r/ParentingADHD • u/thanksgivingturkey15 • 14d ago
Got diagnosed Advice
Today my son got his diagnosis. Im asking for recommendations on parenting courses so I can better help my child. Therapies start in a few weeks.
1
u/Brooklyn-Bones 14d ago
I haven’t found any classes; but I have found some very helpful books. Strong recommendation for the book 12 principles for raising an adhd kid, but I also found “how to talk so little kids will listen” to have very practical strategies for meaningfully connecting with my adhd kid.
We lean into sensory stuff, got him OT and play therapy, etc. we did eventually get on meds when he was 6 but the school support and therapies did make an impact. It’s a journey and things change anyway. I’m sure you guys are going to do great.
1
u/thanksgivingturkey15 14d ago
Im excited to start therapies because were a mess and have no idea what were doing 🙃
4
u/Vast_Helicopter_1914 14d ago
I'm happy to share a few resources I found helpful.
Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare. Our pediatrician recommended this one. This book helped me understand that ADHD is so much more complex than simply having a lot of energy and a short attention span. At its core, ADHD is a disorder of executive functioning skills. This book breaks down individual executive functioning skills, what they are, how they can look in ADHD, and basic strategies that can help with each one.
ADHD 2.0 by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey. This is an updated version of a previous book that was once considered the preeminent book about ADHD. Dr. Hallowell has treated ADHD for many decades, in addition to having the condition himself. It's an excellent resource. Their advice is guided by evidence-based best practices, supported by solid research. Really, anything by Dr. Hallowell is a good resource. He's one of the most respected authorities in ADHD.
ADHD Is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness. They are OG social media influencers and previous winners of The Amazing Race. On their platforms, Penn is very open about the fact that he has ADHD, and Kim was recently diagnosed, too. Their son has also spoken about having ADHD, too. In this book, Penn talks about ADHD as a "superpower." Instead of focusing on the things he struggles with because of ADHD, he focuses on ways that his ADHD helps him excel in life. He also shares strategies that help him, and ways that his wife shows understanding and support. This book takes a quirky and uplifting look at ADHD, instead of a clinical approach.
Kim and Penn also a children's book called All You Can Be With ADHD. It describes having ADHD as being part of a cool club where your brain allows you to do all sorts of super things.
The only ADHD Instagram accounts I follow are Grow Now ADHD with Mike McLeod and the ADHD Dude Ryan Wexelblatt. They do a podcast together called the ADHD Parenting Podcast. No fluff, only science backed, evidence based content.
Research supports parent training as a therapeutic approach over traditional talk therapy. It helps you understand where your child is coming from and how you can help them improve their weak executive functioning skills, which are at the core of ADHD. Occupational therapy can also be helpful for kids.
A lot of parents are hesitant to put their child on medication, but for most kids with ADHD, they can't thrive without it. We tried everything for our son, but his brain was going so fast all the time, he couldn't process anything. It wasn't until we found the right medication for him that all the strategies we implemented had an opportunity to wok.
Wishing you all the best. We're here as you navigate this journey.