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The care of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) must be adapted to the individual, and requires a multidimensional approach, depending on the particular needs of the child. The approach may comprise any of the following: therapeutic education, parental guidance, psychotherapy, speech therapy, and cognitive remediation. The prescription of any medication should be made only in a second stage if these measures are not sufficiently effective, and only after having assessed the risk-benefit ratio. The international guidelines are unanimous in proposing methylphenidate as a first-line medicine. Moreover, it is the only medication authorized in France for ADHD. This article aims to provide practical advice for the prescription of methylphenidate, i.e. how to decide the indication, how to estimate the risk-benefit ratio, expected effects of the product, possible side-effects, and how to manage long-term treatment.