11. How do I teach the ADHD child how to handle difficult or challenging situations?

11.1. Basic Problem-Solving Strategy:

• Get the child to ask: "What is the problem?" and "How did this situation arise" to identify the problem and its causes / effects as links in a chain, without assigning blame.
  
• Get your child to think of 3 possible alternative ways of handling the situation more effectively
  
• Get your child to examine the likely consequences of each of the 3 possible alternatives to see if the alternative is a good or bad solution
  
• Get your child to pick the best alternative / solution
  
• Get your child to try the best alternative / solution to see if it works
  

11.2. Repeat problem-solving strategy if required. Remember there are no failures – only feedback, that is the TOTE model (Test-Operate-Test-Exit when desired outcome is achieved)

11.3. Teach your child to ask the right set of empowering questions, e.g.:

• "What can I do to solve this situation / problem?", "What can I do to pre-empt similar situations / problems?".
  
• Adopt a Learning / No-Blame attitude. Don't ask yourself: "Why am I such a jerk?", Why is everybody picking on me?", "Why is this happening to me?", "Why am I so stupid?", etc.