For years many parents and professionals have been wondering what the link between ADHD and sleep is and how the two relate to each other. For some, it seems like it is a never ending “What came first? The chicken or the egg?” type of the question. Does attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cause problems with falling and staying asleep? Or does not sleeping properly cause the symptoms of hyperactivity and restlessness?

For parents struggling in getting ADHD kids to sleep, this lack of sleeping could even potentially make managing the usual symptoms of the condition worse.

There are many different sleep disorders that exist. Some of these, such as sleep apnea are related to factors that disrupt sleep. Individuals with sleep apnea frequently snore and often may even stop breathing while sleeping. Because of this interrupted sleep pattern, some believe that may cause hyperactivity or inability to focus.

Other parents are greatly concerned about medications that may work in relieving symptoms and help their child function at their best at school or at home may be keeping them up at night because the ADHD medication is a stimulant.

If you’re a parent with a child with ADHD who isn’t getting enough sleep, here are some things you can try:

1. Speak to Your Child’s Doctor: Speaking to your child’s doctor is one of the most important things you should do first. If sleep apnea is a concern or other conditions, your doctor will be able to assess if any of these sleep disorders exist and what the best solution in treating them might be. Some studies have found that some stimulant medications are better than others in helping kids get a good night’s rest.

2. Establish a Quiet Routine: Many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have trouble unwinding at the end of the day. Even if they are tired they may still be ready to go and can’t relax enough to actually fall asleep. A good routine that is quiet might help. An example routine would be a light snack, bath time, reading in bed, and then lights out.

3. Promote Physical Fitness: While being physically active won’t cause kids to go to sleep by itself, it can help with burning off a lot of their extra energy that can make it easier to fall asleep at night.

4. Limit Television Time: Many ADHD kids can become totally absorbed in shows they are watching on television which may make it even more difficult for them to fall asleep. Taking TV out a child’s bedroom or not allowing him or her to watch it near bedtime may help.

5. Reduce Stress and Activities: Many families have very hectic and busy lives and the afternoons and evenings are filled with activities and things that can cause stress. If you’re driving kids to soccer practice and running errands and going to another activity, it can really all become overwhelming and make it more difficult for all of you to relax.

6. Limit Caffeine and Sugar: Caffeine is often hidden in a lot of foods, especially different types of soda. Eating too much sugar can all have effects on kid’s blood sugar levels which can sometimes result in changes of extreme hyperactivity to feeling tired. By limiting these things, while they don’t cause ADHD or completely cure the symptoms if avoided, can help somewhat for parents who constantly struggle.

These are just a few tips for dealing with ADHD sleeping disorders in children. Do you have any suggestions? Share them in the comments below.

After all, only terrible parents would out of desperation and exhaustion let their kid watch TV to fall asleep. Only a terrible parent would leave a shopping cart full of things in the store to carry out a screaming and flailing kid. Certainly good parents wouldn’t be lying awake at night wondering why their child was such a monster. Good parents don’t feel resentment towards their child, do they?

I started to really get caught up in what a bad parent I was. I was starting to feel pretty frustrated and kind of hopeless at the same time. Other parents and kids I knew didn’t seem to have half the problems me and my son did. I was convinced that my child’s ridiculously bad behavior was karmic justice for all of the bad parenting I was doing.

But, as it turns out, I’m not a bad parent – and I never actually was. I’ve actually been told quite a few times by several therapists that I really am a good parent. (They swear they weren’t just saying that to boost my self esteem!) I was following the right discipline ideas, I was doing all that I could. My kid just has a mental health disorder, that’s all.

With so many people assuming that ADHD is just a diagnosis that means “Bad Parenting” it can be really frustrating. For one, it causes hundreds, if not thousands of parents to deny their kids have problems. It makes parents feel like they are the ones to blame – as if their actions are in direct correlation to why their child misbehaves, can’t sit still, and is jumping from one thing to the next. Instead, many kids go undiagnosed. Nobody wants to accept that they have a problem or that their kid has a problem either. In fact, we might even tiptoe around the issue with parents – by either not talking about it or trying to find some kind of ridiculous miracle cure rather than accepting it as an illness.

