ADDitude magazine is an excellent resource for all individuals with ADHD (www.additudemag.com to subscribe). 

In a recent issue about teenagers with ADHD one article by Kim Watts, addressed keeping track of your teenager. As all parents of teenagers know, particularly ones with teenagers who have ADHD, keeping track of your teenager is a daunting, but very important task.

1. Cell Phones - Teenagers love cell phones. If your ADHD teenager can keep track of their cell phone, this may be a helpful tool. Carefully select a calling plan that has free nights and weekends as this is when it will be used the most to check in. You could also look into a plan that allows free calling between family cell phones. 

Another good option is the pre-paid plan that limits talk time to what has been paid for, to reign in the most impulsive teens. Set up very clear rules of use before the phone is purchased (e.g. the phone must always be left on and answered when they are out with their friends) and stick to them after the phone is in use. If the rules are violated, spending a few weekend nights at home should be motivating enough to get back to following the prescribed rules. 

The down side? When your teen call and tells you they are at the coffee shop they may really be at a party.

2. Pagers and Two-Way Text Messengers -

This option is particularly good for parents who can’t make or receive personal calls at work. You really need two of these for them to be useful. The Motorola Talkabout T900 is one good choice. Since the messenger is email based, messages can be sent or received via the Internet or another pager. It can also be programmed with reminders and alerts (like taking medication or going to practice) and it can be set to vibrate so it doesn’t disturb others.

3. A newer and more controversial method of tracking your teen is a Global Positioning System. It will track your teens whereabouts as long as it is in the same place they are. The new “Digital Angel” can be worn like a wristwatch. Should you tape it under the floor mat in the trunk of their car? We’ll let you decide.

4. Finally, there are a number of non-technological interventions that can be of help. Having clearly defined and consistently enforced rules from a young age is important. The longer this is in place the more helpful it will be. 

Consistently enforcing rules about where your teen will be and checking up on them is very important as well. If your teen is supposed to be at the movies once in a while check the parking lot to see if the car they are riding in is there. If it isn’t, clarify this with them and let them know if that happens again there will be an immediate consequence.  There will be a hundred excuses and protests but stick to your rules. Immediate consequences for rule violations and lavish praise and rewards for rule following are extremely important. Know your teen’s friends and communicate with their parents.