What can I do that is fun?

"Mom, what can I do that is fun?" queried my ADHD kid.
Those words are loaded. Let me tell you!!!
Part of ADHD is excitement, stimulation, their mind is always seeking the next thing. Think how easily excited they are. Think Christmas. If your child is like mine, he is over the top. We have to peel him off the ceiling for this holiday. Putting up the tree is a major activity. But you can channel that excitment to your advantage. Like letting him set up the tree if you have an artificial one. Let him put the lights on and set up the train. We happen to have a ski slope on ours. That's good for at least 30-45 minutes of peace! LOL!
Once the tree is up, he's ready for lights outside. Lots of lights. He and Dad have a major project putting up the lights on the bushes. And every few days or so, Matt will rearrange them to better suit himself. That's fine. He's excited and that energy is channeled in a positive way!
Opening presents goes by way to fast for Matt. He's so stimulated by the colors, the lights, the mystery of what's under the tree, not just for himself, but for everyone. He's excited to give presents and receive. He loves it all. Stockings, presents. He's always so disappointed when it is over. He keeps telling everyone to slow down! Hard to imagine, but he wants the whole thing to last forever!
"What can I do that is fun," at age 6? How about tie my skateboard to my friend's bike and ride up and down the street. If we fall off, what's a little scrape on the knee of elbow. They go as fast as their little legs will take them, laughing the whole time. Cries of, "let's do it again!" when the ride is over and the road has run out.
"What can I do that is fun," at age 16. This comes from his friend, M, and should scare you. "Skitchin' ". Do you know what that is? It is hitching a ride on the back of a pick-up or car while on your skateboard. It is DANGEROUS and illegal, but M doesn't care. He has ADHD, too. Unsupervised. He has a chunk out of his shoulder the size of a half dollar. "Oh, that's nothing," M tells me. "You should see my ankle."
Obviously, I tell him he shouldn't be doing that, but he just laughs. Part of that is the confidence of the teenager that they are indestructable. The other part is that ADHD mind saying, "Are you kidding. This rocks!"
ADHD kids love video games. They are at their speed of thought. They stimulate and keep their brain occupied. Of course, you don't want them to be a video junkie and do have to monitor that.
You have to have plans for those down times. Over Christmas break, you have to have things lined up. Not constantly, but they need something to look forward to such as trips to the library (depending on their age and interest), a lunch out, a breakfast out, a picnic inside on a rainy day, movie rentals, movies (free ones if you can get that at your movie theatre), museums, art projects, cooking...the list goes on but you get the idea. Down time can be the enemy. You need to guide, especially when they are young and are learning to deal with their ADHD.
Matt likes lots of activity. The only thing Ihave ever found that wears this kid out is the beach. When we are there he is out when the sun is up to fish, swim, boogey board, hike, explore, and he goes, even at this age, until he passes out at night.
He likes to swim with his friends at home, play basketball, football and baseball in the front yard. He wants to be on the move.
Naturally, all this activity is healthy so I'm all for it. It also channels all that energy. One of the best things he's been doing lately is playing church softball. Games and practice twice a week that he totally looks forward to. He also has enjoyed the church youth group. I'm confident that the youth pastor is gifted, plus they feed them before their lesson. Matt is definitely about food, especially when it involves fried chicken and seconds!
What I'm trying to say in a round about way is have a few tricks up your sleeve, mom. They can be inexpensive like playdough (home made recipes are all over the web) to movies. It's up to you, but have a back-up plan for those down times so that you don't go nuts and get frustrated and neither does he! It keeps the family at peace. It's worth the effort!