Having ADHD while parenting children with ADHD

Being a parent is hard, and it may be even harder when your child and you both have ADHD.29 Your child might have a harder time with things like focusing and controlling their actions.1 This can make daily tasks, schoolwork, and making friends more difficult.1,32

If your daughter has ADHD, she may talk a lot, worry excessively, and constantly aim for perfection.33 This may differ from boys with ADHD, who often have difficulty staying still or keeping focused. Like you, your child's ADHD symptoms might become more noticeable when they face more challenges, like when they start middle or high school.29

Being a parent of a child with ADHD can be challenging. Your role involves understanding ADHD, nurturing your child's strengths, and assisting them in overcoming challenges.34 This might involve advocating for your child at school, managing treatments, and addressing misconceptions about ADHD.

The resources provided are intended to serve as a helpful starting point for learning about supporting your child.

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Getting a diagnosis for your child

To help your child get support to manage their ADHD, the first step is to have them diagnosed by a health care provider.

ARTICLE Getting a diagnosis for your child

This is what an ADHD diagnosis and assessment for your child looks like.

ARTICLE Parenting a child with ADHD

Here’s what comes after getting your child diagnosed with ADHD.

PODCAST What should parents look for in an evaluation for ADHD?

Explains what to think about when it comes to getting your child diagnosed with ADHD on the podcast episode, “All Things ADHD.”

Supporting your child with ADHD

When you have a child with ADHD, life might look and feel different compared to families without ADHD.35 These resources are about some of those differences, including things like discipline, schooling, and daily routines.

ARTICLE Information for children

It’s important for kids to understand their ADHD too; this article talks about adjusting to school life.

ARTICLE The secret to better behavior? No punishment at all

Learn why conventional methods of discipline may not work for children diagnosed with ADHD and what may work instead.

ARTICLE The importance of a daily routine for kids with ADHD: Sample routines and more

Daily schedules are important to help kids with ADHD build healthy habits. Learn how to help your child build a routine with these tips.

ARTICLE The messy student’s guide to order: ADHD organizing tips

Information about helping your child with ADHD stay organized and improve their experiences both in the classroom and at home.

ARTICLE When children with ADHD explore gender identity: A guide for parents

How to support your child as they explore gender identity.

ARTICLE The parents’ guide to dismantling oppositional, defiant behavior

Discover tools for parenting teens with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or pathological demand avoidance (PDA), commonly associated with ADHD.

References