Behavioral issues like this are common, so how can you help your child when they can’t make friends due to ADD or ADHD? A child with ADHD is tired and irritated. He walks away from a playmate while the playmate is still talking. You melt into the ground and wonder why your child is so rude.
When you ask your son about the encounter, he seems to have no idea that he has been rude. He tells you, “I was done with what I had to say, so I don’t want to talk anymore.”
As a parent this makes you wonder if children with ADHD will always struggle with friendships. Some of the characteristics children with ADHD have can give the appearance of being rude and insensitive or just too much for playmates.
When feeling bored, overwhelmed, hungry, tired, or faced with self-regulating challenges, children with ADHD can unintentionally forget social guidelines and come across as uncaring and bad-mannered.
They struggle with interpreting social cues, managing emotions, and self-regulating, but with proper support, they can work to develop better social skills. As a parent you may be baffled, but you can help your child with ADHD change their social approach.
Here are 5 simple tips to help your child make friends when they struggle with ADD or ADHD and behavioral issues:
1. Teach them how to empathize or “walk in someone else’s shoes”
Understanding how your behavior impacts other people and being able to consider their point of view is called “learning to walk in someone else’s shoes.”
Read the full article on YourTango.