If you feel like a terrible parent, you’re not alone. Every parent, even parents of completely mentally healthy children, feel these kinds of feelings from time to time. But if you’re constantly beating yourself up about it, it’s time to stop.

It’s not easy to go from feeling like horrible parent to good parent. So to help you dismiss those horrible parent feelings, here’s some help:

1. Embrace The Diagnosis: Breathe that diagnosis with a sigh of relief! There is nothing “wrong” with you – or even your child necessarily. Your child has a medical condition. And while a medical condition requires treatment and attention and research and understanding – it is not the end of the world. Millions of people with medical conditions can continue on with happy and successful lives. When you start realizing there is a medical condition, and not “something wrong” it really helps put things into perspective.

2. Do Good Parent Things: Good parents make sure their kid has the basic necessities and is in a safe environment. (Y’know – fed, clothed, bathed, not playing in the street, child proofing the house, etc.) Good parents take their child to a doctor when the child is sick – and good parents will make sure that they research and follow through with a treatment plan for their child’s ADHD. Don’t brush it off as something unimportant or will go away on its own. Instead, talk with the doctors, the therapists, the teachers, the professionals. It’s the best thing you can do when you are in doubt.

3. Realize You’re Not Alone: There are thousands of parents right now feeling just like you are. The good news is you can find others to help you and relate to. Join a forum or message board. Check with CHADD.org and find a local chapter near you. Call a neighbor, call a long lost friend, open the phone book and call one of the help line’s in the front. We always feel like we are alone and have no one to turn to or talk to about something – but that’s not the case.

4. Take Time-Outs: If you’re getting overwhelmed or frustrated – take a break. Let someone else watch your child(ren) for a few hours. Go for walks. Take a relaxing bubble bath. Do something FUN and do it for YOU.

It’s time to forget about what means “normal” and what means “terrible parenting”. Instead, focus on getting you and your child the treatment you need to get through it – and it will get better eventually. You CAN be happy. It’s not hopeless. And you’re not a terrible parent if you’re still reading this site. Pat yourself on the back for being a good parent. Because good parents recognize there is a problem and seek help not only for their children, but themselves too.

Fortunately, our therapist has shared some excellent travel and vacation tips with us that we found extremely helpful:

Have Games for the Car: Being stuck in the car for hours is no fun for a child who can’t control his or her energy. Having a long list of games to turn to can help make it easier. I Spy, The Alphabet Game, and other car games the whole family can play while driving helps quite a bit. Playing I Spy is as simple as someone giving a clue as to what they see and then everyone else guessing what it is. The Alphabet Game is where you look for the letters A to Z on road signs, license plates, and more.

Have a Few Special Surprises: Vacation is a great time to surprise your child with a new treat. Some kids will be elated with a pack of brand new markers or crayons. Others may be happy with a puzzle. You’ll know your child best and be able to choose something small that will be great to pull out if they start feeling overwhelmed.

Don’t Plan Too Much: If your vacation itinerary starts at 8 am with you finally collapsing at midnight, you’ll likely have a lot of frustration throughout the day. Make sure you allot enough time to really enjoy an activity and also plan for relaxation breaks throughout the day.

Maintain as Much Routine as Possible: When you are on vacation, having a routine can be tricky. Make sure you follow the usual morning/bedtime routines as close as possible. You may also want to consider using a checklist that you make in the morning or the night before of things you will be doing during the day to help your child adjust to the change in routine.

Get Them Involved: Having children involved in the travel plans can help them feel important and special. You will have to think about what your child likes to do the most. For example, if your child loves photography, he or she might have fun being in charge of taking all the pictures for the trip. If your kid is a “where are we, what time is it” type, then they might like a map to help them keep track. Think where your child’s strengths are and how you can use those strengths to be part of the planning and organizing process.

Keep a Vacation Journal: A blank notebook can be a great canvas for older kids to keep a vacation journal. Have them draw a picture of what you did that day or write about what they like so far or something funny that has happened if they are older. This helps them stay on task with school related work, but in a fun way. This is a great activity for when you as parents need some much needed down time.

