Was your child recently diagnosed with ADHD?
This is the roadmap I wish we had when we found out our son has ADHD more than two years ago.
When our son was diagnosed, we found ourselves trying to separate evidence-based information from the overwhelming amount of advice online. This roadmap brings together the articles, experts, books, and resources that helped us understand ADHD and support our son.
We’re teachers and parents—not doctors or therapists. Whenever possible, we share what we’ve learned from trusted ADHD experts, healthcare professionals, occupational therapy, and our own experience putting those ideas into practice at home and in the classroom.
Think of this as a starting point rather than a rule book.
I’ll be linking the most helpful articles on the topics below. I’ll have a separate list of resources for when you’re ready to learn more.
Why these resources?
There are thousands of articles and videos about ADHD online. We’ve chosen to share the resources that have had the biggest impact on our understanding. We’ll continue updating this list as we keep learning.
⭐ Step 1: Understand ADHD
Before trying to “fix” anything, it’s important to understand what ADHD actually is. Learning about how ADHD affects attention, emotions, executive function, and everyday life completely changed the way we saw our son.
- What is ADHD? – This article from ADDitude Magazine’s website provides a snapshot of the basic information about ADHD. A quick read!
- About ADHD – This article from CHADD also gives a helpful summary of ADHD symptoms and co-occurring disorders.
⭐ Step 2: Explore Treatment Options
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for ADHD. Treatment often includes a combination of parent training, school supports, behavioral strategies, and, for some children, medication.
Treatment of ADHD – Article from CDC based on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations.
ADHD Treatment Options for Children – A concise list of treatment options from ADDitude Magazine. Don’t forget to download their free resource “A Parent’s Guide to ADHD Medication”
⭐ Step 3: Discover Executive Function
This was the biggest mindset shift for us. Once we understood executive function, many of our son’s struggles started to make sense—from forgetting homework to difficulty getting started on simple tasks.
Executive Function Skills – This short article from CHADD describes executive function based on two prominent ADHD researchers’ studies (Russell Barkley, PhD, and Tom Brown, PhD.)
What Is Executive Function? 7 Deficits Tied to ADHD – Russell Barkley, Ph.D. explains how executive dysfunction originates in the ADHD brain and what these deficits typically look like. Don’t forget to download their “Free Checklist: Common Executive Function Challenges — and Solutions”
⭐ Step 4: Learn About Medication
Medication was one of the hardest decisions our family faced. Learning how it works, what it’s designed to help with, and how it fits into a broader treatment plan helped us have more informed conversations with our doctor.
ADHD Medication Management: This podcast provides a balanced, evidence-based overview of ADHD medication for children and teens. It explains how different medications work, their benefits and possible side effects, and why medication should be part of a broader treatment plan that may also include parent training, school support, and behavioral strategies. It also emphasizes the importance of working closely with your child’s healthcare provider to find the right treatment for your child.
⭐ Step 5: Parent Training
One thing we learned from the research is that supporting the parents is just as important as supporting the child. Parent training teaches practical strategies for reducing conflict, building routines, and developing executive function skills at home.
Parent Training in Behavior Management – This explains why parent training is recommended, especially for younger children, and what parents can expect from these programs.
Note: We haven’t signed up for any parent training program but continue to refer to the free videos and resources they have.
ADHD Dude – We discovered ADHD Dude while looking for practical ways to apply what we were learning. His free videos have helped us better understand executive function and everyday parenting strategies, and he also offers a parent training membership for families who want to go deeper.
We hope this helps your family begin to understand ADHD!
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