How do you approach a 9 year old with adhd

Be appropriate: Adhd is not a disease. It is a variation of normal. We should expect normal attention and behavior. Medication may make such behavior easier but does not cure a disorder. Each child is expected to learn appropriate behavior in school and in public. For some this is very difficult because of problems with attention. Normal outcome should still be expected.

Love and respect: Any child should be approached the same, whether they have adhd or not.Love, discipline, guidance and understanding.Adhd is not an illness, it is a diagnosis given to a set of symptoms..Remember your child is not adhd, he /she might have adhd.If the behavior/symptoms are severe get a proper assessment.Behavioral intervention, medication, school intervention might be some options.

Real biological prob: Adhd is an inherited disorder of cortical executive function. This is documented by hundreds of imaging studies, long term prospective studies, analog classroom studies, & meta-analyses. To dismiss it as not is dangerous to child & society. Chadd.Org or <http://pediatrics.Aappublications.Org/content/early/2011/10/14/peds.2011-2654.Full.Pdf>.

Understanding: Educate yourself on the neurobiological deficits caused by adhd. Then you'll know why you can't tell him, "go to your room, pull all the blue clothes from your dirty clothes hamper, take them to the laundry room & put them in the yellow basket" & expect him to follow through. Problems with attention, auditory processing & active working memory make that virtually impossible for him..