Linear-thinking parents have a difficult time relating to the issues associated with their child's ADD, and until their child is diagnosed with attention deficit, they may not be aware of ways in which they can change their parenting techniques and make life better for their children and themselves. Parents who also have attention deficit and have learned some coping strategies can pass them along to their children, but some adults were never diagnosed ADD at all. Whatever situation you're in, these 5 steps will help you and your child to be happier:

1) Avoid complication: When you send your child to get something, don't ask for a knife, a fork, and a plate, because he or she will probably come to you with one or two of the three. Instead, send him or her for one thing at a time.

2) Come up with a cool game: Make this a family-oriented game that rewards you for behaviors that are positive, like taking one's turn in order, and takes points away for stepping out of a line or yelling out answers when it's not your turn.

3) Make kids' teachers your friends: Schedule a time to sit down with your kids' teachers. Make them aware of your child's attention deficit issues and ask if you can have a list showing when assignments are due, when quizzes or tests are on the horizon, and anything else important to the class. Then, help your kids to remember these dates and get their work in on time.

4) Give them a place to chill: Especially in grade school, kids can be brutal, and kids with attention deficit suffer. If they don't have a room of their own, set aside some part of your home for them to unwind in. Make is as friendly to them as possible.

5) Make them a success: Study your children and decide what delights them, where their talents lay, and what they can really do well. Then, promote that activity and reward them lavishly with praise when you see them progressing.

These 5 simple tips can make your life and your child's life a bit easier. The key to making things work, whatever the ADD-friendly tactic might be, is consistency. When you develop a program like one of these, do it all the time, every time, and you'll see that it will slowly work. Don't give up after a day or two. Behavioral changes don't happen overnight. If you're a parent of an ADD child or you're an adult with attention deficit, join us to learn more coping mechanisms at Instant ADD Success.com.