How to Help a Teenage Son With ADHD
A step-by-step plan for parents of teenage sons with ADHD, so you stop walking on eggshells in your own home.
Does This Sound Like Your Teenage Son?
These are some of the behaviors parents of teenage sons with ADHD search for help with most. Your son may have some of these, or others:
- Lack of motivation or cooperation
- Lying
- Stealing
- Hitting a parent
Most parents of teenage sons with ADHD have tried many things and still feel like they're doing something wrong. That's not a reflection of you.
Why the Advice Parents of Teenage Boys With ADHD Get Falls Short
Most of the advice parents get is vague. It doesn't give you a step-by-step plan, and much of it isn't based on evidence.
So the same behaviors keep happening. Not because your son can't change, but because there is no plan in place yet.
Your son's behavior improves when you change how you respond to his behavior.
How ADHD Dude Helps You Help Your Teenage Son
ADHD Dude Parent Behavior Training gives you a step-by-step plan, so you become a more confident parent and your son learns how capable he is.
Step 1: Start with Scaffolding Better Behavior (ages 8 and up). The foundation takes about 2-3 hours. You learn the pre-steps: the steps you put in place before behaviors happen. This is what creates the improvement.
Step 2: Set clear daily expectations with Creating Daily Expectations (ages 12-18). You learn the language of accountability. Instead of "I'm taking your phone," you give your son two stated choices and let him own the outcome. He learns his choices affect earning his "currency," the privileges you provide.
Step 3: Get your questions answered at Office Hours. Twice a month, you can bring your questions to a live Q&A and ask as many as you need.
Everything is included with membership.
Why Parents of Teenage Sons Trust ADHD Dude
A lot of parenting advice about boys with ADHD comes from mothers, clinicians, and coaches. Very little comes from fathers who have a son with ADHD and have worked in the field for many years. As a result, a lot of the advice feels geared toward younger children or doesn't fit the way boys communicate.
ADHD Dude is different. It was created by Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, the father of a now-adult son diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. He has worked primarily with boys, both in school and outside of school, for many years.
The Confident Parents, Capable Kids Method by ADHD Dude is aligned with American Academy of Pediatrics and Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology guidelines. More than 20,000 families have used ADHD Dude.
Frequently Asked Questions About Helping a Teenage Son With ADHD
Will this work for my teenage son with ADHD?
ADHD Dude provides parent behavior training, which the American Academy of Pediatrics ADHD treatment guidelines recommend for teenagers in conjunction with medication management. Talk therapy is not recommended in the American Academy of Pediatrics ADHD treatment guidelines.
Is there content my son can watch himself?
Boys do not build skills such as emotional regulation, behavior, or social skills by passively watching a video. They need the scaffolding created around them, which is why parent behavior training is a recommended treatment.
What ages does it cover?
Scaffolding Better Behavior is for ages 8 and up. Creating Daily Expectations has a version for ages 12-18.
How long does it take?
The foundation Parent Behavior Training takes about 2-3 hours, and you go at your own pace.
Is this approach based on evidence?
Yes. ADHD Dude is aligned with American Academy of Pediatrics and Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology guidelines.
You Shouldn't Have to Walk on Eggshells in Your Home
With a step-by-step plan to improve your son's behavior, you won't. See the Parent Behavior Training sequence for your child's age.