Toy-Related Considerations When You Have A Child With ADHD
Parenting a child who is dealing with ADHD isn't always easy, but the right treatment can often make a big difference in your family dynamic. It's important to consider a variety of treatment methods, including medication and counseling, but also be committed to making positive changes at home. Children love toys, but playtime can often be a challenge for a child with ADHD — and for his or her siblings. Here are some simple, toy-related ideas that you can implement to make playtime go smoother for everyone.
Reward Acts Of Sharing
A child with ADHD may start to play with one toy while his or her sibling plays with another, but then quickly grow tired of that activity and reach for the sibling's toy. This scenario, of course, would result in considerable upset and the need for you to intervene. You should always emphasize the importance of sharing. This may be a message that you've already talked about with your children, but it's arguably even more important when one child has ADHD. It can be a good idea to reward acts of sharing — for example, giving each child a treat when they play in a way that involves sharing.
Have Enough Options
There's little doubt that a child with ADHD can move from activity to activity quickly, so it's important to have enough options available to the child. If the child has limited options, he or she may quickly interfere with the solo play of a sibling — perhaps even snatching a toy away and claiming it as his or her own. When there are other things to play with in the children's play area, there's a higher probability that the child with ADHD will reach for one of them to occupy himself or herself.
Make Sure That Your Other Kids Understand
It's important to talk to your other children about the child with ADHD. They may frequently grow frustrated with incidents involving the sharing and use of toys, but it's ideal if they can exercise patience. Of course, you'll want to tailor how you approach talking about this topic based on your children's ages, but this conversation can encourage them to be more patient and gentle with your other child. When you seek professional ADHD help, don't shy away from asking questions about playtime and sharing of the ADHD healthcare professional. He or she will be able to give you some guidance on this topic.
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