Parent Training - The First Step in ADHD Management in Children

I know how busy many of you are, so you can also check this blog out on my Youtube channel as well! Creating Order From Chaos on Youtube!

Parenting a child with ADHD can be tough. You may feel confused, frustrated, or unsure of how to help. In my ADHD Parent Support Group on Facebook, I hear from parents every day who are struggling. They feel ashamed, worried about medication, or lost about what to do next. Questions like “What is ADHD?”, “Does my child need medication?”, or “What treatments work?” are common—and the answers aren’t always easy to find.

The best ADHD treatment uses a mix of tools. These can include parent training, lifestyle changes, therapy, and sometimes medication. Today, I want to talk about a step that often gets overlooked—even by doctors. Parent training should be the foundation of ADHD treatment in children. It’s the first thing you should do if you think your child might have ADHD.

What Is Parent Training?

Parent training isn’t about “fixing” your child or making them “normal.” ADHD is part of how your child’s brain works. Your child needs understanding, not judgment. 

Parent training helps you learn how to:

• Spot signs of ADHD in your child

• Use tools like positive reinforcement, routines, and clear rules

• Create a home environment where your child feels safe and understood

It also teaches you how to handle tough behaviors, model calm emotions, and build healthy habits—like consistent sleep routines, reduced screen time, and smoother daily transitions. You’re not just learning how to respond to your child’s behavior—you’re learning how to stay regulated yourself while parenting in a way that actually works.

Types of Parent Training (and How They Work)

There’s no single approach to parent training, but most fall into one of these categories. They all aim to give you practical tools to manage ADHD behaviors and reduce family stress—but the way they do it varies.

• Behavioral Parent Training (BPT): This is the foundation of most ADHD parent training programs. It teaches parents how to shape behavior using positive reinforcement, predictable consequences, and clear instructions. You learn how to respond consistently to both positive and negative behaviors. It’s especially useful for managing impulsivity, inattention, and defiance.

• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): PCIT is a live coaching model where a therapist observes your interactions with your child (often through a one-way mirror or video) and gives you real-time feedback. It’s structured in two phases: building a positive relationship, and then learning to give effective commands and follow through. It’s best for kids ages 2–7 with disruptive behaviors.

• Parent Management Training (PMT): PMT is a therapist-led program that teaches parents how to change their own behavior to better support their child. You learn how to give instructions, use consistent consequences, and reduce power struggles. It’s usually done over several sessions and is often used for kids with ADHD, ODD, or other behavior challenges.

• Triple P – Positive Parenting Program:Triple P is a flexible, evidence-based program available in different levels—from light-touch seminars to intensive one-on-one coaching. It focuses on setting routines, reducing conflict, improving communication, and building confidence as a parent. It’s designed to be scalable depending on your needs and your child’s level of difficulty.

One of the most widely recognized programs is CHADD’s Parent to Parent, a structured education course led by parents who have walked this same path. It covers ADHD basics, behavior tools, emotional support, and how to reduce conflict at home. It’s available online and through local CHADD chapters. Visit CHADD today to find out more about Parent Training. 

I also offer personalized parent coaching through my practice, Creating Order From Chaos. I work directly with parents to build structure and support systems that actually fit their home and family. We focus on visual routines, executive function tools, emotional regulation strategies, and real-world ways to reconnect when things break down. The goal is to help you feel less reactive, more confident, and better equipped to support your child’s neurodivergent brain.

Parent training can happen in workshops, therapy sessions, coaching, or support groups. However you start, the goal is always the same: reduce stress, improve communication, and give your child—and yourself—the tools you both need to succeed.

Why Start Early?

Even if your child hasn’t been officially diagnosed, parent training is helpful. Signs of ADHD—like emotional outbursts, inattentiveness, or hyperactivity—can show up as early as age four. You don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to start learning how to support your child.

When you start early:

• You manage behaviors before they become unmanageable

• You avoid burnout and constant power struggles

• You track patterns you can later share with your child’s doctor or therapist

These tools benefit all kids, not just those with ADHD. Early action gives your child a strong foundation and helps the whole household function better.

How the Home Environment Helps

A calm, structured home environment is one of the most effective tools for managing ADHD. And you don’t have to wait on a diagnosis to start making changes.

• Set a Routine: Keep mornings, meals, chores, and bedtimes consistent

• Encourage Healthy Habits: Prioritize outdoor play, physical movement, and better sleep

• Stay Calm: Your ability to regulate emotions helps your child feel safer during tough moments

These strategies reduce stress across the board—for both you and your child—and help build life skills that stick.

Why Therapy Matters

Therapy is another important piece of the puzzle. For kids, it helps with emotional regulation, social skills, and managing frustration. But therapy isn’t just for them—it’s also for you.

Parenting a child with ADHD can be exhausting. Therapy gives you space to process your own stress and learn how to stay calm under pressure.

Waiting until you're burned out makes it harder to show up for your child. When therapists work with both parents and children, the whole family system becomes stronger and more stable.

Where Does Medication Fit In?

Medication is just one tool in a larger plan. Unfortunately, some doctors skip over parent training and therapy, and that leaves parents confused or hesitant. Let’s be clear: ADHD medication helps the brain function more smoothly. It allows kids to better use the tools they’ve learned from therapy, coaching, and routines.

About 80% of people with ADHD respond well to medication, and it’s safe for long-term use. Medication is not about making kids obedient—it helps reduce core ADHD challenges like hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional overwhelm. It’s even more effective when paired with parent training, therapy, and consistent structure at home.

The Best Approach to ADHD

The best ADHD treatment is never just one thing. It’s a toolbox: parent training, therapy, medication (when needed), and healthy routines. Outdoor time, balanced meals, reduced screen time, and consistent sleep all help. So does parent support—because kids need regulated adults in their corner.

This isn’t about making your child “normal.” It’s about helping them thrive as themselves. With the right strategies in place, kids with ADHD can grow up confident, capable, and grounded.

Our kids think differently—and that’s okay. Let’s work together to help them shine. Join us in the ADHD Parent Support Group on Facebook to be part of a community that gets it and supports you every step of the way.

If you're a parent and you are looking for support and help with your children with ADHD and/or Autism, let's talk! I help parents find their way through this maze of information and give you actionable strategies for supporting your kids. Schedule a Free Discovery Call with me today!