ADHD Parenting Tip - Throw Out the Labels When Supporting a Child With ADHD

There has been research out for a very long time, over 20 years at least, that has clearly shown the power of a label. Tell a teacher that a child is gifted, and he'll treat the child as such. On the other hand, if you tell a teacher that a child is problematic, he'll respond to that child in kind. The teacher needn't even have met the child, and the expectation has been set.

Trust me, I know first hand. I was introduced as a gifted child, and in return, I was given every opportunity to be different and stand out.

Why Should That Matter To You?

It's simple really. Many characteristics of a child with ADHD are the same as the defining characteristics of someone who with ADHD. So you can probably imagine that while I have known my life as a gifted individual, there are many people who try to label me with ADHD.

Are they right? Could they be right?

I don't really care because that label does nothing for me. It doesn't change my life. It doesn't change all the things I have been capable of doing.

Labels are pretty powerful, and while they can be used to help us better understand things, they tend to be used to hold people back. The diagnosis or label of ADHD is no different!

It's reasonable to say that most people think of children with ADHD as behavioral problems. They have the reputation of being "the bad kids." And this is totally unfair. Most of the children I work with, if not all of them, are amazing kids with different talents and abilities. Many of them are just as passionate as the next person, and sometimes even they are more passionate.

Next time you look at a child who is different, I'd like to ask you to look beyond the label, and see their differences for the unique talents they have to offer this world.

Brought to you by Dr. Rory Stern & ADHDFamilyOnline.com

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