Routines That Work for an ADHD Child

An ADHD child needs a routine that’s more visual and more forgiving, with the prompts outside their head.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 5 to 11.

Where to start

Make the routine visual: a three-item list on the bathroom door at your child’s eye level.
Leave slack for when your child gets stuck, and forgive the days it doesn’t work.
Talk about the routine as help for your child’s brain, not a test of their character.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

NHS, living with ADHD, advice for parents; YoungMinds, parents’ guide to ADHD

It goes with

Neurodiversity, and the Conversation with the School. For parents whose child has been working harder and longer than other children to do things that come more easily to them.
The Hour Before Bed. For parents whose child’s bedtime has turned into an hour of worries, questions and meltdowns.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Neurodiversity. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
ADHD. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

The Parent Book is a library written by therapists: chapters on the situations parents bring to our therapy rooms most often, quick tips for tonight, things to do together, and every sheet to print. One subscription opens all of it, from the day you join.

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
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If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.