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Parents are often uncomfortable with the idea of giving medicine to treat their child’s ADHD. However, simple changes in diet and routine can often make the biggest impact! Try some of these helpful tips.
Diet
- Avoid artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Many artificial colors and preservatives such as sodium benzoate and calcium proprionate enhance hyperactivity in children.
- Concentrate on high-protein, complex carbohydrate, unprocessed foods. Avoid prepared foods that contain five or more ingredients. Whole, unprocessed foods will provide the right kind of energy to maintain healthy energy levels and focus throughout the day. Simple carbs like foods with high fructose corn syrup, sugar, candy, white flour or honey should be minimized. These foods are likely to cause outbursts and mood swings.
- Healthy fats– healthy fasts such as omega-3 are considered to be excellent brain food. These are found in olive oils, cold water fish like salmon and tuna, as well as in walnuts and Brazil nuts.
Sleep
Most children need a consistent bed time to avoid being cranky and lethargic. The importance of a regular bedtime routine is greater for children with ADHD. During sleeping hours, a child’s brain is strengthening neural connections and repairing daily damage. Children who do not get enough sleep often seem disorganized and less attentive. No amount of vitamins, tutoring, or exercise will help her development if she is not getting the correct hours of sleep for her age. Try these tips to help make bedtime more effective for your children.
- Avoid screens, even TV at least two hours before bedtime.
- Avoid sugar snacks before bed.
- Dim lights and offer quiet activities such as coloring or reading. Even just snuggling with a parent can be enough to calm a child after a long day of school and extracurricular activities.
- Keep a set bed time routine that starts at the same time each day. For example, your child should know that at 6:30pm each day, she will be expected to start getting ready for her bedtime at 8:00pm.
- No matter how your day went, maintain peace and calm for your child. The most important activity she will do each day is get the right amount of sleep. Children can sense stress in their parents. Take a minute to have a snack or do some stretches so that you can be the best version of yourself for your child.
Manage and Model Behavior
Children with ADHD have a hard time organizing their thoughts. To minimize disruptive behavior, parents should be very clear with their expectations.
- Be sure your child knows what behaviors are acceptable. Your child should also be aware of the consequences of inappropriate behavior. Whether you use a counting method, time-outs, or charts, be sure to be consistent and avoid negotiations with your child. Negotiating behaviors and punishments can be confusing and can also open the door for children to test their limits with their parents.
- Explain new environments and what will be expected from your child. The rules that apply to a playground are different that the rules at a doctor’s office. Be sure that your child is aware of the difference.
- Model good behavior! Have you ever said, “I don’t know where she learns these things?!!” We don’t have to look far. Children refer to examples around them. None of us are perfect, but we can do our best to model kindness and respect for others. You’ll be surprised how simply modeling the behavior you want to see can make all the difference!
Brainjogging
Camp Academia, Inc.’s patented cognitive processing software, Brainjogging has helped students successfully manage ADHD and its traditional symptoms when used in conjunction with a healthy diet, and structured routine.
Call to learn more at 1-888-7-I-LEARN.
Resources:
http://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/parenting-tips#Overview1
Tags: ADHD, be kind to yourself, brain health, Brainjogging, Focus, Learning Strategies, performance, Sleeping, success