u/Agitated_Worker783

We are currently in the process of getting my 5 year old diagnosed with ADHD. He was diagnosed with Autism last year and just finished pre-k today. He’s moderately to severely delayed in several areas, and I was given some resources to help him with those things (mostly fine and gross motor skills) However, I want to also start working on his reading ability, but I have no idea where to start.

We read to him every day from birth until about 6 months ago, when he lost all interest and ability to stay focused. I plan to start introducing bedtime stories back into his routine over the summer. Are there any good books or resources to help encourage him to start reading? I want to make sure this is something fun for him. And I want to clarify that I do NOT have high expectations for him (he’s my first kid), I just don’t know how to even start teaching a kid to read.

I want to do my best to keep him where he needs to be. He doesn’t know any sight words, and can only recognize his name.

My husband HATES reading, but I absolutely love it. It was very easy for me to pick up, and growing up I was always reading 2-3 grade levels higher. I don’t care if he never reads for pleasure, but I don’t want him to struggle like my husband did in school.

I don’t have ADHD or autism, so I have zero experience here. My husband was diagnosed with both, but was never given any help/medication/intervention for his as a kid, and has just learned to navigate life and live with it. He’s doing really well for himself now.

Our 5 year old was diagnosed with “a high level of autism” last year and we highly suspect ADHD, but haven’t had an evaluation done yet for it.

I have no clue how to parent him. I’ve read through posts, talked to doctors, talked with his therapists, and I’m still just so lost. Everyone seems to get a different version of my kid than I do, so what works for them doesn’t seem to work for us.

His tantrums are becoming more frequent and the things that have worked previously, just aren’t anymore. We try to use natural consequences (if you fight bedtime, we won’t have time for a story, if you throw your toy, you can no longer play with it and it gets put up, etc.) and they used to work great, but now he just doesn’t care if it gets to the point he has to sit on the couch and do nothing. He will not listen.

On top of that, we have to tell him over and over again to do things like get dressed after your bath, throw away your trash, pick up your toys, etc. And we are always met with screaming, him hitting things (never people though), crying, and straight refusals.

We try making things into a game or race, giving him choices, natural consequences, just about everything short of spanking him (how my husband and I were both raised but I am firmly against). I feel like all I do anymore is raise my voice and get on to him. I hate the way I am with him, but I genuinely don’t know what to do anymore.

On a side note, if we do get an ADHD diagnosis, what help is there that doesn’t involve medication? If he needs it, I will absolutely get it for him. But I’d like to explore other options before jumping straight to medicine.