ADHD Parents: How to Play with Your Kid
A recent conversation led me to revisit this recording of Brendan Mahan talking with synergetic play therapist Megan Vandersluys on the ADHD Essentials podcast.
ADHD adults can have a really hard time spending time with their kids, and the question came up: does any parent necessarily know how to play with their child?
Megan and Brendan handle this question with understanding of how it is hard for an adult with ADHD to stay present during a child’s play - and give, in the latter half of the episode - good information on what the objective is (connection) and how connection is created by the adult noticing what the child is doing and showing interest by saying what they see and asking questions about it.
You will also appreciate her perspective that it’s fine to put a time limit on play time together, and even to set a timer - the child is clear about what to expect.
Megan also explains the purpose of play for a child, and how having an adult playing with them helps the child learn self-regulation.
For ADHD adults, this becomes practice of their own ability to stay present in the moment.