Helping Your ADHD Child Develop Positive Peer Relationships
Saturday April 5, 2008
Peer relationships can be a real challenge for children with ADHD. As a parent it can be quite heartbreaking to see your child struggle with failed friendships or no friendships at all. For the child it is an isolating experience that can impact feelings of worth and self esteem.
Click on Peer Relationships to read more.
Have friendships been an issue for your child? What strategies have helped?
Photo © Microsoft
Don’t overlook the benefits of social skills training for children. Our son seems to learn better when in a group with peers, the learning “sticks” better. He sees others his age (4-6) behaving like he would, and they all practice together how to better do things. It may be hard to find the classes. Ask your child’s therapist or doctor, the school therapist, or search on line. The classes are out there and sometimes for free.
Good advice, Nancy. Thanks for including this.
Social skills training is very important as it gives a child not only information about how to approach situations, but also a safe place to practice new skills. In addition, it gives a child a nice built-in peer group where friendships can be made.
I’d love to hear about children with the non-hyperactive variety and how they can be helped to make friends.
Adults, too, for that matter.
My child went through social skills training during his adhd treatment while at the Drake Institute in Los Angeles. Social skills training really helped him understand what is acceptable in group situations.
Sarah,
I will work on an article targeted more specifically towards children with the predominately inattentive type of ADHD. Thanks for the suggestion.
Here is an article for ADD adults that might be helpful.
Friendships and ADHD
http://add.about.com/od/adhdinadults/a/friendships.htm
My son has more of the inattentiveness than hyperactivity. He has trouble making any bonds with freinds. I guess this is a common characteristic with ADD? I was wondering what to do to help. I just want him (9 yrs old now) to grow up to have a group of freinds and not be isolated.
Is social skills training the best answer for helping?