LOOKING BEYOND THE BEHAVIOUR
ADHD Parent Support Series – Part 1
When a child with ADHD refuses, shouts, forgets, interrupts, struggles to start or appears not to listen, it can be easy to focus entirely on the behaviour we can see.
This resource invites parents and carers to look underneath that behaviour.
It explores how executive-function difficulties, working memory, emotional overload, sensory demands, transitions, tiredness and accumulated stress can affect the way a child responds. It also looks at the parent's experience, because continually trying to anticipate difficulties, manage routines and help a struggling child can be exhausting.
This isn't about removing boundaries or excusing unsafe behaviour. It's about understanding what skill or support may be missing, responding differently in difficult moments and helping a child gradually build the skills they need.
Inside you'll find practical strategies, examples of what may sit underneath common behaviours, ways to respond during overwhelm, ideas for repairing afterwards and a simple reflection exercise to help identify patterns.
Sometimes changing the question from “How do I stop this behaviour?” to “What is making this so difficult?” can change the whole conversation.
Space to Breathe Therapy
ADHD Parent Support Series – Part 1
