title: What do parents of children with learning disabilities, ADHD, and related disorders deal with?
abstract: Children with learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and related disorders puzzle parents because of their many abilities and disabilities. It can also be difficult to understand how much of their behavior is the nature of the condition and how much is oppositional. It is all too easy for parents to "catch" a child's feelings of inadequacy and then feel bad as a parent. Parenting approaches that include clear, concise instructions; structure without rigidity; nurturing a child's gifts and interests; and constant approval of positive behavior help parents feel better and help children feel safe. It takes time for both children and parents to embrace the concept that being different does not mean being inferior and, in fact, can be a good thing. Parents need to be nurtured and praised to help them nurture and praise their children. Most parents use almost every resource they have to help their children flourish, and still, they worry they are not doing a good enough job. Usually they are!
authors.affiliation: Lab School of Washington, American University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Sally L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D009013:Morale; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support