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It's every parent's concern that their child feel safe and secure in school. No parent would want to find out that their child is being bullied. However, some kids with ADHD tend to be the ones who bully younger children in school because of their impulsivity, emotional responses and aggression.
What can parents do when their ADHD children are starting to bully kids at school? Here are a few suggestions:
- Talk to your child - The first thing to do when you receive reports of your child being rough to other kids in school is to talk to your child in a calm but firm tone. Inform him/her that you received news of what's going on in school, and that you want to know their side of the story. Your child might not always be straightforward about this at first, but at least he/she will know that you are concerned and involved with this issue.
- Work with your child's teachers - As much as possible, parents should inform educators about their children's ADHD in order to work with them on how to minimize the symptoms in school. You may suggest that the teachers give your child something constructive to do when he/she starts acting up.
- Take concrete action - Ask your child's teacher when and where the bullying usually happens and think of ways to stop it by removing your child's usual targets away from him/her. For example, if the bullying usually occurs in a school bus, you can ask that your child be seated near the bus driver than at the back so that a responsible adult can see what he/she is doing.
- Try role-playing - Role-playing is an effective way of teaching your child ways on dealing with stressful social situations. For example, your child may respond negatively and in an excessively emotional way to teasing and taunting. Explain to your child what a role-playing is and tell him/her what to expect from you. Give praise and reassurance if your child responds appropriately, in a non-emotional way to the taunting. Helping your child control his/her emotions takes practice but it's something that has long-term benefits and will keep your child away from trouble. It would also help them socialize more effectively and form friendships.
- Don't ignore bad reports - The first response of many parents to the news that their children are bullying other kids in school is to be defensive. However, this does more harm than good to children with ADHD. Gather information so that you'll know how you will be able to help your child.
Teaching your child how to interact with other children can take some time and a lot of practice. Just continue to be patient and find creative ways on helping your child understand the symptoms of ADHD and discover ways to manage them.
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