Helping Your Child with ADHD Thrive: A Guide for Parents

As an occupational therapist who has worked with many children with ADHD, I understand that parents of newly diagnosed children often have many questions about what therapy will look like and what kind of progress they can expect. In this blog post, I want to provide an example of what the therapy process might look like for a child with ADHD and offer some tips for parents to help support their child's progress.

First, it's important to note that every child's therapy process is unique and tailored to their specific needs. However, there are some common elements that are likely to be a part of most therapy programs for children with ADHD. Typically, therapy will involve a combination of activities designed to help the child build skills related to attention, self-regulation, social skills, and other areas where they may be struggling.

For example, in the case of a 7-9 year old boy with ADHD, therapy might include activities such as sensory integration exercises, motor planning activities, and play-based interventions that incorporate elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The goal of these activities would be to help the child improve their ability to focus and follow directions, manage their emotions and behavior, and improve their social skills.

Throughout the therapy process, we would work closely with the child's parents to provide guidance and support. This might involve regular check-ins to discuss progress and adjust therapy goals, as well as providing parents with strategies and techniques they can use at home to help reinforce the skills their child is learning in therapy.

Ultimately, the goal of therapy for children with ADHD is to help them build the skills they need to thrive in their daily lives. While progress may not always be linear and there may be setbacks along the way, with consistent effort and support from parents and therapists, children with ADHD can make meaningful progress towards their goals.

If you are the parent of a child with ADHD, here are a few tips to help support your child's progress in therapy:

1. Be consistent with therapy attendance: Regular attendance is important for building momentum and ensuring that your child is able to get the most out of their therapy sessions.

2. Practice patience: Progress may not always be immediate or linear, but with consistent effort and support, your child can make meaningful progress towards their goals.

3. Reinforce skills learned in therapy at home: Your child's therapist can provide guidance on strategies and techniques you can use at home to help reinforce the skills your child is learning in therapy.

4. Celebrate successes, no matter how small: Building confidence and a sense of accomplishment is important for helping children with ADHD feel motivated to continue working towards their goals.

By working together with your child's therapist and providing consistent support at home, you can help your child build the skills they need to thrive and succeed.

Feel free to reach out to us, we are here to help!