Readers Gotta Read

When I met my husband, he told me he had recently been diagnosed with ADHD at age 30. It wasn’t caught when he was younger, and getting the diagnosis was validating for him.

Years later, when our oldest son was in first grade, we got a call from his school requesting a conference. It was mentioned that he was struggling with executive functioning skills. I remember nervously asking his teacher, “Do you think he has ADHD?” She didn’t at that time – but over the course of that year, more symptoms developed. We had him tested and received the evaluation results the day before second grade began: he had ADHD.

At first, it was overwhelming and scary.

What did this mean for my son?

Would he need ADHD medication?

Would he develop executive functioning skills?

How do we best support him  at home and at school?

A few years later, our younger son also received an ADHD diagnosis. He had masked symptoms very well at school, so the process took much longer. Our pediatrician listened carefully to our concerns, and after evaluations, we finally had clarity.

Parent tip: If the school initiates the ADHD conversation, the process often moves faster. With our older son, things felt “fast tracked” compared to when we, the parents initiated it with our younger son.

Because 75% of my family has ADHD, I wanted to share some of the best ADHD resources for parents and children that helped us navigate diagnosis, therapy, school accommodations and home life. My family gave me permission to share their experiences, and I hope it helps your family too.

Best ADHD Books for Parents

As a lifelong reader, books were my first step toward understanding ADHD. Even though my husband has ADHD and manages it well as an adult, I wanted to understand it from a parent’s perspective – how to explain it to my kids, advocate for their needs and set them up for success.

Here are a few highly recommended ADHD books for parents:

1. Scattered by Gabor Mate
2. Finally Focused by James Greenblatt
3. Delivered from Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
4. ADHD is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness (not pictured)

📘  Finally Focused is the best book I’ve read on ADHD. It’s the one I recommend most often. I listened to this as an audiobook, which helped me retain the information better. Read more on audiobooks for complex nonfiction here.

ADHD Books for Kids

Reading with my boys was one of the most powerful ways to help them understand ADHD and feel proud of their unique brains. These books explain symptoms in age-appropriate, positive ways.

1. What Should Danny Do? School Day by Ganit and Adir Levy
2. What Should Danny Do? by Ganit and Adir Levy
3. Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids by Kelli Miller
4. My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook
5. But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook
6. What Were You Thinking by Bryan Smith
7. It’s Hard to be a Verb by Julia Cook
8. My Whirling Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders (not pictured)
9. All Dogs Have ADHD: An Affirming Introduction to ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann (not pictured)
10. All You Can Be with ADHD by Penn and Kim Holderness (not pictured)

All Dogs Have ADHD is especially fun for early elementary ages – it uses dogs to highlight ADHD traits in a positive, relatable way. Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids is another favorite for building systems and self-awareness.

💰 Parent tip: It can add up buying books, so see if your local library would consider adding a few titles. I requested several books, and my library approved almost all of them.

Best ADHD Podcasts for Parents

Listening to experts and other parents has been a huge help on our ADHD journey. These are two excellent ADHD parenting podcasts:

🎧 Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker – ADHD series part 1 and part 2

🎧 Celebrate Calm Podcast

Join ADHD Support Groups

Connecting with other parents who “get it” makes a world of difference. I’ve joined two Facebook ADHD parent groups where I can ask questions, offer advice, and find community. Search “ADHD parents” or “ADHD support for families” on Facebook – many groups are private but free to join.

Therapy & Behavior Support

Before considering medication, our pediatrician recommended behavioral therapy. It has been incredibly valuable for both of our boys – giving them tools to understand ADHD, build executive functioning skills and talk openly with a trusted professional.

504 Plans / IEPs for ADHD at School

If your child struggles at school, consider asking about a 504 Plan or IEP (Individualized Educational Plan). Both offer formal accommodations for students with ADHD.

To learn more about 504s and IEPs and which your child might need, check out this great overview from Life Skills Advocate.

ADHD Humor and Representation

The Holderness Family creates amazing ADHD-related content that helps normalize and laugh about the challenges. Their parodies are both hilarious and validating.

• ADHD – Under the Sea Parody
• ADHD Needs A New Name – Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Parody
• You Might Have ADHD – Original Song
• I Have ADHD – “My Own Worst Enemy” Parody

They’ve also written two books on ADHD (one for adults and one for kids, linked above) and often discuss ADHD on their podcast.

Explore “A Novel Mind”

If you’re looking for children’s books about ADHD, neurodiversity and mental health, A Novel Mind is a gold mine. The searchable database helps parents and educators find books on ADHD and other related topics.

ADHD Medication

Medication decisions should always be made with your child’s pediatrician. There is no shame in using ADHD medication if it helps your child  succeed and feel more confident. Every brain is different – what matters is finding the right balance of support.

Final Thoughts

An ADHD diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming at first, but it can also bring understanding, compassion and growth. Thankfully, there are more resources available today than ever before for both parents and children.

Your child isn’t broken – their brain just works differently. With the right tools, education and support, kids with ADHD can thrive.