Dealing with temper tantrums

[kidlove]

One of the most important things to remember with a child with ADHD or a hyperactive disorder is: they legitimately feel frustrated, angry, excited, explosive etc. IF he is ADHD and not just a plain and simple "brat". The biggest thing to remember is to acknowledge his feelings, it's hard to do...especially if they are not your child or they are throwing such a tantrum that your every instinct is a quick yell, or spank on the butt. (if they are yours )
ADHD is tough for an adult to deal with in a child, but even tougher for the child to deal with...a lot of times if the child speaks openly they will tell you they hate them self because of the way they act and feel, their self esteem is low, and they are extremely quick to anger or change from happy to depressed. With out catering to their fits or allowing them to happen, it is a very fine line to handle appropriately but you do need to acknowledge the frustration allow them to feel the way they do, talk it out, and explain better options. Getting in trouble, timeouts, yelling at them, spanking and scolding usually makes a child of such nature worse. The average behaved child will generally come out of a 'scolding" with a sense of remorse and sorrow, trying to do better next time....a child with ADHD tends to beat them self up, the more they get scolded, the more they will act out, thinking "it's hopeless, why behave!" When he throws the fits you could pull him aside and say something like: "I understand you are upset over having to share the toy but here at my house we share with others, that's the nice thing to do, instead of throwing it on the floor and crying could you please go pick it up and bring it to _____." after they calm down ask them to follow through with what you asked, and give lots of praise when he does so. ADHD also need a ton of praise for what they "can do" or do right. It feeds their unexplainable low self esteem and ultimately will help strengthen them to be able to handle the lack of control they struggle with. Good Luck! It is very stressing to deal with a child with ADHD, although in my experience there are many UPS to it as well. They usually tend to be a little 'different' fly to their own tune, or walk an unbeaten path....born leaders....eistein, thomas jefferson amoung many other brilliant and famous inventors and leaders were deemed as ADHD type cases, uncontroled by adults and teachers and flew by their own tune, and look at what they accomplished. He really could be an amazing kid under all that wild and explosive behavior, he just needs to find a healthier outlet.