Has the doctor told you that your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and needs to take medication for it every day? This may be the first medication your child will ever take. Now you may be wondering, "Oh my God, how am I going to talk to my child about this medication?" Don't worry. It's not as hard as you think. Let's talk to your child about it properly.
Let's help your child understand what ADHD is and why they need medication.
When talking to your child about this, you need to speak in a way that is appropriate for their age and level of understanding.
For a young child, use very simple words. Think about the words your child already uses to describe their symptoms. They may say things like, "I can't sit still" or "I can't listen to the teacher." You can use those same words and say, "This medicine is to help your child stay still and pay attention to their lessons. Then it will be easier for you to control those things."
If your child is a little older and interested in science, you can explain a little about how the brain works, what happens in ADHD, and how medication can help. Maybe show them a picture in a book, or have them explain this to you the next time they see the doctor.
Be honest with your child, speak the truth.
Some parents, especially for young children, may call this medication a "vitamin" or, even worse, a "toffee." Others may secretly mix it into food or drinks without telling anyone about the ADHD condition or that it is a medication.
This is very wrong . It is best to talk honestly with your child about his or her condition and treatment. Because one day, the child will know the truth. Then they may not trust you.
Also, if the child is aware of his condition, he can recognize his symptoms , try to control them, and actively participate in treatment. That is a great help to him.
Explain clearly how to take the medicine.
Before giving your child medicine, clearly explain how, when, and where to take it. That way, the child won't get upset.
ADHD medications come in many forms. Some come in pills, some in liquids, and some come in the form of patches that you apply to your body. Some medications take longer to work in the body.
Your child may need to take medication in the morning and in the evening. That means they will have to take medication at school as well. In that case, the school nurse can give it to the child. However, if the doctor prescribed a long-acting medication that works throughout the day, that problem won't arise.
If it's an older child, strongly warn them never to give this medicine to anyone else, not even a friend .
Let's also talk about the side effects of medications.
Tell your child that they may feel a little strange and unfamiliar when they start taking this medicine. But keep this information brief . Don't scare your child with a long list of side effects.
Instead, tell your child, "If you feel anything strange or different after taking the medicine, be sure to tell me/your dad."
If he mentions any changes, reassure him that it will be fine in a few days or weeks. If it doesn't, tell him that we can talk to the doctor and change the medication or the dosage .
Let's eliminate the fear in the child's mind.
There are some common fears a child may have about ADHD. Let's answer them and reassure them.
| The fear in the child's mind | What we have to say to that |
|---|---|
| "Am I sick? Is there something wrong with me?" Children feel that way when they are told to take medicine. Because they only take medicine when they are sick. | Compare this to any other treatable condition. A good example is poor eyesight. Simply say, "Just like Dad puts on glasses to help his eyes focus better, this medicine helps your brain focus better." |
| "Am I 'different' from others?" Children, especially when they are young, don't like to be different from others. | Say, "It's not just you, son/daughter, many children in school have this ADHD condition. Most of them also take medication. If you take medication at school or when you go to a friend's house, you won't be the only one who does that." |
| "I won't be able to succeed in school or in life." The child may even use words like "I'm stupid." | Immediately dismiss the story. Say, "That's not true." Give them examples of successful people with ADHD that they know (e.g., gymnast Simone Biles, singer Justin Bieber). |
| "Will this medicine damage my brain? Will it control me?" | "We're here to protect you. We'll never do anything that will harm you. The doctor is the same way. This is something that will help you," reassure him. |
Understand that this medicine is not 'magic'.
When talking about ADHD medication, don't let your child get the idea that it's a 'magic bullet' that will make all their problems go away as soon as they take it.
Create realistic expectations. This medication is just a tool that can help reduce symptoms. However, explain that the child will also need to learn other ways to manage their behavior .
Keep talking to your child.
This conversation is not something that can be done once and for all. It is something that needs to be continued.
Ask your child at least once a week, "How is the medicine working? Are you still having any problems? Are there any side effects?"
Depending on your child's age, help them keep track of whether they had a good or bad day. You can have them draw something like a smiley face or a sad face (emojis) on a calendar or in a book. This information will be very useful when you talk to your child and the doctor.
What do you do if your child says they can't take medicine?
Some children may not want to take their medicine. Children of any age can be stubborn, especially at a young age. Some children may hide the medicine in the corner of their mouth, pretend to take it, and then throw it up.
If your child starts to refuse to take their medicine, try to find out why. Maybe it's a new, scary side effect. Or maybe someone is joking.
If your child says, "I don't need medication right now," talk about their current symptoms. "You're still having trouble doing schoolwork, aren't you? It could be ADHD, and that's why you need medication," and point out the facts.
If it's a young child, you can use a small rewards system to encourage them. Something like giving them a sticker, or giving them a little more time to play on the tablet or watch TV.
If your child is a little older and still feels that they should not take medication, you can talk to your doctor and come to a compromise. That is, "Okay, let's stop the medication for a while. But if the problems come back, we need to start the medication again." (Be sure to consult your doctor before doing this.)
By talking about this honestly and regularly with your child, you can greatly help them succeed in their treatment process and get the most out of it.
Take-Home Message
- Talk about ADHD and medication in a simple, age-appropriate way. Never lie.
- Understand the child's fears ("Am I sick?", "Am I different?") and dispel them with simple examples like mirrors.
- Make them understand that this medicine is not 'magic', but only a 'tool' that helps control symptoms.
- After starting the medication, continue to talk to your child. Be attentive to how he or she is feeling.
- Strongly advise your child to never share medication with anyone else.
- In case of any problem or doubt, always talk to your doctor before making decisions on your own.
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