What Can Parents with Daughters of ADHD do to Help Their Daughter Thrive Socially

The first step to helping your daughter thrive socially is to carefully evaluate exactly why your child is having her social difficulty.  Is she breaking personally space, having tantrums, interrupting, not waiting her turn,  missing social cues due to inattention, annoying other children with off task or silly behavior?  Or is she socially shy or insecure?  The intervention will depend on your conceptualization of the problem.  So first investigate.  Talk to teachers.  Talk to your child.  Observe.  Once the source of your daughter’s difficulty is found a skills training model can be useful.  Provide opportunities to practice the behavior you want (ie waiting ones turn) and use a great deal of positive re-enforcement.  An ADHD child will require more structure, more cues, more immediate feedback and larger re-enforcement than a typical child.  Make sure your child has opportunities for success. Find her strength, encourage them and provide opportunities to express them.  Limit distractions as much as possible and attempt to place your daughter in an environment which will minimize or social difficulties (ie having only one child over at a time and playing a game or in a setting that minimizes your child’s difficulties).

How do we get people to take their daughters for diagnosis earlier?

If your daughter is struggling socially, behaviorally, emotionally or academically, familiarize yourself with the symptoms of ADHD.  If you have suspicions your child may have ADHD seek a professional ADHD evaluation.

ADHD Coaching is available online, by phone , and in-person.