Travel When it Isn’t Busy: Going somewhere in the peak of the tourist season can be a recipe for disaster if there are large crowds, lots of waiting in line, or being stuck in traffic. Try to go in the off season or times when it isn’t that busy.

Prepare Your Child: If you have a travel brochure or find some pictures online of where you are going and what you will be doing, it can greatly help kids build excitement for the trip without worrying about exactly what will happen. Knowing what they will see ahead of time can help with the over stimulation they might feel at first.

Travel and vacation can be a lot of fun with the whole family when you follow these tips. While there are bound to be a few disruptions and even possibly a few behavioral issues while you are away, you’ll find that planning in advance can greatly help in making summer vacation travel a better experience for you all.

Parent training is slightly different than behavioral therapy for the child, though the two go very closely hand in hand, since the parent’s behavior will make a big difference on the success of the behavioral therapy.

Many parents don’t believe that they are the ones who need to change – it’s easy for them to think it is the child who needs to make the adjustments. Unfortunately, since the child is likely unable to change on his or her own, parents are the ones who must make adjustments in order to create the best enviroment and atmosphere for the child to be the most successful.

Here are some new skills that parents will need to learn as a part of ADHD parent training:

Make Rules and Enforce Them Consistently: It is often surprising how many few rules parents have or how clear they actually are to the child. Other parents may have plenty of rules, but the consequences for not listening to them are often inconsistent. Choose 5 basic rules that are absolutely critical to follow in your home and discuss them frequently with your child. When the rules are broken, make sure that discipline is consistent. For example, you would not want to take away television one day and make the child sit in time out the next. The more consistent you follow rules, the better your child will remember them and try to follow them.

2. Be Positive: It can be very difficult to be positive as a parent all of the time, especially when a child can wear you down to your last grain of sanity. However, learning how to spin negatives into positives will not only help you feel better, but it will also help your child also, who is often constantly told “no” or given negative attention. For example, instead of saying “No Running!” you would say “We need to walk when we are inside the house.”

3. Create a Structured Environment: Children with ADHD thrive on routine and structure since when they are left without it they can often get lost in distraction or hyperactivity. As parents, you will need to carefully examine you and your child’s schedule and rework it as much as possible so it is predictable and gives your child the structured environment he or she needs.

4. Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement typically works better than negative enforcement, however it requires quite a bit of attention and practice for parents to start incorporating regularly. With positive reinforcement, it is critical to try and ignore bad behavior when it is not an issue of safety and to repeatedly reward and praise good behavior. Anytime your child does something good – even if it is as simple as getting a fork out of a drawer after you asked them to deserves a lot of praise, such as “Thanks for listening to me, you are great at helping me out!”

5. Education About ADHD: Many parents do not understand the whole scope of ADHD or what it means. Education can be done through reading many books about ADHD, attending seminars for parents of children with behavioral problems, or speaking to your child’s pediatrician or therapist for other resources where you can learn more.

6. Individual Counseling: While children diagnosed with ADHD are a definite candidate for counseling or therapy sessions, many parents neglect to take care of their own mental health needs as well. It can be exhaustive and overwhelming caring for the ADHD child, which is why it is so critical for parents to get the support they need. In addition to being able to get your feelings off your chest and be assured that what you are going through is normal, you can also learn some very valuable coping techniques for parents to help you be the best parent you can be for the ADHD child.

To learn more about ADHD parent training, ask your child’s pediatrician or therapist for different resources available in your area or what activities and things they suggest you can do to help benefit your child for living with ADHD.

25 Activities for Children With ADHD:

1. Create a Calendar: Make a schedule together for the family, such as a weekly or monthly calendar of events. Decorate it using markers, stickers, or crayons. Set time aside each day where you review what you will do that day or the next day together, and cross off days that are over if you wish. This activity allows for some creativity, as well as helps with organization.

