Behavioral Techniques for Children With ADHD

Learning behavior management techniques is considered to be an essential part of any successful ADHD treatment program for children. Most experts agree that combining medication treatments with extended behavior management is the most effective way to manage ADHD in children and adolescents.

There are three basic categories or levels of ADHD behavioral training for children:

1. Parent training in effective child behavior management methods.
2. Classroom behavior modification techniques and academic interventions.
3. Special educational placement.

Behavior management is most often used with younger children with ADHD, but it can be used in adolescents up to 18 years old and even adults. In children and adolescents, the two basic principles are:

• Modeling behavior by encouraging good behavior with healthy praise or rewards. This works best if the reward or praise immediately follows the positive behavior.
• Negatively reinforcing bad behavior by allowing appropriate consequences to occur naturally.

Behavior Management Strategies for Preschoolers (Age 5 and Younger)

To help younger kids with ADHD, try these behavior management techniques:

• Provide a consistent routine to the days and structure to the environment. Let them know when the routine is changing or something unusual is going to happen, such as a visit from a relative, a trip to the store, or a vacation.
• Give your child clear boundaries and expectations. These instructions and guidelines are best given right before the activity or situation.
• Devise an appropriate reward system for good behavior or for completing a certain number of positive behaviors, such as a merit point or gold star program with a specific reward, such as a favorite activity. Avoid using food and especially candy for rewards.
• Engage your child in constructive and mind-building activities, such as reading, games, and puzzles by participating in the activities yourself.
• Some parents find that using a timer for activities is a good way to build and reinforce structure. For example, setting a reasonable time limit for a bath or playtime helps train the child to expect limitations, even on pleasurable activities. Giving a child a time limit for chore completion is also useful, especially if a reward is given for finishing on time.

Behavior Management Strategies for Children Ages 6-12

Behavior management strategies for older children with ADHD may include:

• As much as possible, give clear instructions and explanations for tasks throughout the day. If a task is complex or lengthy, break it down into steps that are more manageable, keeping in mind that as the child learns to manage their behavior, the steps and tasks can become more complex.
• Reward the child appropriately for good behavior and tasks completed. Set up a clear system of rewards (point system, gold stars) so that the child knows what to expect when they complete a task or refine their behavior.
• Bear in mind that as your child gets older they will be more sensitive to how they appear to others and may overreact or be unduly ashamed when they are disciplined in front of others. It is important to have a plan for appropriate discipline for misbehaving that does not require carrying out in front of others. Setting up a specific consequence for a certain behavior is probably the best method of providing consistency and fairness for your child.
• Communicate regularly with your child's teachers so that behavior patterns can be dealt with before they become a major problem and before the teachers get overly frustrated with the situation.
• Always set a good example for your child. Children with ADHD need role models for behavior more than other children, and the adults in their lives are very important.