Reasons Your Child with ADHD Struggles in Social and Emotional Situations

Boys and girls with all subtypes of ADHD frequently experience more emotional and social difficulties than other children. For instance, because of problems controlling or regulating emotional reactions or reading social cues, they may have trouble making and keeping friends. Many children with ADHD also have a conduct, oppositional defiant, or anxiety disorder, which can further add to their emotional and social struggles.

Helping Children with ADHD and Social and Emotional Problems

A variety of options exist for helping children develop social skills where they are experiencing problems, such as in the classroom. In fact, children who feel connected to their school are more likely to achieve academic success and engage in pro-social behavior with enhanced social skills training. Creating a positive learning environment establishes a connection for children. Parents can also help their children with ADHD in the following ways:

-Celebrating small and large successes

-Noticing when they handle a situation successfully

-Discussing the consequences of behavior or actions

-Stressing the importance of following through on promises

-Talking about tough situations encountered with other kids

-Encouraging empathy by considering how the other child may feel

-Playing games requiring cooperation, concentration, and following rules

-Helping them understand the importance of respecting personal boundaries and space

An experience counselor can offer emotional intelligence training with support, modeling, appropriate behavior training and plenty of positive feedback from teachers and parents can all help bolster appropriate behavior.

Social Skills Training

Social skills activities help ADHD kids manage and keep friends, improve interpersonal relationships, enhance communication abilities, practice anger management, and boost their confidence. With diligence and a team effort, children can learn social skills and expand their emotional intelligence. With solid social skills in place, children with ADHD develop positive self-esteem, interact better with their peers, and are more likely to encounter both professional and social success as adults. This speech and language pathologist in New Jersey provides impulse control disorder treatment in the form of social interaction and play with peers that have similar challenges.