2. Build Something: Whether you use clay, blocks, or even cardboard boxes out of your pantry cabinet, many kids with ADHD enjoy building things. It is very rewarding to see something go from start to finish. Try to choose something the child is interested in – for example a child that really likes birds would enjoy building a bird house, a child that is into Star Wars might like to build a model spacecraft. Choose age appropriate activities – a 5 year old would love building a fort out of cardboard boxes – a 12 year old may prefer building a model car or something out of a kit. Also keep in mind your child may be better off with something that can be done in 30 minutes as opposed to three hours. This activity helps with both self esteem and focusing to see a task to completion.

3. Make Music: It doesn’t matter if you have any talent, music can be a great way for kids to express themselves. Make your own instruments such as shakers or use pots and pans for drums, or see if you can find something such as a harmonica or kazoo. Older children may enjoy playing piano or guitar, or you can encourage them to write a song and sing. This activity allows for creativity, expression, and just some plain old fun!

4. Exercise: Kids who are hyperactive have a hard time sitting still for any activity – so an activity that gets them moving will help them feel great about moving around. You can jog, do aerobics, take a bike ride, or go swimming. (Swimming is probably one of our favorite, as it really tires them out since many will enjoy swimming for hours!)

5. Touch Stuff: Many children with ADHD have the need to impulsively touch stuff, which in many situations can lead to frustration when they can’t or shouldn’t. Create an activity where they can touch things and describe how the object feels, or take them to a children museum that has a lot of interactive displays. This helps with sensory recognition.

6. Cook Something: Most kids love helping out to cook something, especially when it is one of their favorite foods. Whether you’re making jello, fruit salad, or lasagna, kids can help prepare and measure out the ingredients, place them in the bowl, and make something they can eat afterward. Make sure you do one step at a time. This activity helps with following directions and seeing something through from start to finish.

7. Take a Nature Walk: Going outdoors for a nature walk is a peaceful and yet stimulating adventure. You are constantly moving while hiking, which greatly helps with using up all of that energy – and you can also take some time looking at all the distractions and enjoying them, such as birds chirping or different plants and flowers you see.

8. Make a Book: This activity helps with both writing skills and study skills, but is fun enough that it allows for a lot of expression of creativity. Use a blank journal or staple several sheets of paper together. Choose a theme for the book, for example “My Favorite Things”. Have the child work on one page a day unless they are really interested in it, then they can do it all in one sitting if they want. You can draw, collage, scrapbook, etc. etc.

9. Plant a Garden: Many kids with ADHD love gardening and it is a fun activity for parents to do with them. Even those who do not have a yard suitable for a garden can grow smaller plants in containers indoors. Let them get as messy as they need to get, but also make sure they clean up. Remembering to water the garden and check on it will help them build responsibility.

10. Sort it Out: Organization for many children is a problem area, so any activity that involves sorting things or pattern building will help them with sorting and organizing, as well as feed their ability for problem solving. You can sort out toys they no longer play with, color coordinate their belongings, or sort through a large box of buttons.

11. Play Concentration: Concentration, also known commercially as the game Memory is a game where cards are flipped over and you have to find the matching pair taking turns by flipping only two cards over at a time. The game is fast enough paced if played with only 2-3 players and will help your child focus on remembering where the cards are to gain matches.

12. Keep a Journal: Many kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have a hard time expressing their feelings or remembering what they did from one day to the next. Make it a point for each day or a few times a week to write something down in a journal about what they did and how it made them feel.

13. Simon Says: This is a better game played with several children, but it can be done with just two people, especially if you take turns being “Simon”. Never played it before? You can find the directions here. This activity builds listening skills.

14. Deep Breathing Exercises: This activity will help learning how to calm down and relax as well as deal with anger or frustration. Practice taking deep breaths together, and then as you take deep breaths also move a part of your body. For example, you can take a deep breath while you wiggle your toes, then while you bend your knees, then while you bend your elbows, etc. etc. You can also teach your child to recognize when they are angry if their fists are clenched for example and to breathe deeply in those situations.

15. Spa Day: Learning to relax and be calm is very important. Take some time for spa like treatment with massage, bubble baths, soaking your feet or other spa activities, even if it’s just done at home.

