How Can Parents Help Children with ADHD Manage Emotions?

PostedOctober 3, 2025

UpdatedOctober 3, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Avery Lombardi, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

ADHD emotional regulation in children can be particularly challenging, as kids with ADHD often experience intense emotions, impulsivity, and difficulty managing frustration. However, with the right parenting strategies, parents can play a crucial role in helping their children learn emotional coaching and improve self-regulation.

By providing consistent support, understanding emotional triggers, and teaching coping skills, parents can help their children navigate emotional challenges and build a foundation for better emotional control.

Effective Parenting Strategies for Managing ADHD Emotions

Here’s how parents can help children with ADHD manage their emotions:

Emotional coaching

Teaching children to recognise and name their emotions is a powerful tool. Emotional training helps kids understand their feelings, reducing confusion and frustration. Parents can model how to express emotions in healthy ways, giving children the tools to communicate their needs without acting out.

Setting up emotional routines

Establishing consistent routines and expectations helps children feel more secure and reduces emotional dysregulation. Predictable schedules for meals, activities, and bedtime can create stability and help children with ADHD feel more in control of their emotions.

Self-regulation support

Encouraging self-regulation through mindfulness exercises, deep breathing, or taking short breaks during overwhelming moments helps children calm down. Parents can guide their children to recognise when they’re getting frustrated and offer tools to manage those feelings before they escalate.

In conclusion, ADHD emotional regulation in children is important. By staying patient and consistent, parents can help their children with ADHD improve their emotional regulation.

Visit providers like ADHD Certify for personal consultations and expert guidance tailored to your unique situation.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to Emotional Regulation in ADHD.

Avery Lombardi, MSc

Author

Avery Lombardi is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has professional experience in psychological assessment, evidence-based therapy, and research, working with both child and adult populations. Avery has provided clinical services in hospital, educational, and community settings, delivering interventions such as CBT, DBT, and tailored treatment plans for conditions including anxiety, depression, and developmental disorders. She has also contributed to research on self-stigma, self-esteem, and medication adherence in psychotic patients, and has created educational content on ADHD, treatment options, and daily coping strategies.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.