Author: Chien Liu

Bedtime is one of the most reliablydifficult times of day for familiesof children with ADHD — and thenightly struggle to get a child withADHD to bed is one of the most exhaustingand most demoralizing experiencesparents describe. Understanding whybedtime is so difficult for childrenwith ADHD — and what the researchshows about managing it effectively —makes a…

Sleep problems are one of the mostcommon and most significantly impairingchallenges for children with ADHD —and one of the most commonly overlooked.Research finds that between fiftyand seventy percent of children withADHD experience significant sleepdifficulties — a rate dramaticallyhigher than in the general childhoodpopulation. And the relationshipbetween ADHD and sleep is bidirectional —ADHD disrupts sleep, and…

Teaching a child with ADHD to focusis one of the most misunderstoodchallenges in parenting — becausethe most common approaches are basedon a fundamental misunderstandingof what ADHD actually is. ADHD isnot a focus problem in the simplesense — children with ADHD can focusintensely on things that are highlyengaging, novel, or immediately rewarding.The problem is regulating attention…

Home is where children with ADHDspend the majority of their time —and where the right strategies makethe most significant difference todaily family functioning. The homeenvironment can either amplify thechallenges of ADHD or significantlycompensate for them — depending onhow it is structured and how parentsrespond to ADHD-related difficulties. This article covers what the researchshows about the…

ADHD and anxiety frequently occurtogether in children — and the combinationpresents specific challenges thatdiffer from either condition alone.Research finds that approximatelyfifty percent of children with ADHDalso have a significant anxiety disorder —making this one of the most commoncomorbid presentations in child mental health. Understanding how ADHD and anxietyinteract, what the combination lookslike, and what the…

When a child is diagnosed with ADHDthe question that follows almostimmediately is: what do we do now?Treatment for childhood ADHD is oneof the most extensively researchedareas in all of child mental health —and the research provides specific,evidence-based guidance about whatworks, what the options are, andhow to make the best decisions foran individual child. This article…

Parents of very young children whoare concerned about their toddler’sactivity level, attention, and impulsivityfrequently wonder whether what theyare seeing is ADHD — or simply normaltoddler behavior. This is one ofthe most important and most nuancedquestions in early childhood development —because getting it right mattersenormously in both directions. Missing early signs of ADHD meansmissing the opportunity…

Boys with ADHD are diagnosed significantlymore often than girls — and yet manyboys with ADHD are still missed,misunderstood, or misattributed tobehavior problems, immaturity, orsimply being a “typical energetic boy.”Understanding what ADHD actually lookslike in boys — the full range ofsymptoms, not just the most obvioushyperactive presentation — is essentialfor parents who want to recognizeit accurately…

ADHD in girls is one of the mostsignificantly underdiagnosed conditionsin childhood — and the consequencesof missed diagnosis are serious andwell-documented. Research consistentlyfinds that girls with ADHD are diagnosedsignificantly later than boys — oftennot until adolescence or adulthood —and that this delay produces yearsof unnecessary struggle, academicunderachievement, and emotional distress. The reason for the diagnostic gapis…

Recognizing the signs of ADHD inchildren is one of the most important —and most commonly delayed — stepstoward getting a child the supportthey need. Research consistently findsthat children with ADHD wait anaverage of several years betweenthe first appearance of symptomsand receiving an accurate diagnosis —and that this delay significantlyaffects outcomes. This article covers the completerange…