16. Treasure Hunt: This is an activity that will help build focus as well as pay attention to detail. Depending on the age of your child, you can do very basic by hiding different objects in a room for them to find, much like an Easter egg hunt. For older children, you could give them clues that lead to other clues that take them to the treasure. (Though for older children, you probably won’t want to call it a treasure hunt – just tell them you have a surprise for them!)

17. Put on a Show: Many children struggle with emotional feelings, either learning how to appropriately express them or how to react in certain situations. You can incorporate teaching these things to your children by putting on a show and placing the characters into a situation where they might feel angry, sad, or frustrated. Younger children might enjoy a puppet show, older children might like the idea of getting in front a video camera and making a video. This is an activity that allows for creative freedom while also teaching important skills to handle and deal with feelings.

18. Label It:Organization is a common struggle between parents and kids of adhd. If you have access to a label maker (such as this very inexpensive Brother P-touch Electronic Labeling System), it can be fun for them to type in words and then see the machine make the label. They can label what goes inside drawers or where to store their toys and coats for example.

19. Make Signs: Many children with ADHD need prompts to remind them what to do or struggle with impulse control. A fun activity is to make signs together that remind them to do certain things. For example, you might make a sign that says “Please remember to close the door!” Younger children may benefit from drawing pictures if they are unable to read and write yet. You can also post signs around the house that enforce other rules of the home. Some children may have fun with road signs and symbols, such as a stop sign or yield sign.

20. Stop and Go: For children who struggle with impulse control, this can be another beneficial activity. You can do it with many different variations, but basically you will do an activity where you will make them stop in the middle of it and praise them for good stopping. For example, you may have them jump in place or dance in a very silly manner and then shout “stop!” or “freeze!” With older children, you can also do this with a story you are familiar with and when the character is about to make a decision or do something you can say freeze and then ask the child what they think the character should do.

21. Go Cloud Watching or Star Gazing: Cloud watching can be a fun way to be imaginative as well as let their creativity show through. You can also use the exercise for developing emotional feelings or relaxation techniques as well. Older children may enjoy watching stars through a telescope.

22. Take Pictures: A disposable camera or a very sturdy inexpensive indestructible digital camera can be a fun way for your child to capture the different moments and activities of the day. You can choose a certain theme (ie: photographing flowers, animals, toys) or you can have them take pictures of people. The pictures can then be collected in a scrapbook or taped to a poster to display for your child to talk about.

23. Make a Fidget: A “fidget” is anything that your child can hold onto or play with during a time when they might need to sit still or be quiet. Examples include a beaded bracelet they can wear and play with or filling a balloon with flour to create a stress ball. This will give them something that helps them to stay calm in situations where they need to wait or sit quietly.

24. Ask for Directions: Ask your child to give you directions for something. It can be as simple as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something else you know they can tell you how to do. It is likely your child would say something like “Put the peanut butter on the bread.” Follow the directions quite literally – meaning you’d put the jar of peanut butter on top of the bread before it is even out of the bag. This will help them stop and think of the different steps, such as take the bread out of the bag, then open the jar of peanut butter, etc. It will likely get a few laughs out of your child, but also teach them the importance of slowing down and explaining things one step at a time.

25. Make a Conversation Jar: Either type up or write some good conversation starting questions onto a piece of paper and then cut them up into small strips which you can place in a jar, basket, or other suitable container. Example conversation starters include “I feel happy when I _____.” or “My favorite place to eat is ______.” or “I feel proud when I can ______.” You can choose to do this once a week and make sure everyone in the family takes turn answering questions. This will give you and your child an opportunity to talk about things and can help them feel good about themselves.

The possibilities and variations for these activities are endless, and can certainly be modified for being appropriate for your child’s interests as well as their age level. Do you have any ideas for activities for children with ADHD? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below!

Most toddlers will love doing things such as jumping on furniture or have trouble sitting still in one spot for very long. This does not usually mean that they have ADHD, and most health professionals will not give an ADHD diagnosis until the child is at least three years old, many waiting even longer. However, it is important to learn how to help a hyperactive toddler, especially because their behavior could potentially lead to injury. Early hyperactivity may also be a signal that your child could possibly show other symptoms of ADHD as they grow older that you would want to be on the look out for.

