ADHD parenting is no easy task. Aside from making sure that your child does well in school, does his or her chores, and stays out of trouble, you have keep your child safe from accidents. Although there is no official data to confirm this, those of us with ADHD kids have noticed that they are more accident-prone than the average child.
The nature of the disorder increases the risks of these accidents. Kids and teens with ADHD are impulsive and easily distractible; their inability to think before they act or their lack of concentration makes them more susceptible for injury. The risk increases if the child has a language, motor, or learning disability, as many kids with ADHD do. If a child cannot follow what the teacher is saying or does not understand directions, the risk for accidents increases even more.
With a little supervision and vigilance, you can prevent the likelihood of injuries. Here's how you can keep your ADHD kids accident-free.
Young children (3-6 years)
Pre-school aged children are constantly on the go, even if they don't have ADHD. The difference is that the child with ADHD will climb too high, run too far, or cross the street without looking. Because of this, your ADHD child cannot play outdoors without adult supervision. Make sure that your home is completely child-proofed; all kitchen cabinets and drawers must be locked, sharp table ends covered in rubber, and breakable items out of reach. If your child has to be watched by a babysitter, make sure he or she is aware of your child's disorder and insist that your child be supervised at all times.
Older children (6-12 years)
The same concerns for younger kids go for older ones as well, especially since older children are more active in outdoor activities and sports. They go skateboarding, swim in pools, or hiking, and they may have poorer judgment than their non-ADHD friends. This means that adult supervision is a must. Another way of reducing injuries is by finding an ADHD treatment that works. Seek the advice of a health care specialist and work together to find interventions that will benefit your child.
Teens (13 and up)
The good news is that you should be able to find ways to manage your child's ADHD symptoms throughout the years. This is important because as your ADHD child grows up, he or she will take on more responsibilities that increase the risk of accidents. For instance, ADHD kids who drive are more likely to experience road accidents because they get easily distracted, change lanes too quickly, or take needless driving risks. Aside from that, teens with ADHD crave for new stimuli more than those without ADHD; the likelihood that an ADHD will become sexually active, start smoking, or misuse alcohol or drugs is great. Fortunately, this can be prevented by keeping your child busy with healthy activities like sports or art classes. Make sure you do not stop ADHD treatments unless the doctor says otherwise.
Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.
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