The
ADHD Self Esteem Challenge
For children
of every background, age, and ability level, self esteem is
extremely important. To quote the old adage, self esteem gives
children and adults the skills to “make lemonade”
when life seems to be full of lemons. When a child has ADHD,
self esteem may be easily damaged by negative comments from
other people. Parents have a special opportunity to boost
the self esteem of ADHD children who may not feel good about
themselves.
With a little
thought and practice, parents of children with ADHD can plan
many ways to improve self esteem. One of the best ways the
ADHD self esteem can be developed is by empowering the child.
Children feel better about themselves when they develop their
own abilities and chart their own course. Therefore, let your
ADHD child make choices, even if they are small ones. Learning
how to choose between the red socks and the blue socks may
seem insignificant to you, but to the child with ADHD, this
decision is a source of pride and self esteem.
Another good
ADHD self esteem booster is allowing your child to complete
tasks independently. Granted, it might be faster for you,
as a parent, to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. However,
the ADHD child who makes a sandwich will feel like a world-class
chef when he or she is finished.
Chores provide
yet another opportunity to improve ADHD self esteem. This
is especially true for younger children who are typically
eager to help their parents. Whether it’s setting the
dinner table or mopping a floor, housework teaches children
new skills and provides them with a sense of accomplishment.
As you find
opportunities to let your children make decisions, complete
tasks independently, and work on chores, your job as a parent
is to offer praise and encouragement every step of the way.
Since the ADHD self esteem may be fragile, your child will
be looking to you for reassurance and support. Find specific
things to compliment your child about every day, such as,
“I really like the shirt and pants you picked out from
your closet today; they look good together.” Your kind
words can mean the difference between your child succeeding
or struggling in life.
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