Most of us understand ADHD as a condition where children are lacking in attention, or where they struggle to maintain focus, concentration and ATTENTION.
But I think we often overlook another form of attention …
When I speak with parents, I often hear the frustration coupled with parenting children with ADHD. And you know I don’t mean that in a rude…condesending way! At least I hope you know that! After all, above all else, I am a parent first. I am NOT immune to finding myself frustrated and burnt out from giving all of my attention to two young children.
Now it’s really easy to lose patience with our children, and forget how fragile our children really are… To overlook what they really want from us…
ATTENTION!!!
This is the attention that I think often gets overlooked when we are parenting children with ADHD and even those children without learning differences (without ADHD).
We immediately think attention, and everyone in the ADHD community starts thinking about the child’s attention span - what they can focus on… But what if it’s NOT really that? What if it is that these children just CRAVE attention?
Our children will do ANYTHING for attention…even if it is negative attention (like yelling, screaming, shouting, punishing…)
Just imagine that your child is dancing on the inside because you are finally <in their minds> giving them your full attention.
I know it doesn’t always make sense!
Just keep in mind one thing — our children do not have the same words or vocabulary, or the “know-how” to communicate that they want attention. Instead, they have learned that their behavior (i.e., acting out) is what catches our attention.
Again - it’s the delicate balance between positive attention, negative attention, and just plain old being a kid and a parent in this messed up, busy world!
Tell Us What You Think!
Have a different perspective? We love to hear from our readers. Let us know what you think about this post by leaving a comment below.
PS - Have you gotten your ADHD Essentials Audio Kit yet? Sign Up Today, it’s FREE
Most of us understand ADHD as a condition where children are lacking in attention, or where they struggle to maintain focus, concentration and ATTENTION.
But I think we often overlook another form of attention …
When I speak with parents, I often hear the frustration coupled with parenting children with ADHD. And you know I don’t mean that in a rude…condesending way! At least I hope you know that! After all, above all else, I am a parent first. I am NOT immune to finding myself frustrated and burnt out from giving all of my attention to two young children.
Now it’s really easy to lose patience with our children, and forget how fragile our children really are… To overlook what they really want from us…
ATTENTION!!!
This is the attention that I think often gets overlooked when we are parenting children with ADHD and even those children without learning differences (without ADHD).
We immediately think attention, and everyone in the ADHD community starts thinking about the child’s attention span - what they can focus on… But what if it’s NOT really that? What if it is that these children just CRAVE attention?
Our children will do ANYTHING for attention…even if it is negative attention (like yelling, screaming, shouting, punishing…)
Just imagine that your child is dancing on the inside because you are finally <in their minds> giving them your full attention.
I know it doesn’t always make sense!
Just keep in mind one thing — our children do not have the same words or vocabulary, or the “know-how” to communicate that they want attention. Instead, they have learned that their behavior (i.e., acting out) is what catches our attention.
Again - it’s the delicate balance between positive attention, negative attention, and just plain old being a kid and a parent in this messed up, busy world!
Tell Us What You Think!
Have a different perspective? We love to hear from our readers. Let us know what you think about this post by leaving a comment below.
PS - Have you gotten your ADHD Essentials Audio Kit yet? Sign Up Today, it’s FREE