9 Ways to Discipline ADHD Behavior Without Raising Your Voice
Whether it’s scheduling ‘pit stops’ or reaffirming your love, here are some strategies that will help you feel less like an ogre and more like a mom the next time your child needs some “enlightenment.”
Does your struggle with ADHD behavior look something like this?
You’ve told your child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) to pick up their dirty clothes from the bedroom floor. Not a single sock has been deposited in the hamper. Did they not hear you — or did they ignore your discipline?
Annoyed, you shout and, worse, feel yourself getting angry and nearing a power struggle. Then come the threats — no TV for a week, no friends visiting for a month, and whatever else you can think of in your fury. The incident costs everyone dearly: Your child feels angry and demoralized, and you feel like anything but a loving parent. And for what? A pile of clothes in need of a washing machine.
Later that evening, during a quiet moment at the kitchen table, you think back to what happened — and what has been happening for months now. You wish you had used more effective communication and question whether you love your child any more, whether you’re a fit parent. Don’t worry: You do and you are.
You’re feeling the emotional turmoil and stinging regret every parent experiences when trying to love and discipline a child. Here are some strategies that will help you feel less like an ogre and more like a mom the next time your child needs some “enlightenment”:
[Free Download: 10 Ways to Neutralize Your Child’s Anger]
Discuss why it’s wrong. Make sure your child understands how their action — or inaction — has hurt someone or goes against the grain of your expectation. Then ask them if they think it would be a good idea to apologize, suggesting that they would probably want the same courtesy extended to them if their feelings had been hurt.
Be reasonable when grounding. If your child or teen abuses a privilege, remove the privilege — briefly. Depriving a teen access to the cell phone for a month because they exceeded the plan’s calling minutes is overkill. Withdrawing the privilege for a short time — and allowing your teen to earn it back by developing a credible game plan for not abusing the privilege next time — teaches the necessary lesson.
Say it a couple of ways. Different kids respond to direction in different ways. When giving your child a task-such as putting their games away, state it two ways. Say, “I’d like you to stop leaving your games all over your room. You paid good money for them, and you want to take care of them, right?” Then state the same request in a positive way: “Please put your games away.” Chances are, she will get the message.
Schedule pit stops. Race car drivers periodically pull their cars into the pit — to change tires, add fuel, and talk over race strategy with the pit crew. Do the same with your child when things get tense and you feel the urge to yell. Tell them you want to have a pit stop — a private conversation in a quiet area of the home where nobody will interrupt — or, better yet, at their favorite coffee place. Scheduling pit stops cuts off an ugly exchange that you will regret later.
[Never Punish a Child for Behavior Outside His Control]
Figure out a better way. Turn discipline moments into learning opportunities. Remind your teen that we all make mistakes, then invite them to brainstorm better ways to deal with a similar temptation or stress in the future. Listen to their ideas and value their input. It shouldn’t just be your way or the highway.
Encourage a redo. When your child screws up, patiently reenact the situation – doing it the right way. If your child spills a glass of soda while clowning around at the table, have them wipe up the mess and pour another glass. Then ask them to place the glass in a better location on the table and be on their best behavior.
Take a moment. Count to 10 before opening your mouth; it will short-circuit a great deal of verbal nastiness.
Strengthen the bond. Effective child discipline combines a firm expectation of how to behave or act, along with basic respect for the worth and dignity of your child. Bedtime tuck-ins, listening to their concerns, empathizing with their feelings, and defending your child when necessary all show that you are more than a drill sergeant. You’re a loving parent.
Reaffirm your love. Always remind your child, no matter what they’ve done, how much you love them. Love and leadership are the twin functions of good parenting — so make it clear that disciplining them doesn’t diminish your affection for them.
