Parenting plays an important role in modifying or changing the behavior of children, particularly those that were diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Behavior modification is always one of the most important treatments for these children. Careful planning and successful behavior modification strategies are keys in helping improve the social skills, abilities to learn and abilities to adapt one’s self to the changes in the environment. These would also include reducing frustration, not just for the child but for the parents, teachers and caregivers as well.

STRUCTURED HOME ENVIRONMENT
Children diagnosed with ADHD work best in structured environment, whether at home or in school. To be able to establish a structured environment, there should be a predictable routine of activities. These can either be set up as a schedule, if possible with time stamp for every activity. If, however, there are any changes in the routine, the child should know about it in advance to prevent a stressful situation.

Established rules should be simple, clear and appropriate. These rules should apply at home, in school or even in places away from both. The application as well as remembering of rules can be done visually, because this is what works best for these children. Writing down a list of rules and responsibilities and posting these in appropriate places where the child can see often would help in establishing the proper behavioral guidance.

Alongside these rules, progress as well as accomplishment charts are also useful. These would enable to make the child see how he/she is performing as per goals set and agreed upon. These would also mean the anticipation of a reward, be it intrinsic or otherwise, upon the accomplishment of goals set for him/her. With these progress and accomplishment charts, focus on new target behaviors can also be started and improved upon later on.

Children diagnosed with ADHD have difficulties in organization. This means, they spend a lot of time looking for things that can’t be found or things that are misplaced. They spend a lot of time thinking how to start doing some tasks that they have a tendency to get tired even without starting a thing or two. One way to prevent such problems is by assigning specific locations of materials that are frequently used such as school things, clothes and toys. Posted reminders or even verbal reminders to put everything back where they belong after usage would be helpful. To those who can’t read well yet, illustrations would be very helpful.

The child has difficulty remembering what needs to be done? Have him/her repeat in proper sequence and if need be, practice. Your child is a part of the wedding entourage? Practice how to walk using the appropriate material. After all, practice makes perfect.

So how would the child knows how he/she is doing? Give immediate feedbacks and encouragement if difficulties were encountered in the learning process. These feedbacks and encouragements as well as rewards and consequences should be fair and consistent between parents or other family members, teachers and caregivers. The focus on positive behavior and rewards should be given more emphasis than the focus on negative behavior and their consequences.

Yes, the key word is consistency. Consistency holds the key in establishing the desired good, appropriate, socially acceptable and positive behavior that parents want their children to have. Consistency means applying the same rules and not compromising for a lesser or more degree. If there are consistencies in the behavior management strategies, the child would know how to bend rules to suit his needs and would then be manipulative. If such happens, then the behavior modification techniques, plans, and programs would be futile.

Having a positive approach in these behavior programs also works best for the parents, teachers and caregivers. Remember, these children can’t always control how they react, how they respond to the environment and sometimes has no control over actions, thoughts and words, even if they know they should be in control. One of my students told me some time ago: “I can’t help it, I can’t control myself.”

If everything seems to be going wrong and almost all else is failing, seek help. There are many agencies, family counseling, and support groups that would help everyone cope together.

Are these sound advices? Did these help you assess your parenting skills?