Prevention
There is no known way to prevent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Avoiding alcohol, drugs, and smoking during pregnancy may help prevent a child from developing behavior similar to ADHD as well as many other health problems.

Although you cannot prevent ADHD, you can help your child have fewer learning and attention problems by:

Having good medical care and practicing healthy habits during pregnancy.

Learning and applying good parenting skills, including setting consistent behavior limits.

Maximizing preschool learning and attention skills by reading to your child and providing new learning experiences such as puzzles and board games. The development of attention skills can be increased with these types of activities rather than watching television.

In addition, nurturing techniques that begin at birth and continue throughout childhood will help your child reach his or her potential regardless of whether ADHD is a concern.

Home Treatment
Many home treatment methods can help reduce your child's symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. The approaches differ for children and adults, but treatment for all ages emphasizes understanding the condition, establishing daily structure, and using support systems.

When your child has ADHD, working together can improve behavior and functioning at home and school. In addition, it is important for you to recognize that helping yourself will also help your child.

Tips for self-care
Take care of yourself. It is often challenging to raise a child with ADHD. Caring for your own physical and mental health is an important part of helping your child and will help provide the needed energy.

Educate yourself about ADHD. Learn as much as you can about the condition and your child's specific symptoms. You will be better able to help your child if you understand the condition.

Learn behavior management skills. Children usually need help learning how to interact appropriately with other people. You can help your child by learning behavior management skills. An important component of behavior management is establishing natural and logical consequences for misbehavior.

Tips for your child
Help your child develop healthy self-esteem. Behaviors caused by ADHD can affect a child's feelings about himself or herself. You can help your child develop healthy self-esteem by encouraging a sense of belonging, confidence in learning, and an awareness of his or her contributions.

Help your child be successful in school. The symptoms of ADHD can interfere with a child's ability to succeed in school. Promoting school success will help your child academically, socially, and developmentally.

Help your child accomplish tasks at home. Children with ADHD have more difficulty than other children paying attention to instructions, and they frequently get distracted before they can complete a task. Your patience, persistence, and creative thinking can help your child learn skills and accomplish tasks at home and school.