Understanding ADHD Through a Compassionate Lens

ADHD isn’t a choice; it’s a brain-based condition that affects how a childprocesses information, manages emotions, and navigates the world.Children with ADHD are often 30% behind their peers in developingexecutive functions like organization, impulse control, and timemanagement. Viewing your child’s behaviors through the lens of ADHDcan foster greater acceptance and patience.
• Reframe the Symptoms: Instead of seeing a child as “lazy” or“disrespectful,” recognize that their behavior reflects a struggle withexecutive function.
• Example: Difficulty starting homework isn’t defiance; it’s achallenge with activation, which is part of ADHD.
• Recognize Their Efforts: Children with ADHD are often trying harder than it appears. Celebrate their small wins, even if the results aren’t perfect.
• Example: Praise the effort to sit and focus for five minutes, even if they didn’t finish the assignment.