Author: Keith Londrie
Raising teens in general can be difficult, but raising an adolescent
with ADHD can be quite the task. This is because teens with ADHD
are less emotionally mature than their peers. That means they are
still going through the mental, physical and emotional changes of
adolescence but they are not as less ready to deal with it than other
kids their age. In other words, adolescence will be even harder
for them to face. Most of the rules of how to raise a teen will
still apply for your child, but some modifications will need to be made
for their ADHD. First, you want to make sure you have clear rules and both you and your
teen know them. Have your teen involved in the process of making
them. This way they will be more likely to obey the rules.
You also need to be as consistent as you can possibly be. If
there are two parents raising the teenager, have a set of rules that
both of you consistently enforce. Make sure you keep track of
your child and what they are doing. Keep in touch with the school, know
who their friends are, and keep in touch with any other contacts they
may have. Regarding rewards and consequences, try to keep this
system up from childhood but know that your child is growing up and
modifications will need to be made. It is not impossible to deal with a
teen that has adhd, you simply need to be consistant and firm, but
understanding. A simple phone call to the childs teachers can tell you
alot about their progress and development. I highly recommend
interacting with teachers and counselors to best "arm" yourself with
the information you need to guide your teen to adulthood. Even with these parenting guidelines, raising a teenager with ADHD will
not be easy. ADHD teens are more likely to experiment with
illegal drugs, be involved with illegal activities and are prone to
rebel more. They are also more likely to become addicted to any
of these activities because of their constant need for high
stimulation. Keep on the lookout for these behaviors, and try to keep
as positive relationship as possible with your child. No teenager wants
to be nagged constantly, and this will honestly get you nowhere. Don't
go as far as being your teens best friend, but be friends with your
teen while maintaining the father/mother relationship. Watch out for any signs that tell you your ADHD teen is in
trouble. Because of the emotional instability that comes along
with the disorder, be on the lookout especially during teen
years. If situations or circumstances become negative, always
look to counseling as an option. A counselor is someone your child can
talk to that is not a part of their life and will feel non-threatening
to them. Counselors can even intervene in family problems if needed.
Group therapy may be a good option for your child as well. There are
now support groups out there for teenagers and adults with ADHD. They
can be a big help for anyone with this disorder, and may give your
child that feeling of belonging they are looking for. Search the
interent for these resources and also your local telephone directory.
You will be amazed at how much help is available today. Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on ADHD, please visit ADHD for a wealth of information. You may also want to visit keith's own web site at http://keithlondrie.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Londrie | |
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