If your child has ADHD, he or she may already know what negative feedback sounds like. Even if you try to be supportive and work on building self-esteem, the sad fact is, the outside world doesn’t always understand ADHD. At one time or another, the ADHD child may feel misunderstood by teachers, peers, other parents, or the general public.

One way your ADHD child can bounce back from these challenges is by being confident in his or her strengths. Outside comments don’t matter as much when your child knows that he or she is valued and can make a positive contribution to the world. Here are some ways you can help your ADHD child build on his or her strengths:

• Tell your child that he or she is different and that being different is not bad. ADHD can be an advantage in certain areas, especially those that require creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and hyperfocus.
• Find out what your children are good at, and get them involved in that activity. If your child is strong and athletic, he or she might excel in a sport. Compassionate children do well in volunteer work or mentoring. Once they get involved in activities they enjoy, children have a better chance of finding other ADHD friends who understand and appreciate them.
• Temper your criticism with praise. You’ll need to correct your child occasionally, but try to bring out the positive in every situation. For example, if your child has a disruptive sense of humor, tell him you appreciate the jokes but there’s a limit to the number of jokes per day.
• Focus your attention on accomplishments, too. Instead of only pointing out the “F” on a report card, talk about the “A” or a good comment the teacher made.

Indeed, it’s difficult to be positive all the time, especially when you feel tired and overwhelmed. During those times when you are not in the best mood, train yourself to keep negative comments to yourself. Remember, your ADHD child craves positive feedback, and on some days, you might be the most important person to give your child a pick-me-up.