There are two key factors to remember about toddlers: they like attention, and they like to test their boundaries. Keeping those two things in mind, there are some powerful discipline techniques that may work in helping them become calmer.

Here are some things parents can do for a hyperactive toddler:

1. Avoid Negative Attention: This is the hardest thing to do, but it is also the most important. Many kids do not distinguish between positive and negative attention. You screaming “No! Stop Right this instant!” is effectively the same to them as “Great Job Kiddo!” It sounds strange, but to a young child, any attention from their parents is what they are looking for. With the exception of behaviors that are dangerous (IE: Jumping on the bed), it is best to ignore the behavior or it will become a game to them.

2. Praise Good Behavior: Anytime your child is being calm, non-aggressive, or waiting patiently be sure to praise them. Actions often speak louder than words, so a hug, kiss, or clapping hands may be more effective than telling a kid who may not have fully developed speaking skills “Good girl!”

3. Turn Off the TV: It’s best to keep television watching to a minimum, since children are often over stimulated by it or will grow restless after watching too much. While a 30 minute TV show once a day is a nice way to keep kids occupied while you rest or do another activity, you do not want to let them watch it more than that or have it on in the background while they are playing.

4. Exercise Your Kids: Many young children do not have enough outlets for burning off their energy which can cause them to be a little more hyperactive than you’d like! Make sure that everyday they have at least 30 minutes of time to burn that energy off. You can do exercises, race them in a big field, take them to the playground, or go swimming. Not only will this help them start early for having good physical fitness habits, but it will also help them productively use their energy.

5. Watch What They Eat: A balanced diet is important to kids growing up healthy. Often times, in both toddlers and adults, we do not eat healthy foods and will often get stuck in a cycle of sugar and carbs that causes spikes in our blood sugar. This can cause extreme hyperactivity or it can cause your kids to pass out, sometimes a cycle of both. Limit sugar intake, serve your children whole grains, and make sure their diet includes plenty of protein and vegetables as well. You can learn more about the daily food recommendation guidelines for toddlers, as well as yourself, by visiting mypyramid.gov.

6. Set Up a Routine: Setting up a routine is a lifesaver for many parents, as it helps their kids get on a set schedule. The typical toddler day doesn’t need to be planned from one minute to the next, but it will help immensely if you have clear routines in waking up and getting breakfast, when you play, when you have nap time, and other activities.

7. Keep Them Occupied: Boredom for many children often means they will get into trouble. Have activities planned that are suitable for their age level that gives them your positive attention, such as reading stories or playing imaginatively. When you will be doing things such as housework or other things where you can’t give them the one on one attention, have other things they can safely do. For example, if you are cooking dinner, you could give them some pots and pans and ask them to make up a song for you. You should also encourage your toddler to play on his or her own, doing things such as puzzles or building with blocks which may help give you some extra breathing time.

8. Be Consistent With Discipline: Discipline is very difficult for many parents, because it often needs to be consistent in order for it to work. It is best to do the ignoring of negative behavior and praise of good behavior, but there will be times when discipline is necessary, for example if the child hits or bites someone else. In those instances, time out is the best discipline. It should be done without fanfare or making a lot of commotion or even explaining to the child why they did was bad. Just pick them up and say for example “You hit your sister, time out” and then place them in a designated chair. Always use the same chair each and every time, which should ideally be a hard chair such as a kitchen seat and in a boring place. One minute per age of child is typically deemed appropriate. You may need to continuously place your child back in time out if he or she is resistant until the minutes are up.

Fortunately for most parents, a hyperactive toddler is not always something to be concerned about. If you are willing and able to do the above things for several weeks it is likely you will see a positive improvement in your child’s behavior gradually. If you are doing all of the above things and not seeing any improvement, or are concerned about your child’s hyperactivity, speaking to his or her pediatrician is a great place to start to find out what is considered normal child behavior for his or her age level, as well as what resources are available to parents for discipline support.

Have any thoughts on what parents should do if they need hyperactive toddler help? Share your thoughts in the comments below.