Individual Training for Parents of Preschool Kids With ADHD May Be More Beneficial
Early intervention is key in managing behavioral disorders, like ADHD. A child without a good support system and treatment plan in place can see their life impacted in many negative ways as they grow up. There are lots of treatment options available to kids and families dealing with an ADHD diagnosis. But a Danish research team has found that individual support and training for parents of preschool kids with ADHD can be the most beneficial.
Preschool kids with ADHD whose parents underwent individual training fared better than kids who had other interventions.
The research study was conducted by Aarhus University and the Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Risskov. Researchers sought to examine the effectiveness of a tailored parent program for preschool kids with ADHD, versus traditional treatments and therapies that are offered. They recruited 164 kids between the ages of 3 and 7 for the study. The kids had been referred to the center, and had been assessed and diagnosed with ADHD. Families were asked if they would like to participate. Some were given the parent training program. The rest received the standard treatment.
The individual parent training program is called the New Forest Parenting Programme (NFPP).
This program allows interventions, treatments, and therapies to be tailored to the individual parent’s specific needs. In other words, the parents are trained to better support their preschool kids with ADHD. The results were quite promising! Parents who received the NFPP reported that their child’s ADHD symptoms had improved significantly after the intervention. The results stayed the same after a 48-week follow-up. In addition, parents reported higher levels of parenting self-esteem, and less strain within the family.
Anne-Mette Lange, clinical psychologist at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, and Aarhus University. She writes, “This study shows that evidence-based parent training is effective when implemented in the real-life settings where young children with ADHD receive their care. The New Forest Parenting Programme provides parents with techniques to train their child’s attention and concentration, improve their ability to deal with waiting and frustration but is also designed to help ensure an easier day-to-day life for children with ADHD and their families.”
It’s so important for parents to be involved in treatment for their kids. And in every aspect of their lives, really! It can be hugely beneficial to all involved.
(Image: iStock / KatarzynaBialasiewicz)
