One of the questions I get asked most often is about parental interventions. Many of my clients wonder how much is too much. What constitutes enabling and what is helpful?
To better understand the answers to these concerns, let’s start at the issue. With the academic and social pressures on students, parents want to help. It is instinctive. None of us want our children to fall behind the curve. Students with ADD, ADHD and Executive Functioning challenges feel this crunch more often. The analogy I like to use is the child sees a steak without a knife. The whole process becomes overwhelming. Due to this helpless feeling, instead of doing something, the child will do nothing. Parents will naturally step in and try to help solve the problem.
Here’s where all of this becomes a concern…instead of working with a child on the process a parent works toward the results. It is like finishing a race without even running it. If you want to help your child, sit down and work out a game plan. Explain the steps of the process to the final result. Teach him or her skills that carry over and can be applied in the future. The more often a task is done for a client, the more he or she will rely on it. Or as the old say goes (or at least I think it does)…give someone a fish and they will eat. Give that person a fishing pole and they will never go hungry.
For more information on my ADD, ADHD and Executive Functioning coaching, please visit www.adhdefcoach.com. In addition to working with clients in-person, I also work with clients all over the United States and World online, please visit www.onlineadhdcoach.com for more information. To learn more about my other services, please visit www.carrolleducationalgroup.com & www.iepexperts.com. I can be found on Twitter at ADHDGuru. You can also find me on Facebook, Google Plus and Tumblr. Feel free to email me at [email protected] or call 877.398.ADHD (2343) with any additional questions.