Parent Training and Education
A helpful treatment plan for a child or teen with ADHD begins with parents who are educated about ADHD. Parents who also receive behavior management training for ADHD can help improve their child’s behavior and relationships at home.
Behavioral Parent Training
Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) is a program that helps parents learn ways to help their child behave better. BPT is done with a mental health professional who meets parents in person, in groups, or through video or the web. It is important for parents to find a BPT that fits the needs of their family. It is also important to find a program that has been shown to help change behavior problems.
BPT programs cover:
- Creating house rules, organization, and routine
- Using clear instructions
- Learning to praise good behavior and ignoring mild, incorrect behavior
- Planning ahead and working with children in public places
- Using charts and point systems with rewards and consequences
Training for parents of teens with ADHD teaches techniques that will work for older children. BPT for teens uses consequences like a loss of privileges or having teens do chores instead of time outs. Parents and their teenager meet with a mental health professional to come up with solutions for problem behavior. They develop targets, such as better grades in school, so that the teen can be rewarded with things that they enjoy doing, such as being able to go out with friends.
Using the skills learned in BPT takes a lot of hard work, but parents who use what they have learned regularly will see better behavior in their children. They will also see improved relationship with parents and siblings.
Parent Education
As a parent, it is important to learn all you can about ADHD. CHADD has an online training program to educate parents about ADHD. This program teaches the following about ADHD:
- Symptoms and causes of ADHD
- Assessment of ADHD in children and teens
- Treatments for ADHD
- Strategies for creating an ADHD-friendly home
- Ways to support your child at school.
Information about CHADD’s parent training and education program can be found at Parent to Parent .
Support for Parents
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs provides training, resources, and information for parents through the nationwide Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers.
Information about these centers can be found at Center for Parent Information & Resources.
Resources