Kids with ADHD are growing and soon they will reach puberty and have distractions (for boys, its perfume and petroleum if you know what I mean). We know that ADHD is very much an issue of the ability to self-regulate, to pause and override the automatic responses. Developmentally, these kids are a couple of years behind, and then all of sudden, you throw puberty on top of that and menstrual cycles for girls and that makes things a lot more difficult.
If you’re a parent of a challenging kid in puberty, you may feel like pulling out your hair. The concern that parents have about managing ADHD kids starts way before they hit puberty, especially for girls. It can be really daunting for parents trying to help their kids manage a chemical process that most likely is throwing them off balance.
Parenting a child with ADHD through puberty comes with real difficulties. Its intricacies and challenges are quite hard to handle. We know that ADHD is an issue of executive function and self-regulation, but when you add in the hormonal changes of puberty, the mix becomes very complex. Your kid’s ability to concentrate, focus, and self-regulate becomes even more difficult.
If you’re a parent of a challenging kid in puberty, it’s not a simple matter. You might want to listen to my podcast, “The Impact of Perfume and Petroleum on ADHD,” to learn some strategies to help you and your kids understand what’s happening. Here’s the link: http://tobtr.com/9956151
