After years of dealing with attention difficulties, on a bad day the ADHD child might feel like he or she can’t do anything right. When you combine attention difficulties with a fear of failure, it’s not surprising that a child with ADHD could feel unmotivated. These feelings are all connected with ADHD and self-esteem issues.

However, don’t let your ADHD child buy into the idea that he or she is incapable or incompetent. As a parent, you can guard against low self-esteem and defeatism. There are many ways you can teach your child how to recover from mistakes or misfortunes, such as:

• Remind your child of the things he or she has already accomplished such as learning to walk, talk, get dressed, go to school, etc. These were not easy feats, yet your child learned how to do them at a very young age!
• Some people refuse to use the word “mistake,” replacing it with the word “opportunity.” That’s because mistakes are an opportunity for learning. Teach this theory to your child and find as many learning opportunities for your child as possible. The ADHD child has ADHD in the classroom and outside of the classroom ... show your child that learning can happen anywhere at anytime, not just in school.
• Also look for examples of famous people who had setbacks, such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison. These people learned from their mistakes and used them to achieve greatness. Your child can do the same!
• Move your child past perfectionism by teaching your child that nothing is perfect. Mistakes, accidents, and bad luck are inevitable, but they don’t mean you’re a bad person. On the contrary, adversity actually makes you a more experienced, compassionate person.

In addition to the above lessons, raise the level of warmth and affection in your home. Hugs and quiet conversations help children to feel more at ease and calm during stressful events. Also maintain normal routines, which promote a sense of stability for your children.