How to Keep ADHD Children Injury-Free

Hyperactive and impulsive children can be accident-prone...what you need to know.

by Larry Silver, M.D.

No doubt about it — the hyperactivity and impulsivity that re the hallmarks of attention deficit disorder ADHD set the stage for accidental injury. That’s especially true during the summer, when ADHD chidlren have less adult supervision.

Medication helps protect kids by controlling the symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD). But it’s not enough. Here’s what else parents must do to protect their children:

Preschoolers

• Be alert at all times. Kids can move very fast — especially hyperactive kids.

• Make sure that a parent or older sibling is always on hand to supervise play.

• Hold hands whenever you’re outside with your child.

• To keep your child from darting out into traffic, walk on the side closer to the street. In case she tries to dart off, be ready to stop her physically, not just with words.

Older kids and teens

• Anticipate problems in all settings — home, street, playground, friend’s house, gym, or ball field.

• Tell your child how to behave, but don’t assume that he or she will remember. Someone has to be there to say that it’s not OK to go to the quarry for a swim.

• Know where your child is at all times. Know what he’s doing, and with whom he’s doing it.

• Alert the parents of your child’s friends about ADHD and the need for constant supervision.

• If your child is riding his bike to a friend’s house, an adult should keep watch at both ends of the journey.

• Insist on appropriate safety equipment for all sports and action-oriented activities.

• Arrange some form of supervision for teens during the week. Since most parents work during the day, that’s when teens are most likely to experiment with alcohol, drugs, sex, and so on.

• Involve your teen in adult-supervised activities, such as team sports or volunteering. In addition to keeping potentially dangerous free time to a minimum, that will give your child a boost to his self-esteem.

• If your kid tells you to butt out, don’t. Hold the line on safety.

This article comes from the April/May 2007 issue of ADDitude.

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