I’ve worked with children who struggle with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for many years. I often hear the frustration in the voices of parents and teachers “He can’t still; he’s always getting up from his seat.” “I have to repeat myself all the time to her.” “She has trouble focusing on tasks.” “He’s so impulsive, always blurting things out or doing things without thinking.”
Life can be difficult for individuals who don’t fit inside the box that society has created for us. From an early age we are asked to sit quietly and listen to someone talk in front of a room for hours, read and complete specific assignments and projects. With all the negative messages children with ADHD hear, it can often lead to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety or depression. What we fail to see when faced with these behaviors are the strengths that these children have. When honed and directed, children with ADHD can flourish and become successful adults. Here are just a few strengths I have seen.
Hyperactivity can be a difficult behavior to deal with; how can other children focus on a lecture when there’s that one child in the corner tapping his pencil repeatedly or getting up from his seat several times throughout the hour? Keep in mind, however, that this level of energy can be a significant strength. When redirected and channeled, your child can become successful in careers that require high energy such as in athletics, management or even in sales- all of which would require fast talking or fast movement. Along with this energy comes enthusiasm. Children I’ve worked with who have ADHD exhibit a natural passion for things they are interested in.
Being easily distracted can be detrimental when you want your child to finish his homework or take notes in class. However, someone who frequently daydreams may also have a flurry of ideas floating in his or her head. A headful of ideas is a haven for creativity. A creative mind can find new, innovative solutions to a problem. Creative individuals have the ability to think outside of the box and see new ways of approaching an issue that others may not have considered.
Another trait some people with ADHD may have is the ability to “hyper-focus”, which is an intense form of mental concentration on one particular task. If harnessed, this particular trait could allow an individual to complete tasks or even exceed expectations. This also means there is significant attention to detail.
Individual with ADHD can also have a strong sense of right and wrong, which speaks to their sense of compassion. Not to say that others are any less compassionate, but in the midst of frustration we may fail to recognize how sensitive and caring our child with ADHD can be, that he or she can be assertive and point out when something is not right or defend a stance they strongly believe in.
Overall, these are not excuses to dismiss the challenges that are faced by a child with ADHD. It’s important to maintain focus in order to excel in school, behave appropriately and quietly in certain situations, and even to think before reacting in order to prevent blunders. This article is meant to remind those with ADHD that you have just as much strengths. Those challenges, when harnessed and redirected, can be used to your advantage to flourish and exceed all of what you could have ever imagined.