Does your child have ADHD? Find out what symptoms to look for, especially if you are concerned about your child's inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. Children and ADHD struggle to maintain balance in these three areas. Find out what to do if you suspect that your child has ADHD. For more information, visit www.LaunchPadCounseling.com

1. Does your child
have ADHD?
Kim Roulhac, MA Resident in Counseling
Mark Loewen, LPC

2. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder
Symptoms for ADHD are are best explained in
3 categories:
Inattention
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity

3. An inattentive child:
• Daydreams often
• Is forgetful
• Struggles with staying on task
• Seems to not listen to others
• Fails to give attention to detail
• Does not follow through with instructions

4. A hyperactive child:
• Can’t sit still, fidgets
• Runs or climbs when it’s inappropriate
• Struggles to engage in leisure activities quietly
• Talks excessively
• Uses high volume tone of voice

5. An impulsive child:
• Blurts out thoughts and responses
• Has difficulty waiting their turn
• Interrupts or intrudes on others
• Reacts without thinking

6. My child may have ADHD
What should I do first?
• Talk to you’re a pediatrician to consider
medication, change of diet, or counseling to help
manage your child’s behaviors
• Consider a formal evaluation. A reliable tool is the
Conners 3 assessment. It can be administered by a
Licensed Professional Counselor or a Licensed
Clinical Social Worker.
• Talk to teachers to find out what resources are
available at your child’s school.

7. Children with ADHD are more
successful in the classroom if:
• They sit near the teacher
• The teacher provides a homework list to parent directly
• They take small breaks to stretch their legs, get a drink of
water, look outside, take focusing breaths between tasks.
• They use a timer on their desk to help complete
assignments.
• Have visual reminders on the desk (e.g. “take your time”,
“look at your teacher”).
• Have a check-in and check-out list with tasks that need to
be completed after arrival and before leaving school.

8. At home, children with
ADHD benefit from:
• Having a visual schedule for homework time,
chores, bedtime routines, where the child can
check off completed tasks
• Using behavior charts to reward completed
chores and positive behaviors.
• Taking 5 min. breaks during homework.
• Plenty of physical activity, outdoor play. Get
that energy out!

9. Games that help with focus
and impulse control
• Pick-up Sticks
• Memory
• Uno
• Go Fish
• Connect 4
• Games where the players take turns

10. Calm-Down exercises
• Calming Breaths
• Close eyes
• Breathe in while
counting to 4
• Hold breath for 2
seconds
• Breathe out while
counting to 8
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Imagine there is a fly on your nose.
Scrunch your nose until you get
wrinkles. Relax, take a breath, repeat.
• Imagine you are holding a lemon in
your right/left hand. Squeeze the juice
out for a few seconds. Relax, take a
breath, repeat.
• Lay on your back. Pretend an elephant
is about to sit on you. Tighten your
stomach for a few seconds. Relax, take
a breath, repeat.

11. Need Help? Contact us
Who we are:
Launch Pad is a counseling practice in Richmond, VA that helps children, teens,
and families overcome stressful circumstances and life changes.
What we do:
We use interactive counseling approaches including Play Therapy, Expressive
Therapies, and mindfulness based activities we help children and teens get rid
of anxiety, worry, depression, and grief.
Through family counseling and parent coaching, families achieve closer
relationships, reduce power struggles and arguments, regain balance, and feel
better.

12. We would love to hear from you!
2008 Libbie Ave, Ste 101, Richmond, VA 23226
Ph: 804-665-4681 Email: contact@launchpadcounseling.com
www.launchpadcounseling.com

13. About the authors
• Kim Roulac, MA is a Resident in Counseling
with 15 years of experience in working with
children and adolescents from all walks of life.
She is passionate about joining her clients in
overcoming personal struggles and difficult
circumstances. She served as a school
counselor, helping children improve their
academic performance, managing their
emotions, and making good decisions in
difficult situations.

14. About the authors
• Mark Loewen, LPC helps children and adults
move towards a happier, fuller life. After many
years of working with children and
adolescents in various settings, he started
Launch Pad in 2014. Mark is a Licensed
Professional Counselor and a Registered Play
Therapist, which allows him to use interactive,
expressive techniques to allow his clients to
process significant experience and achieve
growth.