Are Children With ADHD Emotional?
Many parents notice that their ADHD children tend to be more emotional than the average child.
When they're happy it's as if the whole world laughs with them.
But when they get angry, they can be almost violent.
Children with ADHD are indeed very emotional and before you can ask - yes, it's perfectly normal.
Their being emotional comes from their inability to inhibit their thoughts or feelings; once they feel something or think something, they usually act upon it.
It's great for children to express what they are thinking or feeling, but it's also important for them to learn when and how to express their emotions.
Kids with ADHD have difficulty thinking of the consequences before they act, and these reactions can get them into trouble.
Once, a fifth grade boy's teacher wore a short dress to class.
He randomly blurted out, "I can see your underwear!" He was immediately sent to the principal's office for inappropriate behavior and his parents were called into school.
In this instance, the child may have been right but the sudden outburst was not appreciated by the teacher.
Children need to learn that honesty is important, but equally important lessons include good judgment, tact, and timing.
Although ADHD treatments can improve your child's reactions and impulse control, diets and supplements cannot teach good behavior and social skills.
Here are some ways you help your child improve his or her reaction time.
Cont slowly to five One of the simplest and most effective techniques for slowing a child's reaction time is to count from one to five.
Practice this with your child, even if he or she is not upset, so that it becomes a habit.
Counting to five works on children of all ages, but it's best to start when your child is young.
Stop, think, and do Teach your child how to do a self-intervention called "stop, think, and do".
Before your child reacts or says something, instruct your child to say, "Stop, think, and do" silently.
For instance, your child's classmate cut the lunch line in front of him.
During stop, your child can silently count to five.
During think, your child can decide on possible courses of actions.
Yelling is an option, but it might not solve anything and only cause trouble.
On the other hand, staying quiet might encourage the classmate to repeat this behavior again.
During do, your child will take the action that seems best - perhaps talking to the line-cutter and telling him that what he did was wrong.
Like with the counting technique, practice "stop, think, and do" with your child even if he or she is not upset, and present situations where this can be useful.
However, it won't work all the time.
Warn your child about changes Children with ADHD tend to have difficulty handling change, which could cause emotional outbursts and other reactions.
Often, the victims of these outbursts are parents or sibling.
Let your child know in advance about any changes in plans to avoid outbursts or mood swings.
When they're happy it's as if the whole world laughs with them.
But when they get angry, they can be almost violent.
Children with ADHD are indeed very emotional and before you can ask - yes, it's perfectly normal.
Their being emotional comes from their inability to inhibit their thoughts or feelings; once they feel something or think something, they usually act upon it.
It's great for children to express what they are thinking or feeling, but it's also important for them to learn when and how to express their emotions.
Kids with ADHD have difficulty thinking of the consequences before they act, and these reactions can get them into trouble.
Once, a fifth grade boy's teacher wore a short dress to class.
He randomly blurted out, "I can see your underwear!" He was immediately sent to the principal's office for inappropriate behavior and his parents were called into school.
In this instance, the child may have been right but the sudden outburst was not appreciated by the teacher.
Children need to learn that honesty is important, but equally important lessons include good judgment, tact, and timing.
Although ADHD treatments can improve your child's reactions and impulse control, diets and supplements cannot teach good behavior and social skills.
Here are some ways you help your child improve his or her reaction time.
Cont slowly to five One of the simplest and most effective techniques for slowing a child's reaction time is to count from one to five.
Practice this with your child, even if he or she is not upset, so that it becomes a habit.
Counting to five works on children of all ages, but it's best to start when your child is young.
Stop, think, and do Teach your child how to do a self-intervention called "stop, think, and do".
Before your child reacts or says something, instruct your child to say, "Stop, think, and do" silently.
For instance, your child's classmate cut the lunch line in front of him.
During stop, your child can silently count to five.
During think, your child can decide on possible courses of actions.
Yelling is an option, but it might not solve anything and only cause trouble.
On the other hand, staying quiet might encourage the classmate to repeat this behavior again.
During do, your child will take the action that seems best - perhaps talking to the line-cutter and telling him that what he did was wrong.
Like with the counting technique, practice "stop, think, and do" with your child even if he or she is not upset, and present situations where this can be useful.
However, it won't work all the time.
Warn your child about changes Children with ADHD tend to have difficulty handling change, which could cause emotional outbursts and other reactions.
Often, the victims of these outbursts are parents or sibling.
Let your child know in advance about any changes in plans to avoid outbursts or mood swings.
