Many people think of ADHD as affecting only attention, but it affects SO MANY other areas of life as well, including friendships and social situations.
Here are 3 ways that children with ADHD often struggle socially and some ways that you, as their caregiver, can help.
3 Ways Children with ADHD Struggle Socially:
Many children with ADHD have trouble making or keeping friends.
That’s because they can sometimes come across as demanding if they insist on their own way. Children with ADHD can also struggle with turn taking and sharing, making friendships difficult at times.
WHAT TO DO – Plan teaching opportunities where your child has the opportunity to practice taking turns and sharing. A weekly game night, for instance, could be very helpful in providing built-in learning opportunities.
Some children with ADHD have a difficult time picking up on social cues.
They might not even realize they are interrupting or doing something that bothers another person because they aren’t picking up on the social cues the other person is providing.
WHAT TO DO – Role play can be very helpful in teaching children about how other people might be feeling. Parents can role play with their children with legos, dolls, action figures, puppets, etc. As you role play, talk about the way certain characters might be feeling as a result of the actions taken by another.
Many children with ADHD struggle with emotional dysregulation.
They might get extremely upset if something doesn’t go their way, leading some friends to not enjoy being around them.
WHAT TO DO – Talk a lot about how the child is feeling. Say simple statements like, “I notice that your hands are balled into fists. I notice that your voice has gotten louder. It looks to me like you are feeling angry.” In time, as you NAME their emotion, that will enable them to TAME it.
Maybe you’ve heard the statement, “name it to tame it.”
Helping our children recognize and name their emotions is the 1st step to getting these emotions under control.
Another way to teach about emotions is to watch the movie, Inside Out, with your child and then talk about the characters of the movie and the various emotions.
What many people don’t realize is that there are also lifestyle changes that can greatly affect how children with ADHD interact with others! ?
Many of the families I work with have reported that their childrens’ relationships with friends and siblings DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE once they remove inflammatory foods and work to reduce inflammation in the bodies of their children.
I absolutely LOVE what Emily shared about her son in this video.
“My son has friends at school this year…He has never had friends…He is such a sweet little boy, but his behavior would just turn people off…Now he has friends!” ???
I LOVE this so much!
When we learn how to reduce inflammation in the body, our children become their best selves!!
<< Watch Emily’s story here >>
It is SO powerful, and such a great reminder that our kids ARE amazing.
It might just take a little work on our part to help them reach their full potential.
Here are some of the highlights:
✔️ The challenges Emily and her family faced with her child with ADHD
✔️ What kept Emily from learning about how to reduce her child’s ADHD symptoms naturally
✔️ The turning point for her family
✔️ The amazing changes they have seen in her son since learning how to reduce the inflammation in his body
✔️ A strategy that Emily found that helps her child calm down
✔️ Emily’s advice to other parents of children with ADHD
Tune in to this powerful video here.
Want to know more about how we can help YOU get to a place of peace and calm with your child using natural strategies?
Let’s talk!
with one of my expert team members to help you take your next step toward a healthier, happier home. There is absolutely NO RISK. It’s free, and there are no obligations. All we will do is chat about how we can help you get to where you want to go!
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And as always, I am not a medical doctor and the above post is based on my experience. No information on this site should be relied upon to make a medical diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease or medical condition.
