Psychology Information

Intro to Being an ADHD Parent


In my fifteen years of private practice working with children with ADHD, one of the common concerns that I observed by parents was the fear that they had done something, or failed to do something, that caused their child's ADHD. I guess it is normal to blame yourself when your child is having problems.

However, it is important for parents to know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is not the result of "bad parenting" or obnoxious, willful defiance on the part of the child. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a medical condition, caused by genetic factors that result in certain neurological differences.

Yes, a child may be willfully defiant whether he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or not. But defiance, rebelliousness, and selfishness are usually "moral" issues, not neurological issues. Make no excuses for "immoral," "selfish," or "destructive" behaviors, whether from individuals with ADD ADHD or not. Parents need to step up and correct these behavior problems whether a child has ADHD or not.
 
It may also be true that the parents may need further training. We are constantly amazed at how many young parents today grew up in homes where their parents were gone all day. We now see "grown up latch key kids" trying to parent as best as they can, but without having had the benefit of growing up with good parental role models. This is a problem in any family, but especially when there is a child in the home who is inattentive, impulsive, and possibly hyperactive.

Parents should consider becoming a part of a parenting class offered by a local therapist, or a local church. These classes can be a good investment of your time. More information about Attention Deficit Disorder is available at the ADHD Information Library.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.


MORE RESOURCES:

Glenwood medical directors were unlicensed
DesMoinesRegister.com, IA - 3 hours ago
For most of the past 14 months, the Glenwood Resource Center has employed eight unlicensed psychologists who have reported to an unlicensed psychology ...


Jamaica Gleaner

The psychology of the foreign-exchange market
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 9 hours ago
By themselves, however, they would need to shock expectations out of a psychology of ongoing devaluation. Reliance on these external factors may not, ...


How To Channel Your Entrepreneurial Ego
Forbes, NY - 20 hours ago
My columns will draw upon these experiences, as well as the work spent building the course, "Entpreneurial Psychology," that I taught at UCLA's Anderson ...


Madison Messenger

Liberty University program promotes learning at Chatham prison
Madison Messenger, VA - 9 hours ago
By Christa Desrets A full-time distance learning student at Liberty University, Eric Snow pursues a degree in psychology — from prison. ...
Legislators suprised inmates get state grants for LU program Lynchburg News and Advance
all 3 news articles


New programs being tested to find hidden bias in police work
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 11 hours ago
Stanford University scientist Jennifer Eberhardt, associate professor of psychology and a consultant in Fridell's project, has conducted studies that show ...
New programs being tested to find hidden bias in police work San Jose Mercury News
all 72 news articles


Queuing psychology: Can waiting in line be fun?
CNN - Nov 20, 2008
To do that, businesses where people often wait in line must realize some basic principles of queuing psychology. Eliminating empty time, for example, ...


A new cognitive psychology article nearly every day
ScienceBlogs - Nov 21, 2008
Greta Munger is Professor of Psychology at Davidson College whose works include The History of Psychology: Fundamental Questions. Dave Munger is co-founder ...
Casual Fridays: Does having kids destroy your memory? ScienceBlogs
all 2 news articles


guardian.co.uk

Study: Away-facing strollers stress babies
CNN - Nov 21, 2008
Based on a study of 2722 parents and children, the study by Dundee University's School of Psychology calls into question the designs of many of the world's ...
Babies stressed by forward-facing buggies: British study AFP
Strollers that 'face out' stressful for babies: study National Post
Are modern buggies bad for babies? guardian.co.uk
FOXNews - ShortNews.com
all 84 news articles


The Psychology of Leadership Versus the Business of Management
The FINANCIAL, Georgia - 15 hours ago
In truth, the best leadership programs for the twenty-first century will be born of psychology, philosophy, and history rather than finance, accounting, ...


Psychology of shopping
Essex Echo, UK - 15 hours ago
AN invitation to shop is never one I would refuse. But this invitation to browse, bargain hunt and buy in the new HomeSense store at Lakeside came with an ...

Psychology - Google News

home | site map
© 2006