relieve that stress is to remain calm in front of my child,” said another Making Moments expert, Kirk Martin, a father of a child with ADHD and the founder of Celebrate Calm, which provides parents, teachers and students practical, concrete strategies for emotional regulation, de-stressing and meditation. “Making Moments is a great collaboration of experts because the H.O.M.E. Team works together to pool our knowledge and help other families incorporate tactics that will supplement the positive approach that they are already taking.”
The Making Moments website addresses topics that may appeal to parents of children with ADHD as they ease back into the school year, such as:
* A Better Bedtime: Good Sleep Habits
* Suggestions for Building Strong Relationships with Teachers
* Setting Expectations
* Potential Methods to Manage Meltdowns
The H.O.M.E. Team is rounded out by Michele Borba, Ed.D. and Lisa Shives, M.D. Dr. Borba is a former special education teacher, renowned parenting expert and author of 22 books, including The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries. Dr. Shives has been at the forefront of sleep health for nearly a decade, specializing in sleep problems in children and adolescents.
To watch videos and check out expert content, visit ADHDMoments.com. Expert content will be updated, so check back.
