Today’s Parent Launches ADHD Book for Canadian parents

As the senior editor, special needs, at Today’s Parent and the mother of a child with ADHD, I know firsthand what it’s like to receive that diagnosis. For me it was a mix of relief (I’d suspected ADHD for a long time) and fear: How was I going to effectively parent a child who I loved with a passion and admired for his huge imagination and creative spirit, but who needed so much extra help to remember routines, think through the consequences to impulsive behaviour, and learn in a bums-on-seats school environment?

When your kid has ADHD, you spend a lot of time advocating for them. You have schoolteachers, coaches and even medical professionals to educate about your kid’s condition—and their attitude and willingness to work with your child and you can make or break their school year. It so important you all get on the same page so that you can work together as a team, but it’s not always easy to make that happen.

There are house rules to figure out too—how do you offer your kid the structure they need to function at their best at the same time as the flexibility they need to lower the chances of a meltdown? It’s a balancing act and sometimes you feel like you’re fumbling in the dark trying to figure out the best way to go about things. And sometimes you are very, very tired.

Burnout is a real possibility, when you’re raising an impulsive, hypersensitive (and apparently nocturnal) child who seems to be driven by a motor. It’s essential to get all the support and resources your family needs so that your child with ADHD—not to mention their siblings and your relationship (if those things are applicable)—can all thrive.

Thankfully, former Globe and Mail journalist and ADHD dad Keith McArthur has joined forces with us at Today’s Parent, Canada’s number one parenting brand, to create The Now-What? Parents’ Guide to ADHD. This eBook is packed with information on everything from Canadian support groups and websites to government-funded resources and not-for-profit organizations that will help you and your kid on their journey. And it’s full of tips and strategies from parents in the trenches, ADHD experts and medical professionals. Keith has a down-to-earth and well-informed approach to answering questions around everything from ADHD treatments to homework strategies to making playdates and social activities a success.

I hope you’ll love this eBook as much as I do. You can find it on Amazon. I also invite you to keep coming back to the Special Needs section of todaysparent.com for more ADHD parenting tips and advice, first-person stories, and the latest in ADHD research and resources. We're here for you!