The Taylor Solution by Linda Taylor, Board and Certified AD/HD Coach

Help for those with ADHD

763-400-7469

  • Home
  • About
  • ADHD & you
    • Adults
    • Spouses/Significant Relationships
    • Parents
    • College
  • Speaking & Seminars
  • Blog
  • Contact

Helping Your ADD/ADHD Child Deal With Bullying

May 9, 2017 by Linda Taylor Leave a Comment

add/adhd child deals with bullying
77 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
How to help your ADHD / ADD child deal with bullying in school. Parent resources for special needs child. #add #adhd #specialneeds #bullying #parenting

Does Your ADD/ADHD child deal with bullying? Do they seem to draw the attention of bullies?

Impulsive or inappropriate behavior, an inability to stay focused, and social withdrawal can easily make a child a targeted victim.

How Bullies Operate

Academic success is difficult enough with the inherent challenges associated with ADD/ADHD. Bullying only magnifies the problem by adding another level of unnecessary stress to the child.

Bullies tend to hone in on areas of weakness, expose them, then exploit them. Children with ADD/ADHD are well aware of their struggles. Bullying makes these struggles a source of shame and embarrassment.

Bullying in adolescence is said to contribute to lifelong problems such as higher levels of C-Reactive Protein (a chronic inflammation which may promote cardiovascular disease and stroke. ), depression, and anxiety. In short, the psychological impact is real, and the consequences of bullying go far beyond just the classroom.

Helping your child navigate the issue of bullying is never an easy task, but there are things you can do to support your child.

Talk to Your Child About Bullies

Children are intuitive and resilient, and they understand more than we give them credit for. They may not understand all of the complex psychological insecurities that lead to bullying. But a child – even one with ADD/ADHD – can understand and empathize with “people who are hurt, hurt other people.”

Giving your child a context outside of himself with which to try and understand their bully may make bullying incidents less personal for them. In addition, this teaches empathy on the part of the victim, which may in some cases help to dissuade the bully.

Tell The Teachers What Is Going on

Teachers often times do not know that bullying is taking place, especially if it’s cyber bullying. Many times, intervention on the part of the teacher is seen by the bully as a reason to lash out at the victim even more. In essence, “tattling” can be fuel to the bully’s fire. When this is the case, there is not much a teacher can do. But they can at least be aware of the problem for your ADD/ADHD child, and try to make accommodations when appropriate.

Still, letting your child know that they have a safe person – like a teacher – at the school to go to makes them feel like they have someone in their corner. They have a safe place to discuss their problems and to decompress. And a teacher can help to coach the victim through their bullying incidents as well.

Consider the Extreme

The long term consequences of bullying are far reaching. Leaving children vulnerable to bullying does not “toughen them up”. Research shows that it creates a crippling psychological weakness that lasts well into adulthood.

If you don’t get a helpful response from the teacher, elevate your concerns to the school’s personnel until you have the attention of someone who can make sure you are heard. Make sure that you document all communication.

If too much time passes and your child continues to struggle under the weight of both bullying and ADD/ADHD and they are not getting the help and support that they need, you may consider switching schools.

Look into charter schools, another public school, private school, or homeschool. Resources are available for locating schooling options, and it’s just a matter of finding what’s available in your area.

ADD/ADHD children are especially vulnerable in both their academic struggles and in social situations. Talk to your child regularly and watch for signs that they may be dealing with a bully. Help give them resources to handle the situations the best they can. If they can’t, it’s worth looking into other schooling options.

Need more information or help?  Contact me at The Taylor Solution. I’ll find the solution that’s right for you.

Filed Under: ad/hd, ADD, add in children, bullying

Let's Talk

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up To Receive

52 Tips to Tame your ADD/ADHD

My Clients Speak

Featured Articles
Linda helped me understand that I didn’t need fixing, but rather work-arounds that would lead to being more productive and less stressed. Most importantly Linda helped me recognize that accepting my challenges does not mean that I’m surrendering to them. We got very specific about time management issues; how tracking ...
Law Enforcement Professional
We (parents) need help too, and there are not that many people out there who really understand ADHD. I find that Linda helps me keep a perspective on my children’s issues, but gives me the encouragement to continue. Linda has helped me keep focused, helped me vent, and brainstorm on ...
Mom of two adopted children with ADHD
Linda is firm but non-judgmental…she really gets it! Linda has a very extensive and current knowledge of ADHD, and a realistic view of how it can be managed. She is very careful to empower me in making decision as opposed to giving advice…which must be tempting at times. Linda has ...
Professional with Adult ADHD
To put it simply, Linda is a life-saver. A job-saver. A marriage-saver. She is amazing. If you have ADHD and are struggling in ANY AREA of your life, you need to call Linda. You need to call her to because she can help. She can make things easier. I promise. ...
Professional with Adult ADD
I choose to work with Linda because I needed help understanding how ADD impacts my life. I was looking for solutions on how to manage my spending, and discuss work related issues while planning for future work goals. I needed a specialist that understood the unique challenges that I faced ...
Adult with ADD
We were seeking help for our college-aged son and appreciated that Linda had professional training as well as in-school and personal experience working with ADD. Our son worked well with Linda on several aspects of ADD: strategies for studying, organizing time and tasks, and expressing and processing the frustrations of ...
Mom of college-aged son
prev next

Let's Talk

Categories

Footer Page List Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • ADHD & you
  • Contact

About Me – Linda Taylor

I'm the parent and spouse of loved ones with AD/HD. I know first hand the frustration, fear and chaos you may be struggling with due to the distraction, disorganization and other behaviors that accompany AD/HD. It's a very real condition and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. As an experienced AD/HD Coach, I can help you manage the AD/HD challenges, whether you are parents, a couple, adult or student by co- developing and supporting the solutions that work specifically for you. For more information contact me and see how together we can help change your life, or the lives of loved ones.

ADHD Counseling ADD coaching natural treatmentLinda C. Taylor, BS, SCAC, BCC
Board and Certified AD/HD Coach
763.400.7469
linda@adhdtreatmentsolutions.com

Let's Talk

Social Media Icons

© Copyright 2020 The Taylor Solution by Linda Taylor, Board and Certified AD/HD Coach · All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
77 shares