The key thing to remember is that children with ADHD are not intentionally trying to be naughty, impulsive, or distracted. For that reason, discipline will not be effective, but the following strategies may help:

1. Focus on your child’s strengths and positive attributes—this is essential for them to build and maintain self-esteem.
2. Give plenty of praise and encouragement, acknowledge their feelings, and don’t judge or just leap to give advice.
3. Provide gentle redirection if your child gets distracted—you could say, “Wow! What a great job you’ve done so far. Keep going!” or “Back to work!”
4. Limit distractions—turn off TVs, silence phones, and have siblings work or play elsewhere (ear defenders can be a useful resource).
5. Work with your child from the start of an activity to ensure they understand it and to help them plan the next steps.
6. Give your child one to two instructions at a time.
7. Provide time management assistance—this could include a visual schedule of the steps/tasks required.
8. Enable your child to expend energy whilst listening—this could include fidget toys (avoid flashy/noisy ones as these cause more distraction), doodling or using a ‘move ‘n sit’ cushion —to assist with their concentration.
9. Ensure your child takes regular learning breaks. The frequency of these will depend on your child. It could be helpful to start with more frequent breaks and then adjust as needed.
10. Consider your child’s diet and bedtime routine. Does your child eat a balanced diet? Have good sleep hygiene?