PROVIDING POSITIVE FEEDBACK TO KIDS WITH ADHD

Strategies for Providing Positive Feedback to Kids With ADHD

Teaching parents how to provide positive feedback to their child is an essential component of supporting a child with ADHD. Positive feedback can motivate the child, boost their self-esteem, and reinforce desired behaviors. Here are some strategies for providing positive feedback to kids with ADHD:
1. Be Specific: Encourage parents to be specific in their praise. Instead of saying, “Good job,” they can say, “I really like how you focused on your math homework and completed it without getting distracted.”
2. Use Descriptive Language: Teach parents to use descriptive language to highlight the child’s efforts and achievements. For example, they can say, “You worked diligently on that project for an hour,” instead of a generic “Well done.”
3. Highlight Effort and Progress: Emphasize the importance of recognizing effort and progress, not just the final outcome. Parents can say, “I can see how hard you’ve been working to improve your reading skills,” to acknowledge the child’s dedication.
4. Immediate Feedback: Encourage parents to provide feedback promptly after observing the desired behavior. This helps the child connect their actions with the positive feedback. Delayed feedback may not be as effective.
5. Use Positive Tone and Body Language: Remind parents to use a positive tone of voice and open body language when delivering praise. A warm smile and encouraging gestures can convey genuine appreciation.
6. Be Sincere and Genuine: Authenticity is key. Encourage parents to genuinely mean what they say when providing positive feedback. Children can often tell when praise is insincere.
7. Avoid Over-Praising: While positive feedback is important, parents should avoid over-praising. Instead, focus on praising specific accomplishments or efforts. Overusing praise can diminish its impact.

8. Encourage Self-Evaluation: Teach parents to encourage their child to self-evaluate their work or behavior. Ask questions like, “How do you think you did on your science project?” This fosters self-awareness and self-reflection.
9. Celebrate Small Achievements: Encourage parents to celebrate even small achievements. Recognizing minor accomplishments can motivate the child to tackle larger tasks.
10. Use Positive Reinforcement: Explain the concept of positive reinforcement to parents. They can use rewards or privileges as additional incentives for good behavior or completing tasks.
11. Balance Negative Feedback: Help parents strike a balance between positive and constructive feedback. While praising positive behaviors, it’s also important to provide guidance on improving areas where the child is struggling.
12. Encourage Effort, Not Perfection: Remind parents that it’s essential to praise effort rather than demanding perfection. Children with ADHD may face challenges, and their progress should be celebrated even if it’s not flawless.
13. Encourage Self-Esteem: Teach parents that positive feedback can boost their child’s self-esteem. When children feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to develop a positive self-image.
14. Create a Positive Feedback Environment: Suggest that parents create an environment where positive feedback is a regular occurrence. This helps the child feel supported and encouraged.
15. Model Positive Feedback: Lastly, encourage parents to model positive feedback in their own interactions. Children often learn by observing their parents’ behavior, so demonstrating positive feedback can set a good example.

By teaching parents these strategies for providing positive feedback, you empower them to create a supportive and nurturing environment that can significantly benefit their child with ADHD. Positive reinforcement and encouragement can help the child build confidence and develop the executive function skills needed to thrive.

Check Out Our Other Blogs:

• Developing Self-Regulation in Children with ADHD
• The ADHD-Boredom Connection: Why Kids Zone Out
• Strategies for ADHD and Boredom for School-Age Students