Unlock the impact of ADHD on friendship and learn practical strategies to help children with ADHD improve their social skills and make new friends.
Explore the challenges and underlying reasons for difficulties, as well as effective ways for parents and caregivers to support and encourage children with ADHD.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of children worldwide.
Children with ADHD often struggle with impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity, which can significantly impact their social skills and friendships.
In this post, we’ll explore the impact of ADHD on friendship, the underlying reasons for these difficulties, and strategies for improving social skills and making friends.
To help your child with ADHD make friends, you must understand ADHD and Friendship difficulties.
Children with ADHD often face numerous social challenges, including difficulty making and maintaining friendships, problems with social cues and body language, and poor impulse control.
These difficulties can lead to peer conflicts, further eroding self-esteem and social confidence.
The underlying reasons for friendship difficulties in children with ADHD are complex, and various factors may contribute.
For example, impulsivity and inattention can cause children to act inappropriately or miss important social cues.
At the same time, hyperactivity may make it difficult for them to sit still and focus during social interactions.
Additionally, ADHD symptoms can interfere with a child’s ability to communicate effectively and regulate their emotions, which can further impact friendships.
What do these difficulties look like in practice?
A child with ADHD may struggle to wait for their turn.
It might not be a turn for them to play, go on a slide or choose a game to play, but they won’t understand it.
It can be difficult for other children, and they may be discouraged from making friends with a child with ADHD.
The child with ADHD may also blurt something out because they are impulsive.
They don’t mean to be rude or inappropriate, but they cannot help themselves and may do something hurtful to other children.
If you have read my post on ADHD and lying, you would know that children with ADHD might lie even if they don’t mean to.
It may affect their friendships and relationships with others.
Moreover, because of their impulsivity, they may sometimes be “explosive” and find it challenging to deal with their negative emotions, having tantrums and meltdowns. It can put other children off.
Additionally, their hyperactivity and inattention may cause them to be constantly on the go and have a short attention span.
They may quickly lose interest in a game they are playing with others and want to move on to something else.
It also may have an impact on their relationships with other children.
Strategies that help children with ADHD improve social skills and make friends
To help children with ADHD overcome friendship difficulties, you should focus on building their social skills and improving their behaviour.
Here are a few strategies that can be effective:
Encouraging positive social behaviour
Children with ADHD can benefit from learning about social norms and positive behaviours, such as sharing, taking turns, and being kind to others.
Don’t expect them to read social cues and know for themselves.
Break it down and explain it to them.
Before a social situation, discuss the expectations and different possible scenarios.
Using social stories may also be helpful. To read more about social stories, check out my post here.
Building self-esteem
Children with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem, which can further impact their social skills and friendships.
Parents and caregivers can help by encouraging positive self-talk, highlighting the child’s strengths and accomplishments, and helping them set achievable goals.
Try to notice positive aspects of your child’s behaviour, no matter how small, and praise them.
Some sports, like karate or other martial arts, help your child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Another helpful idea to build self-esteem might be books; I have tried this one with my child.
Promoting teamwork and collaboration
Group activities, such as team sports or club meetings, can help children with ADHD develop critical social skills, such as teamwork and cooperation.
Look for activities near you to help your child have opportunities to build their social skills.
Google what’s available in your area or check on Social Media for places where your child can be a part of a team.
Providing opportunities for social interaction and play
Playdates, birthday parties, and other social events can help children with ADHD practice their social skills and make new friends.
You may be anxious and worried that your child will misbehave.
Still, they will not have this opportunity to interact with other children without letting them go.
Try to talk to your child beforehand about their expectations and possible problems.
Once identified, try to talk your child through what to do about it.
Encouraging assertiveness and communication skills
Children with ADHD can benefit from learning to be assertive and communicate their needs effectively.
It can help them navigate social situations more confidently and reduce the likelihood of conflicts with peers.
Strategies that can be helpful include role-playing, using social stories, teaching effective communication skills, encouraging assertiveness, practising mindfulness, and developing problem-solving skills.
How parents and caregivers can help children with ADHD make friends
As a Parent and caregiver, you play a critical role in helping children with ADHD overcome friendship difficulties.
Here are a few ways you can help:
Supporting and encouraging social interactions
Parents and caregivers can help children with ADHD participate in social activities and events, such as birthday parties, sports teams, and after-school clubs.
Encouraging positive behaviour and reducing negative behaviours
Parents and caregivers can help children with ADHD identify and manage negative behaviours, such as impulsive or aggressive actions.
This is how you can help: Have you heard about neuroplasticity? It is our brain’s ability to “mould” and change, reorganise and adjust in response to some learning or an experience.
The more your child is aware of their impulsive behaviours, the better the chance of their brain recording it and overwriting previous unwanted behaviours.
Try to get their attention when they show impulsive behaviour and make them aware of it.
It is a way of practising mindfulness, which can change brain structures in the long term.
Building a support network
Connecting with other families of children with ADHD can provide valuable support and resources and help children make new friends.
You won’t be able to do it alone.
You and your child need this social network to thrive.
Start locally and try to search online for groups, clubs or workshops for families with children with ADHD.
Perhaps a local library, a health centre or your child’s school have some information. You may ask a SENCo in your child’s school for advice.
Collaborating with teachers and therapists
Teachers and therapists can provide valuable support and resources to help children with ADHD develop social skills and overcome friendship difficulties.
Read my post here to learn how you and your child’s teacher can work together to support them.
In conclusion…
ADHD can significantly impact children’s ability to make and maintain friendships.
Still, with the proper support, children with ADHD can overcome these difficulties.
By building social skills, reducing negative behaviours, and providing opportunities for social interaction, parents and caregivers can help children with ADHD develop strong and meaningful friendships.
Tell me in the comments if your child finds navigating friendships difficult and what you do to help.
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