Children often come home from school worn out and stressed from the long day.  Since children with ADHD often struggle with the cognitive skills necessary for academic and social success, they are especially susceptible to feeling stressed after school. This can make it difficult to communicate with your child in the evening and to get homework done in a timely manner.

Harvard Health states that exercise helps us to relax by reducing stress hormones, producing endorphins, improving self-confidence, and distracting the mind from our daily struggles. If you block out some time for your child to get exercise after school, you may see improvements in their behavior and their ability to follow through with tasks at home. ADDitudemag.com suggests that individual sports are more effective for children with attention challenges. The list includes:

• Tennis
• Swimming
• Martial...

Communication with a child can be difficult regardless of the circumstances.  However, communication can be even more difficult with a child who has ADHD. Individuals with ADHD often have weak executive function, making it more difficult for them to communicate. Emotional control can be a challenge.  Therefore communication often comes out as overly emotional and not always rational.

So, how can we effectively communicate with children who have ADHD? Additude magazine recently did an article on How to Talk to Students with ADHD. This article focuses specifically on strategies that are effective in the classroom; however, they are also useful strategies that can transition into the home environment as well.

The article states; "great teachers know that saying the right words in the right way can turn a defeated student into a go-getter."

Here are the five strategies provided...

As we are becoming a society that so heavily relies on digital media, how do we use that media toward the healthy development for our children? Also, how do we know when it is too much?

Recently a new recommendation for children’s media use was given by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The full article can be read at American Academy of Pediatrics Announces New Recommendations for Children’s Media Use.  We are continually immersed in digital media, through television, video games, cell phone apps etc. There are both positive and negative effects on healthy development. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides new recommendations and resources to help families navigate this epidemic and create a healthy media diet.

Help is provided through an interactive online tool that families can personalize call the Family Media Use...