12/24/2025
To continue our topic on supporting the brain and body of a child with ADHD....
🌟It's important to replenish the deficiencies from a nutritional stand point! We can't possibly think that just adding a prescription medication is going to suddenly make their symptoms disappear forever. We can do both.
This may ruffle some feathers, but it needs to be said:
1. Screen time is not helpful to your child.
Whether they have their own phone or some gaming system, you have to understand that those devices change the way that dopamine is released. I see this often in a lot of kids and teenagers, but I feel like it's the pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about.
Every time that device lights up, dopamine is released. Dopamine is neither good nor bad, it's just a chemical. But when we train our brains to consistently seek dopamine, this is the beginning of addiction. And it doesn't matter what the substance is!!
💥Cocaine hits the same area of the brain that their cell phone/gaming system will target. 💥
If that doesn't terrify you, you're not listening.
Because statistics don't lie: ADHD individuals struggle with addiction more than any other population!!!
Neuroplasticity is AMAZING, but let me tell you, you can also change the brain for the worse too.
In an ADHD human, many of them struggle with low dopamine. This is why they tend to have "squirrel brain" moments and become impulsive and jump from thing to thing.
So it's important to know that if they have the ability to have complete free range on those game systems or phones, the symptoms can get a lot worse!
Many times this leads to increasing dosages of prescription medications. Do you see how this isn't a medicine deficiency? It's literally a training of the pathways.
🌟This isn't meant to be judgmental, just informational. You don't know what you don't know. So you have to give yourself grace and then strive to implement new habits at home to help your child. 🌟
2. Mindfulness and breathing exercises on a regular basis are imperative.
It's important because we have to train those neural pathways and neurotransmitters and to help them learn to self-regulate.
One of the most common statements I hear in regards to this: "it didn't do anything for me so I quit."
Listen, and I mean this with absolute love: you cannot expect these neurotransmitters and pathways to change on your impatient schedule.
It doesn't work like that. It has never worked like that. And it will never work that way. ❌
Start small because attention spans are an issue here! We're talking 3 minutes of belly breathing: inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
Set a timer and do it with them. It's likely that you need this too! Make it a habit of doing this before bed every night or a specific time of the day.
3. Notice what's your purchasing for snacks for your kids.
There's a reason that additives and artificial colors change your child's behaviors. These chemicals actually spark the release of histamine from our immune cells (mast cells).
If your child struggles with histamine issues already or has a DAO genetic mutation, this will trigger more ADHD symptoms!
You're going to need to cut out the colors and the additives. A lot of these products are refined sugar/ carbohydrates, so focus on replacing those with protein based snacks.
➡️ Beef jerky sticks
➡️ Greek yogurt
➡️ Hard boiled eggs
➡️ Protein energy balls
There's no need for soda in your child's diet. This is a nutritional leaking product made by companies that don't care about your child's health; they care about your wallet.
4. Habits and routines are key
Humans operate on routines. Every teacher knows this and every parent can sense when their routine gets off. The easiest thing you can do is to have your child wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. Once in awhile, let him stay up later for fun, but immediately get back on track.
Sometimes it can feel very robotic, but their brains need to be able to anticipate what's next. The reality is, that every adult needs this to. When we all go to work, we know our routines and things that are expected of us.
If kids are left with zero routine and rhythm, they're going to have meltdowns! Their brains are not developed yet and they're already nutritionally depleted, so it is obvious that something small can push them over the edge! We have to give them grace during these moments and see them for what they are: children that need to be supported from a nutritional standpoint and from a lifestyle and routine standpoint. ❤️
Plan your breakfast ahead of time so it's quick and simple in the morning, but your child is having a protein-filled breakfast everyday. If it has to be the same thing every day for that week, that's okay!
Their bedtime routine is just as important!
5. Moms and dads, you'll benefit from these tips too!
Chances are if you have a child with adhd, so do one of the parents. Maybe you didn't realize that you struggled with many of those things until your child started to struggle, that's okay. But this is also a learning opportunity for you!
Be open and honest with your child. As you navigate this with them, they won't feel as alone. Talk about your feelings and things and solutions you can do together. If Mom or Dad need to seek medical treatment as well, that's okay!
It's important to remember that we only get our children for 18ish years in our homes, but we have to set them up with these lifestyle habits so they can be successful and functioning adults.
You are not alone in this journey!
