ADHD Discipline-Positive Ways to Address Meltdowns by Children with ADHD
Released on = April 18, 2006, 7:00 am
Press Release Author = Celebrate! ADHD
Industry = Consumer Services
Press Release Summary = Parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) express frustration when their children experience emotional meltdowns for seemingly no reason. There are three positive ways to approach emotional children.
Press Release Body = (Washington, D.C.) April 17, 2006 - Parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) express frustration when their children experience emotional meltdowns for seemingly no reason.
Sandy Halpern, mother of two children with ADHD, describes a weekly event. “I\'ll ask my boys to stop playing with LEGOS or X-Box to come eat dinner. The next thing I know, they are calling me names, throwing things and stomping through the house.”
According to Kirk Martin, Founder of educational organization, Celebrate! ADHD, “It is critical to first defuse the situation. Instead of engaging in a screaming match yelling outrageous punishments and hurtful words, remain calm and unemotional.”
Trying to reason with a child with ADHD at this point is useless-they won\'t hear a thing you say.
Next, Martin advises, “Find out what\'s really going on.” Maybe your child got bullied at school or scolded by a teacher. Or he messed up, feels stupid and is afraid you\'re going to be disappointed.
Instead of storming into your child\'s room to lecture and list consequences, first create an atmosphere in which your child will feel free to open up. Find out what\'s upsetting your child inside and deal with the underlying root first.
Finally, Martin advises parents to enforce consequences in a calm, reasoned and firm manner.
Let your child know you are addressing the underlying reason they are upset. Then explain that even though they were upset, their reaction was unacceptable and consequences are necessary.
“You cannot enforce rules without a relationship,” Martin insists. “So take some time to enjoy your kids and laugh with them. Let them know you not only love them, you really like who they are. Then your rules and consequences will mean much more to them.”
For a free newsletter filled with practical tips to help parents of children with ADHD, please visit www.celebrateADHD.com .
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Kirk Martin is Founder of Celebrate! ADHD and author of four books. He can be reached at ADHDcamp@aol.com .
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