Parenting teens is tricky business in any circumstance. Parenting a teen with ADHD can be even more challenging due to a number of ADD-related characteristics, such as:
- distraction
- forgetfulness
- procrastination
- disorganization
- emotional reactivity
These characteristics can contribute to school issues as well as friction at home around chores and other responsibilities.
And while all parents worry about drinking, drugs, and driving, as Dr. Peter Jaska, director of ADD Centers of America, emphasizes that:
“Teens with ADHD are at higher risk for substance abuse and addictions, driving violations, and car accidents than are non-ADDers.”
Because of the additional challenges and risks faced by teens with ADHD, parents of these teens often benefit from extra support and specific strategies.
Some particularly useful resources include:
Parenting Teens with Love and Logic by Cline and Fay
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Levine
Smart but Scattered Teens by Guare, Dawson and Guare
Ready for Take-Off by Maitland and Quinn
For a quick read, Dr. Jaska offers “9 secrets to Surviving Your ADHD Teen” in an article in ADDitude magazine: here
Finally, working with a coach familiar with parenting teens with ADD can help you develop skills, strategies and systems that meet your particular needs as you parent your particular teen.
Contact me today for a free consultation!
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