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.