by Michelle Stein posted in Parenting

Navigating the morning rush with young children can be incredibly stressful. Getting everyone dressed, eating breakfast, making sure lunches are packed and backpacks are ready to go, putting on shoes and jackets, and finally loading up everyone in the car is no easy feat. And when your child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)" Well, it can add a whole other layer of stress to an already time-crunched routine.
?Children with ADD typically have a hard time waking up, staying on task and navigating the complicated rituals that families go through in the morning,? Dr. Ed Carlton, founder of the Carlton Neurofeedback Center and author of the book The Answer, said in a news release. ?It?s a recipe for stress and conflict, but it doesn?t have to be that way.?
My 6-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD in January. Although he does take medication to help manage his symptoms, the following four tips offered by Carlton have definitely helped our mornings run more smoothly:
1) Establish a routine. Sitting down with your child and talking about expectations for a morning routine can go a long way. (And using a chart or a checklist can serve as valuable visual reminders.) Simply giving your child more time to get ready in the morning is never a bad idea, either, Carlton explained. ?You can account for difficulty waking up and trouble focusing by setting earlier bedtimes or waking up earlier,? he said. Reducing morning di...