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Author:
Angie Dixon

Your son is running through the house at 92 miles per hour (you've clocked him with a State Patrol radar gun) and won't stop. Yes, he has ADHD, you know this, but you've asked and then told him to stop, and you could really care less about ADHD. You want this child to BE STILL.

In these circumstances it's easy to think your ADDHD child is being willful and stubborn. That really is probably not the case. Remember that ADHD comes with impulse control as a main component, and kids with ADHD sometimes just can't control themselves.

What to do when your ADHD child seems to be willfully disobeying you? First, take a deep breath. Count to ten if you have to.

Second, do whatever you can to redirect your ADHD child. In the case of running 92 mph through the living room, physically stop him. Step in front of your ADHD running machine, stop the forward movement, and put your hands on his shoulders to get his attention.

Third, state clearly what your expectations are in terms your ADHD child can understand. "I have asked you to stop running. I want you to stop running NOW."

Fourth, redirect your ADHD child to something else that occupies his ADHD mind and, if necessary, body. "Instead of running, would you like to stand in the corner and do jumping jacks to burn off some energy?"

Fifth, tell him you love him and that his ADHD doesn't affect that at all. "I love you very much. I can't let you run in the house because you might hurt yourself. That has nothing to do with how much I love you."

Finally, just remember that your child has ADHD, that it's an illness, and that MOST of the time he is not really deliberately trying to make you angry. Okay, he may do that once in a while. Every child does. But the ADHD child is usually very eager to please and just unable to sometimes. Keep that in mind while you're going through the steps of calming and redirecting your "willful" ADHD child.

Angie Dixon is a writer and ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie's site "That's My Son!" at http://www.Raising-the-ADHD-boy.com

| Article Keywords: ADHD News

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to ADHD News... Is Your Child Lazy Or Is It ADHD? Having grown up with undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I know how it feels to be labeled "lazy" when you're really just fighting ADHD and doing the best you can to fit your ADHD square peg into the round hole of life. I remember, as an ADD child, deciding I wouldn't write my spelling words five times. I just didn't want to do it. To a kid with ADHD, that kind of work is just torture, and I quit doing it. I remember that ADHD experience because I failed sixth grade spelling, though I went to the spelling bee as champion for my class. I remember how painful it was when my parents, who'd never heard of ADHD, called me lazy--and meant it I know how it feels to be the kid with ADHD. But I accused my ADHD son of laziness recently for not doing his work at school. Even though I know about ADHD. Even though I know what it's like. I forgot. How much harder it must be for parents who don't understand ADHD and don't know what to do about their child's learning problems. What I want to say to all parents is this: You know your child. You know whether he's being lazy or really struggling. You may not know why. You may not have an ADHD diagnosis to fall back on. You may not be an expert on ADHD or parenting. But you know your kid and you love him. Remember that, and seek out people who do know and who can help. It's frustrating and even infuriating to see a kid we know is bright not living up to his potential. But think about how frustrating it must be to the child, to know he's doing everything he knows how to do and just isn't making it. So think about that the next time your child seems to be "slacking off," and investigate whether there might be something going on related to his ADHD, if he's been diagnosed, or whether he might have ADHD,...