Summer safety: Tips for a safe and successful summer for ADHD families

• You can't beat a picnic, especially if you are enjoying time in a unique location.

• Find a place to hike or bike near your home, then add the challenge of seeing who can find the most interesting item on your outing.

• Have a family night each week. Rotate which member of the family gets to choose the activity, plan the logistics, create the budget.

• Many children with ADHD have an adventurous streak. Tap into that strength by finding activities, such as a climbing wall, that are safe but have an element of perceived risk.

• Go camping for one or two nights and get everyone in the family committed to a specific job or role during the campout: chef, equipment manager, activity coordinator, scribe for a family journal, campfire safety manager.

• Enjoy family game night. Have a consistent structure in place to ensure that the experience imparts important safety skills.

• Before engaging in any activity, plan ahead to prevent accidents. The challenge is to provide children with independence balanced with necessary structure.

• Make sure your child's schedule is filled with plenty of activities to prevent boredom. Accidents often occur when children start finding unique ways to fill "downtime."

• Impulsive children require more supervision than many other young people. If you are leaving your son or daughter in someone else's care, make sure they understand what is expected: constant vigilance.

• Keep a sharp eye out for potential hazards.

• Communication is key. Be clear and consistent about your expectations regarding participation activities. Any unsafe behavior that cannot be altered with one or two redirective remarks should result in suspension of that activity.

• Always have plenty of cool drinking water on hand. Use appropriate sunscreen and bug protection products. Always have a small first-aid kit handy.

• Talk with your children about their interests, like sports, astronomy, drama, art, etc. Locate supervised programs in your area that enable children to spend the maximum time doing the things they love and are likely to stick with.