ADHD Resources

For Parents

Practical guidance for raising a child with ADHD.

Allow plenty of free, child-led play time.
This lets children create their own activities and negotiate their own rules at a developmentally appropriate level — so they can fail, learn, succeed, and develop independence in a socially rewarding environment.
Adult-directed activities have some value, but adults often act as an external executive control, limiting some of the developmental benefits of free play.

This type of play may most closely mimic natural play drives, providing some of the benefits demonstrated in neurological studies of other mammals.
Children can learn emotional regulation, behavioral inhibition, and social skills like problem-solving in a rewarding way.
Allow children to take part in risk-taking activities while weighing possible outcomes (a skinned knee vs. a severed artery). Creating safer environments matters, but it's equally important to let kids exert maximum effort — run as fast as they can, jump as high as they can.
Allowing risk-taking creates opportunities for children to learn lessons naturally, through activities and games that are genuinely rewarding.

Understand that some skills come through natural development and can't be taught until the brain is developed enough to learn them.
Reward good behaviors, and don't punish children for being unable to behave in a way they aren't developmentally capable of — punishment implies a child could behave differently if they wanted to.
Understand the difference between bad behavior and issues with social and executive function.
Maintain reasonable expectations while still considering development. ADHD can be difficult, but it can be worked with, and shouldn't be used as an excuse.
Allow your child to struggle and even fail — this allows for natural learning and development.
Advocate for your child with other adults and experts. Not everyone with ADHD is alike; everyone has different skills, struggles, and interests, and no one solution is best. You know your child best.

Ensure your child feels loved and appreciated, quirks and all.
Create and maintain an organized environment at home so your child can thrive and learn by example.
Children with ADHD often struggle with organizing physical space — teach organization starting with simple instruction, and be kind, patient, and consistent.
Children with ADHD also struggle with time management — use routines, schedules, and visual cues to help them remember what they should be doing.