ABSTRACT
Managing children with ADHD is, first and foremost, about accepting that they will behave in challenging ways. Having a plan can make their behaviour easier to handle. Developing a behaviour management plan for children with ADHD involves striking a balance between what is expected of them and what they can actually do. It is also about establishing daily routines, rules and consequences of the children’s behaviour. In this chapter we describe several strategies for managing problematic ADHD behaviours. These include strategies for staying in the classroom, for sleeping well and eating healthily, and for physical activity. There are also ways to help with any other learning, language, motor and emotional problems that ADHD children might have. The best plans are usually based on sound professional advice that takes into account what suits individual children and their families. These plans should also consider all aspects of a child’s life, including their needs and responsibilities at home, at school, and in other social settings, taking a multifocal perspective. Discussing the plan with all the people involved in taking care of a child with ADHD will help everyone concerned to have realistic expectations of the child’s behaviour.
