Share time your child enjoys
Make time together that is for connection, with the correcting left out.
Guideline advice, not formally gradedADHD evidence
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Jot down something your child loves and a curious question you could ask about it.
5 minutes
Ask your child to show or tell you something they enjoy, and listen without correcting.
15 minutes
Share a small activity your child chooses, with the focus on enjoying the time together.
How sure the science is
Guideline advice, not formally graded, ADHD evidence
Recommended by ADHD clinical guidelines, but nobody has pooled the trials and graded how sure they are. Guideline advice is a considered judgement, not a measured certainty. Measured in people with ADHD.
Explicit NICE relationship-support recommendation and NHS ADHD self-esteem guidance; no standalone trial estimate.
The number, drawn
Support positive parent and child contact
Why it matters
NICE recommends positive contact between parents or carers and children with ADHD. NHS ADHD guidance suggests sharing a child's interests and enjoyable activities to support connection and self-esteem. The effect of a short shared activity alone has not been quantified, and it should not become another task your child must perform correctly.
How to do it
- Ask your child what they'd like to do with you.
- Give them your attention for a stretch you can actually manage.
- Notice what they enjoy and follow their lead. Don't turn it into a lesson.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- Let your child explain a favourite game while you listen.
- Join in drawing, or watch a short part of a programme they want to share.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeTurning the activity into a behaviour review can crowd out connection, so discuss concerns separately.
- Common mistakeAn ambitious outing may never happen. Pick something small and within reach.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- A Moderate or high certainty evidence in people with ADHD, or an explicit ADHD guideline recommendation.
- The number
- Support positive parent and child contact (NICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018)
- Benefit
- 47/100 The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of what will happen for you.
- Effort
- Quick win
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD: diagnosis and management, NG87, information and supportNICE, public HSC Northern Ireland copy, 2018
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD & Self Esteem (undated)Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, 2026
General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you. Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.