Focusing
on the ADHD Child’s Strengths
 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.
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