EMILY GUTIERREZ

YOU ARE THE

PERFECT PARENT
9 Simple Guides for Filipino Parents
with ADHD Child

www.goadhdparents.com
WHAT'S INSIDE
INTRODUCTION

P3 - EXPLANATIONS NO INTRODUCTION
MORE 

Do you have a child with Attention Deficit

P3 - DON’T GET DRAWN Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Are your child’s
INTO DEBATES AND symptoms evident in their behaviors and getting
DISCUSSIONS them in trouble? Are you looking for ways you can
help manage your child’s behavior? Do you wish to
P4 - GIVE PRAISES AND help your child and bring out the best in them?
REWARDS
Well, you have come to the right place!
P4 - MAKE THE TASK INTO
SMALLER PARTS One thing you must bear in mind is that ADHD
makes hard for a child to develop skills necessary
P5 - SET UP CLEAR POSITIVE
in controlling their attention, emotions, behavior,
and activity. Your child will act in ways that make
AND NEGATIVE
it hard for you to manage sometimes. The truth is
CONSEQUENCES
that bringing up a child of this kind can be
challenging.
P5 - BE CONSISTENT

While every child is different, several strategies

P6 - IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT
will help improve your child's behavior. The truth
YOU is that there are no hard and fast rules for
managing ADHD because of the difference in
P6 - IDENTIFY GOOD severity and symptoms. However, with person-
QUALITIES AND MOTIVATE centered and tailor-made approaches we have put
THEM together here, you will not only help your child get
better but also make their life more comfortable
P7 - SPECIAL TIME and rewarding.
 "Remember that You have the power as a parent to help bring
positive reinforcement to improve your child’s
you are not alone. behavior.
There are others
So, what are you still waiting for?
going through the
Come with me, and let's help our children develop,
same thing."
get happy and well-adjusted now and into their
future by creating a tranquil environment for
Adam Levine their growth.
 page 3

EXPLANATIONS
NO MORE
If you want to make your
ADHD child to do
something, keep it clear
and easy to understand.
Parents might get use to
give explanations as to why
things need to be done. But
for ADHD kids, these kinds
of explanations and strong
reminders do not improve
enforcement and can make
worse things over time.
Save the explanations for
some time when you’re not
implementing rule or
request is not underway.

DON’T GET
DRAWN INTO
DEBATES AND
DISCUSSIONS

When you give your ADHD child an order or ask to

do something, no more conversations are required to
prevent explanations. Just send the request and if the
request is not followed, apply the consequences you
have previously set. If you've got the habit of allowing
your child to challenge your requests and get into
debate, it's going to be a tough habit to break up.
 page 4

A child needs our attention. It is very

rewarding for them. But for ADHD child,
they need it more for immediate
gratification and emotional stimulation.
They also need more praises and rewards
than other children. You can give verbal,
positive feedback or praises for chores
accomplished or rules followed. Your
feedback should be very clear, detailed
and descriptive like “Very good! I really
appreciate you putting all your books in
your shelves.” Rewards are also
necessary. It can encourage your ADHD
child’s good behavior and can boost self-
esteem. It also improves your
relationship with your child. Example of
rewards you can give to your ADHD child
GIVE PRAISES AND are hugs, high five, pat on the back,
playing favorite game, giving favorite ice
REWARDS cream or going to movies.

Children with ADHD have a deficit in

executive function. In other words, ADHD
children cannot think, organize, plan,
complete tasks, or even control their
impulses. It is your role as a parent to take
over by guiding your child gradually until
they have acquired executive skills of their
own. The task should be clear and detailed.
Break it into smaller parts to make it
possible for the your child to comply and
then use the encouragement along the way.

MAKE THE
TASK INTO
SMALLER
PARTS
 page 5

There will be a time when your ADHD child

will do things you like and don't like.
SET UP CLEAR
Consequences can be both positive and POSITIVE AND
negative. Use positive consequences for
behaviors that you would like your child to do
NEGATIVE
again. Give praises, rewards and attention for CONSEQUENCES
doing something you like. Negative
consequences let your child know you don't
like what he/she did and needs to stop.
Negative consequences are also called
discipline. You can do time-out, ignoring,
delay or loss of privilege and distraction when
your ADHD child is likely to repeat the
behavior you don’t like. Apply the
consequences firmly but neutrally without
any additional negative comments. The trick
is to ensure that they follow these rules
throughout life – whether at home, school, or
any public place. The main aim is to help your
child understand that every action has a
consequence – hence allowing them to learn
how to control their impulses.

BE CONSISTENT If you are going to manage to parent

your child and bring out the best in
them, you must be willing to master
the art of consistency and
compassion. Be consistent in giving
and implementing your plan of
praises and rewards, delay or loss of
privileges in response to good
behavior and misbehavior. While
there are times they will have a hard
time internalizing and enacting these
guidelines, ensure that the rules you
have set in place are simple and clear
and have a reward. Establish your
plan and don't deviate even though
there are setbacks. You must decide
what behaviors you will and will not
tolerate and then stick to these
guidelines. Realize that repetition
and positive reinforcement will go a
long way in helping your child gain a
better understanding of the rules.
 page 6

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT

YOU
Yes, the demand for monitoring and helping a
child with ADHD is both mentally and
physically draining. There are times when
you will be angry at your child and then feel
guilty about it later. Their behavior will
simply make you stressed and anxious -
especially the case when there is a difference
in your personality and that of your child with
ADHD. Do not blame yourself or questioned
your parenting skills because of your child’s
behavior. Children with ADHD experience
different difficulties that are not related to
parental abilities.

IDENTIFY
GOOD QUALITIES
AND MOTIVATE
MORE

It is important to recognize good

qualities of your ADHD child and
appreciate it. Believe me, there are
lot of things you can love about
ADHD. Take note of any
improvements, big or small and
continue motivate them to do
positive behavior. Their drive and
energy can generate very positive
results.
 page 7

SPECIAL TIME
Make a special time to spend with your ADHD
child. It is an opportunity for you to reflect on
the positive habits of your child and develop a
healthy, loving relationship. It is not task
related or something to comply. Make an
activity that you both will enjoy like baking
cookies, making pancakes, painting or
playing video games.

FINAL WORDS
Living with a child with ADHD is indeed overwhelming and even frustrating at times. One
thing you must do as a parent is to help your child overcome their challenges, channel
their energy into positive areas so that you can all bring calm into our family. The more
you address your child’s problems and challenges, the higher their chances of success in
life.

Before you can parent your child with ADHD with a high degree of success, you must
understand the impact of their symptoms on the entire family. These children often
experience a slew of behaviors that risks disrupting family life. There are times when they
will not pay attention to your parental instructions or obey you, get distracted easily, and
keep the rest of the family waiting.

They will start a project and forget to complete, not to mention cleaning up after
themselves. They will interrupt conversations, speak before they can even think, demand
attention at inappropriate times, or say tactless and embarrassing things.

Even though ADHD symptoms are nothing but exasperating, you must remember that
when your child annoys, ignores, or embarrasses you, they are not doing it willfully.
Keeping in mind that your ADHD child is just as frustrated as you are, and it will make it
easier for you to respond to them in a positive and supportive way. Let's give them time and
show them empathy, affection, strength, patience, and energy as part of parenting. You
must learn how to exercise patience and compassion when handling them so that you not
only manage their condition, but also create a stable and happy home for them.