Parents of ADHD children are often more careful about what their children consume or the environment they are exposed to, yet despite wanting the best for their children, some make a few parenting mistakes that may heighten their child’s ADHD symptoms.
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to manage an ADHD child while making sure the whole family enjoys Halloween. Keep calm—we’ve got some tips and tricks up our sleeves.
4 common issues that all parents of children with ADHD face
Children will be children, and as a parent, you want them to thoroughly enjoy their spooky day. However, ADHD may cause your child to be impulsive, hyperactive, and unfocused, which could create obstacles in their way while engaging with friends or neighbors. In addition, it may pose a serious threat to your child. As a result of ADHD, parents will have to deal with the following issues:
- Controlling their candy content—it’s challenging for adults to resist taking a handful of candy, so it will be difficult to prevent your kids from overindulging in sweets
- Managing their bedtime hours
- Teaching children about safety rules
- Helping your child deal with sensory overload.
How can you deal with your child’s ADHD during the Halloween season?
It may take some work and parental support to ensure the child’s safety and well-being, but it’s not impossible to have the best Halloween season with your ADHD child. We know it can be challenging to raise an ADHD child over the holiday season, so we’ve put together some strategies and advice for you below. We guarantee that these won’t give you nightmares!
- Talk to your kids about street safety guidelines and instill in them the idea of “stranger danger”
- Halloween costumes might be a little uncomfortable, so make the best DIY sensory-friendly costumes to make sure your child is at ease
- Make a plan with your child for how they will spend their evening
- Talk with your child’s teacher about the best ways to help them refocus and de-stress while participating in Halloween-themed activities
- Eat healthier earlier in the day
- Opt for minimal decorations that may not frighten your child.
Should I allow my ADHD kid to have candy?
How do you keep Halloween treats to a minimum for kids? Parents of ADHD children cannot use typical parenting techniques to keep their children from eating candy because it may trigger their ADHD symptoms as a result.
It’s important to keep in mind that foods high in sugar often contain a lot of empty calories, which have a tendency to displace foods that are high in nutrition. Despite the fact that studies reveal that sugar does not directly induce hyperactivity, a high-sugar diet does not provide the body with nutritious food.
A quick tip; set some guidelines to prevent them from consuming too much sugar. Together with your child, make a candy calendar and establish how much candy they can consume each day to avoid a breakdown. Involving your child in decision-making processes will encourage them to adhere to the routine.
Halloween doesn’t have to be frightening or scary at all. In fact, for your kids and your family, Halloween should be fun and festive. It should also involve a little bit of candy and sweets and dressing up in fun costumes.
Links
Leave a Comment