The holiday season can disrupt a family’s routine and can lead to more ADHD symptoms, according to a parenting group.  It can be challenging for both children and parents because there are many things that upset the family’s schedule and established routines according to Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, co-founder of Good Parent Good Child and Clinical Director of the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology.

Donaldson-Pressman  says anxiety is a key player in ADHD symptoms,  and establishing a routine gives children a sense of safety, security and predictability. She says not every child with symptoms requires medication, but they do need a regular bedtime and a bedtime routine that goes from more active to less active. She says the child also needs to sleep in their own bed all night. 

Medication for ADHD symptoms is recommended for about 1 in 3 children in the United States, but Donaldson-Pressman  says only about 9% have actually been diagnosed. 

For children with ADHD, Donaldson-Pressman says the word to always remember is consistency. She says if parents have a good established routine, perhaps the time of that routine might be changed during the holiday season. But she says the routine itself needs to remain the same.   

Donaldson-Pressman says when taking children with ADHD to family gatherings, it’s important to have certain safety mechanisms such as a favorite DVD, game or book. She says this allows the children to go off and have a little quiet time by themselves and be entertained.

You can learn more at goodparentgoodchild.com. Donaldson-Pressman says it’s full of tips not only from their child psychologists, but also from other parents.

She says the watchword for families is setting up routines that work and keeping them consistent.  She says it isn’t always easy to set up these routines, but it is so worth it in the long run.