Last updated 27 October 2026 · 9 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short
ADHD parenting means adjusting routines, expectations and discipline to suit your child with ADHD. The Australian ADHD Guideline recommends parent and family training be offered, and support for yourself matters too. This guide builds on ADHD symptoms in kids and covers discipline, hitting, courses, books, family history and support for parents.
Key points
The Australian ADHD Guideline recommends that parent and family training be offered to parents and carers of children and adolescents with ADHD.
Around 6-8% of children and 3-5% of adults in Australia have ADHD, so you are far from alone.
Calm, predictable discipline with clear expectations set ahead of time is something a parent training course can help you plan.
Your own wellbeing counts: support for parents of children with ADHD exists through helplines, peer groups and your GP.
ADHD parenting at a glance
What it is
Everyday strategies for raising a child with ADHD, alongside any treatment from their doctor
How common
Around 6-8% of children and 3-5% of adults in Australia have ADHD
Where to start
Your GP, who can talk about assessment and referral
Recommended support
Parent and family training for parents and carers of children and adolescents
NDIS relevance
NDIS funding depends on meeting the NDIS access requirements
Support line
healthdirect on 1800 022 222, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Raising children with ADHD: ADHD parenting at home
Routines are a practical place to start with ADHD parenting. Some children with ADHD find it harder to start tasks, wait, remember steps or manage big feelings. These habits are ideas to try and adapt.
Keep morning and evening routines short, in the same order every day, with a picture chart your child can follow without reminders.
Give one instruction at a time, get your child’s eye contact first, and ask them to repeat it back so you know it landed.
Praise specific effort straight away, such as “you put your shoes on without being asked”.
Try short movement breaks before homework if sitting still for long stretches is hard for your child.
Plan ahead for transitions by giving a warning before screens go off, the car leaves or visitors arrive.
ADHD parenting and how to discipline a child with ADHD
Discipline can focus on teaching the skills your child is still building, not only on consequences. A parent training course can help you put these steps into practice.
1Set two or three clear rules. Write them in positive words, such as “walking feet inside”, and put them where your child sees them.
2Respond calmly and consistently. Keep consequences short and quiet, and save longer talks for when everyone is calm.
3Offer a choice you can accept. Two options, such as “homework now or after a snack”, give control without leaving the decision open.
4Repair afterwards. When everyone is calm, talk about what happened and what to try next time, and ask what your child thinks would help.
5Look after yourself. You are allowed to leave the room and take a few minutes when you feel overwhelmed, as long as your child is safe.
How to discipline a toddler with ADHD
Toddlers are still learning self-control, so use short instructions, distraction and plenty of supervision. The Australian ADHD Guideline recommends parent and family training for families of children younger than 5 years, as medication is not routinely offered in this age group (AADPA).
How to discipline a teenager with ADHD
Agree on a small number of non-negotiables together, such as safety, respect and curfew, and let your teen help set the consequences.
Try written agreements and phone reminders for chores and homework.
Pick your battles, and treat messy rooms as lower priority than sleep, school and safe friendships.
The Australian ADHD Guideline says cognitive behavioural intervention approaches should be offered to adolescents with ADHD, so ask your teen’s doctor about this (AADPA).
Book a GP or paediatrician visit if mood, risk-taking or school refusal seems to be getting worse.
I have no patience for my ADHD child: what to do when you reach your limit
Running out of patience does not make you a bad parent. Parenting a child with high support needs can be tiring, and it is okay to ask for help.
Step away for a few minutes if your child is safe, take slow breaths and return when you feel calmer.
Plan the hardest times of day, such as after school and bedtime, with extra support or a simpler routine.
Ask a partner, relative or friend to take over for an afternoon so you can rest.
Talk to your GP about how you are coping, including stress, sleep and mood.
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 any time you feel overwhelmed, and call 000 if anyone is in immediate danger.
Looking for NDIS support at home?
TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.
ADHD parenting when your ADHD child is hitting parents
Hitting can happen when a child with ADHD is overwhelmed, frustrated or cannot yet find the words. It is never something you have to accept.
Move to a safe position, keep your voice low, and say one short sentence such as “I won’t let you hit me”.
Wait until your child is calm before you talk about it.
Note what happened before each incident, such as hunger, tiredness, noise or a change of plan, and share the pattern with your doctor or therapist.
Teach a replacement action in advance, like squeezing a cushion or going to a calm corner.
Call 000 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
ADHD parenting courses, resources and books for parents
The Australian ADHD Guideline recommends that parent and family training be offered to parents and carers of children and adolescents with ADHD (AADPA). Ask your paediatrician or GP where it is offered near you.
Option
What it offers
Parent training course
Training for parents and carers, which the Guideline recommends be offered to families of children and adolescents with ADHD
ADHD support for parents: support for parents of children with ADHD
ADHD parenting is easier with backup, and you deserve support too. These are practical places to start.
healthdirect: call 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) to speak to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (healthdirect).
ADHD Foundation: healthdirect lists the ADHD Foundation on 1300 39 39 19 for ADHD support.
Your GP: ask for a longer appointment to talk about your own stress, sleep and coping, not only your child’s needs.
School: see ADHD classroom strategies; students with ADHD are protected by the Disability Standards for Education (2005), which require schools to consult and make reasonable adjustments (AADPA).
Peers: ask your GP or the ADHD Foundation about local or online parent groups.
ADHD parents, family history and hereditary ADHD
ADHD is highly heritable in children and adults, with heritability estimated at 70-80% (AADPA). The Guideline also notes a genome-wide association meta-analysis identified 12 independent genomic loci that increase susceptibility to ADHD.
If you recognise ADHD traits in yourself, you can ask your GP about an adult assessment.
Our ADHD questionnaire is for reflection only, and only a qualified professional can assess this.
Parents with ADHD may find routines, reminders and shared calendars help the whole household.
When to talk to a GP or specialist about ADHD parenting
Your child’s attention, activity or impulsive behaviour is causing problems at home and at school, and has gone on for months.
You want to know whether your son or daughter should be assessed, and you would like a referral.
Your child has started to hurt themselves, hit others or take dangerous risks, and routines are no longer enough.
You feel exhausted, hopeless or unable to cope; talk to your GP, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, and call 000 if anyone is in immediate danger.
You are unsure about medicine; always talk to your GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist or pharmacist before any change.
Your next step
Looking after a child with ADHD is easier with an extra pair of hands. TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). If you meet the NDIS access requirements, we can help you work out what is possible. See our NDIS services or make a referral.
SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorTQN Care is a registered NDIS provider supporting people across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC).
Common questions
FAQs about ADHD parenting
How do I discipline a child with ADHD? +
Try clear rules, calm and consistent consequences, and plenty of specific praise. Teach the skill behind the behaviour rather than only punishing it. A parent training course can show you how, and your paediatrician or GP can point you to one near you.
Is ADHD hereditary from grandparents? +
The Australian ADHD Guideline says ADHD is highly heritable, with heritability estimated at 70-80%, and identifies 12 genomic loci that increase susceptibility. Family history, including in grandparents, is worth telling your child’s clinician, but it cannot confirm or rule out ADHD. A clinician can assess your child.
How do I tell if my son has ADHD? +
You cannot tell from signs or a quiz alone. Write down what you notice at home and school, then talk to your GP about whether a referral for assessment is needed. Only a qualified professional can assess this.
How do I build discipline with ADHD? +
Build it in small steps with routines, visual reminders and rewards for effort. Break tasks into short parts, practise when everyone is calm, and expect progress to be uneven. Ask your GP or a parent training course for strategies that suit your child.