Weekly Healthy Advice From VÄXA

Turning Difficulties into Strengths

Once again, experts are turning a listening ear to parents. Parents are the first to list their children's strengths. Parents whose children have attention difficulties are no different. In fact, because those parents may feel judged for their children's behavior, they may point out the good in their children more often than other parents.

Parents know that all children need to see themselves as having positive qualities. This seems to be even more pronounced for parents of children with attention difficulties. By placing a special focus on their children's abilities and strengths, it is widely believed that the child will be less likely to feel defined by the difficulties they may experience.

For example, those with attention difficulties are often visionary in their perspectives. Many times, they are the ones who are full of enthusiasm and are quick to see the whole picture, while others may get hung up on the small stuff. These qualities allow those with attention difficulties to troubleshoot easier than others.

Those with attention difficulties also tend to be creative, out-of-the-box thinkers. This makes them both good inventors and good problem solvers.

Coaching parents to acknowledge and guide their children's positive behaviors is aptly named "behavior therapy." William Pelham, Ph.D., director of the Center for Children and Families at the State University of New York, suggests that children with attention difficulties often benefit from seeing themselves in a positive light.

Eliminating artificial colors and flavors from children's diets is an often overlooked opportunity for parents to create positive change in their children's lives. Experts say this small change frequently has a large impact on curbing disruptive behaviors.