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 keithlondriedotcom/