8 Keys to Parenting Kids & Teens with ADHD: Supporting Your Child's Executive Function

by Cindy Goldrich, Babette Rothschild (Foreword)

Build foundational communication, social–emotional, and decision-making skills to foster your child’s independence.


In this second edition of her bestselling book, ADHD expert Cindy Goldrich offers compassionate, science-backed tools to help parents support their child’s growth in patience, communication, emotional regulation, and independence.


With fresh insights, expanded strategies, and current research, this update emphasizes the crucial role of executive function, elaborates on important conversations parents should have with their children, and offers thoughts on helping children transition into post–high school life. With approachable action items and prompts, caregivers are guided through eight key getting educated, creating calm, strengthening connections, cultivating good communication, teaching collaboration, achieving clarity and consistency, setting impactful consequences, and navigating choices.


Here parents will discover why traditional discipline often backfires, and learn how to foster the skills kids truly need to succeed—using empathy, collaboration, and practical solutions.

Genres: Parenting

336 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, is a mental health counselor, certified ADHD Clinical Service Provider, parent coach and teacher trainer. As an ADHD Specialist, she supports parents, educators, and other professionals to mitigate the impact of ADHD & Executive Functioning on learning, motivation, and behavior.
Cindy provides professional development and parent coaching to thousands of people worldwide. Her involvement with both populations allows her to combine each group's needs to create a strong circle of support for all involved.
Cindy received her Master's in Education in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University, Teachers College, and her ADHD coach certification from the Institute for Certified ADHD Professionals. She has trained with Dr. Edward Hallowell and Dr. Ross Greene. Cindy is a recognized Keynote speaker, author of 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD and ADHD, Executive Function, and Behavioral Challenges in the Classroom: Managing the Impact on Learning, Motivation, and Stress and creator of the nationally recognized workshop series “Calm and Connected: Parenting Kids with ADHD \ Executive Function Challenges©” designed to teach parents and caregivers how to manage and support their children's unique needs successfully. Cindy is on the editorial advisory board of CHADD’s Attention Magazine. Through her ADHD Parent Coach Academy, she trains other professionals to become ADHD parent coaches.

Reviews

[Kaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

The best advice by far: Parent the child you have.

I found this book helpful to not just a child with ADHD, but ANY child. Cindy Goldrich focuses on the struggles with executive function, but also provides tips for parents who also struggle with ADHD to parent their child. I found the 8 keys simple, but exactly what I needed to hear. I also enjoyed that this book wan't catered to young children and only hyperactive kids, but ran the whole gambit of scenarios and gave a lot of great tips for preteens and teens to learn independence and set themselves up for success both in high school and when they leave home.

The 8 Keys to Parenting Kids & Teens with ADHD was a quick read with great tips that can be used right away. Every child is different, so don't forget to parent the child you have.

[Jerry]

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