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The quality of life of a child with ADHD and members of the family whose child is experiencing ADHD is greatly impacted. A significant part of treating the child with ADHD is educating the parent(s) and/or family members regarding what to expect of the child, what changes in family life to expect, and ways in which to help the child either by improving parenting skills, or by organizing the environment to benefit the child. Open communication and accessibility to teachers, school staff, and professionals who are treating the child is essential so that there is consistency and agreement in approach all around.

ADHD can cause significant disruption in family life due, for example, to severe behavior problems, frequent medical appointment, numerous school conferences, or bailing out a child who has gotten into trouble with the law. This can lead to resentment, frustration, blame, and anger among various family members, such as parents and siblings. It is important for the family to consult with a mental health professional, not only for help in managing the child with ADHD, but for helping the family cope. They may benefit from individual or family counseling or from joining a support group. Some families find that they benefit from learning effective stress management such as relaxation techniques, meditation, or exercise.

Another effective option for parents is to sign up for parenting skills training either in a class or with a private therapist who can teach them how to:

• Manage their child's behavior more effectively by using, for example, "time-out" periods if the child's behavior is unmanageable; the child is removed from the situation and placed in isolation by sitting alone until they calm down
• Schedule quality time in the day where the parent has an opportunity to sit quietly with the child and do a relaxing activity during which they can praise the child for any type of good behavior (such as waiting for their turn, not interrupting)
• Use a system of reward and punishment effectively
• Create an atmosphere where the child can succeed in various tasks

Parents should become familiar with services for which their children with ADHD are eligible under state and federal laws. Children with ADHD are entitled under the law to receive special services. Two of the laws which were passed that may benefit the child with ADHD include:

• Section 504 - this is a section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and it is a civil rights law that guarantees certain rights to individuals with disabilities. It is designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. It ensures that individuals with disabilities have the same access to public education as people without disabilities and mandates accommodation based on disability. It does not mandate academic improvement.
• The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990 and 1997 - this is an educational benefit law to protect the educational rights of individuals with disabilities. An Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is offered under IDEA which tailors education to the child's unique needs. The school is obligated to evaluate a child suspected of having ADHD.