Description
A comprehensive guidebook for parents of children with ADHD.
The Ultimate ADHD Parenting Handbook is a practical, compassionate guide to help you understand ADHD, respond effectively to your child’s behaviour and create a calmer more connected home. Parenting comes with daily challenges that can leave you exhausted, isolated and questioning whether you're doing enough to help your child succeed. Raising a child with ADHD can feel like you're navigating uncharted territory without a compass. This handbook will show you the path forward.
Written by Vivian Dunstan, founder of ADHD Support Australia, this comprehensive guide blends over a decade of community and professional expertise, lived experience and the latest research to bring you real-world ADHD strategies and insights. Implement these science-backed, parent-tested steps today to support and nurture your child, your family and yourself.
You'll discover how to:
- Encourage your child’s strengths for improved self-esteem and school success
- Take a holistic approach to nutrition and lifestyle - supporting focus, sleep, mood and wellbeing
- Manage screen time, build social skills and nurture healthy online and offline relationships
- Craft a family-centred parenting philosophy that creates positive dynamics and supports every family member
- Look after your own wellbeing while parenting a neurodivergent child
Whether your child has just been diagnosed, or you've been navigating ADHD for years, The Ultimate ADHD Parenting Handbook will give you the tools, strategies and insights you need to understand and respond to your child's unique needs.
Table of Contents
About the Author ix
Introduction xi
About this book xv
How to use this book xvii
Part I Understanding your child with ADHD 1
1 Finding the spark: Understanding your child’s strengths 3
2 How it works: Understanding your child’s brain 17
3 Additional conditions: Understanding comorbidities 33
4 Influencing factors: Understanding factors that influence ADHD and its symptoms 59
Part II Being a calm, connected, compassionate parent 71
5 Changing perspectives: My parenting philosophy 73
6 The 6 Cs: Putting calm, connected, compassionate parenting into practice 89
7 The regulated parent: Self- care as the foundation of calm, connected, compassionate parenting 125
Part III Building strong, positive foundations 141
8 Nourishing the brain: How nutrition and gut health impact ADHD symptoms 143
9 Sleep and circadian biology: Optimising your child’s sleep 173
10 Moving the mind: How exercise supports children with ADHD 187
11 Nervous system and emotional regulation: From meltdowns to safety 195
12 Confidence pathways: How to build self- esteem and resilience in your child 221
13 Understanding ADHD medications: A practical guide for parents 237
Part IV Helping your child thrive 251
14 School strategies: From overwhelmed to empowered 253
15 Navigating friendships: Helping your child build social confidence 281
16 Digital parenting: Creating healthier screen habits 305
17 Raising capable children: Supporting transitions and independence 325
Part V Empowering the whole family to thrive 333
18 Connection dynamics: Building a resilient family together 335
19 Family relationships: Building positive sibling relationships 355
20 Finding your village: Building your ADHD support network 365
Conclusion — Staying on the rollercoaster: How to keep going 391
Acknowledgements 401
Resources 403
References 405
Index 415
