What Consistency Means & How to Practice It

What is Consistency?

Consistency means keeping things predictable and steady for your child, especially when it comes to expectations, routines, and consequences.

For a child with ADHD, it’s essential because it helps them understand what’s coming next and what’s expected of them.

When you’re consistent, your child knows they can rely on you to guide them through both the easy and challenging moments.

Examples of Being Consistent:

  • Routines:
    • Establish daily routines like morning checklists (wake up, breakfast, get dressed) and bedtime rituals (brushing teeth, calming down, reading a story). Stick to these routines every day, even on weekends. This helps your child with ADHD stay grounded and know what to expect.
    • Example: If bedtime is 8:30 PM, aim to keep it the same every night. Having a set bedtime routine like brushing teeth, reading for 10 minutes, and then lights out keeps things predictable.
  • Clear Expectations:
    • Consistently communicate your expectations to your child, and follow through. For example, if you ask your child to complete their homework before screen time, stick to that rule every day.
    • Example: “You can watch TV after your homework is done.” Even if they complain or procrastinate, be firm with the rule, and over time, they’ll learn to follow it.
  • Consequences:
    • When setting consequences for behavior, it’s important to follow through each time. If there are no consequences or you don’t follow through, it sends a mixed message.
    • Example: If your child leaves their toys out after being reminded, follow through with the consequence (like putting the toys away for the rest of the day). This helps your child understand that actions have predictable outcomes.

Setbacks are Part of the Learning Process

It’s important to remember that setbacks will happen. Your child might struggle to follow the rules or routines, and that’s completely normal—especially for kids with ADHD. Don’t view these moments as failures; instead, see them as part of the learning process.

  • Patience is Key: Understand that your child will have good days and bad days. On the challenging days, keep calm and remind yourself that progress isn’t always a straight line. Keep reinforcing routines and expectations, even if it feels like you’re repeating yourself.
  • Adjust When Needed: Sometimes, even with consistency, certain approaches may not work as well as expected. That’s okay! Be flexible in adjusting routines or consequences to better suit your child’s needs without completely abandoning consistency.
  • Celebrate Small Wins: Even small steps forward are worth celebrating. Maybe your child followed their routine without being reminded, or they handled a tough situation better than before. Celebrate these moments to build their confidence.

Key Takeaways:

Consistency isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being reliable and steady.

Setbacks will come, but staying consistent over time will help your child with ADHD develop the habits and skills they need.

Keep showing up, keep reinforcing, and remind yourself that each small step forward counts! 🌟