Self-Confidence and the ADHD Child

The Importance of Mastering Organizational Skills for Success

Mar 14, 2009

A key challenge for an ADD/ADHD child is mastering organization. The definition of organize is "to put together into an orderly, functional, structured whole."

Organization therefore, is not just about keeping one’s things in order. It is a wholistic life skill that encompasses the organization, or management, of all of life’s aspects. For a child, this specifically applies to his academic life, extracurricular life and home life. A healthy balance in each of these aspects can be attained by developing a system of organization in each of these areas.

How Can an ADD/ADHD Child Learn Organizational Skills

As parents of ADD/ADHD children know, their inability to organize is a key challenge. While organizational skills are stronger in some people than others, the ADD/ADHD child struggles daily to master this life skill.

According to Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed, founder of Neat & Simple, organizing is a set of skills that can be learned. It is important to create systems that suit the child’s needs and to establish systems that are practical [Neat and Simple website, copyright 2005-2009].

In order to start teaching your child how to organize herself wholistically, it is important to observe your child, understand how she thinks and to work with her to instill a sense of understanding for the process. This will give her ownership in the system and carry her to success. The Youth4Youth organization notes in its February 5, 2009 post on its website, that it takes 30 consecutive days of doing something before it becomes a part of the unconscious habit pattern. It is absolutely necessary to maintain consistency in your efforts with your child.

Organization Affects Self-Esteem

Children with ADD/ADHD have been shown to have lower levels of self-esteem than their peers. This is the result of continued “failures,” which is defined as “the condition or act of not achieving the desired end or ends.” WebMD notes that some of the symptoms of ADD/ADHD are:

When the ADD/ADHD child continually gets in trouble at school and at home because of some or all of these issues, which can be attributed to "the organizational challenge," his self-esteem continues to decrease. His eventual or expected failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This is because healthy self-esteem is an essential component of learning. In most students, it mirrors appraisals from others, in particular parents and teachers. Positive appraisal over time tends to increase the level of learning and self confidence. So too, is the antithesis, that consistent negative appraisal tends to lower achievement.

According to the article “Self-Esteem in Children with ADHD” on addtreatmentcenters.com, “a child’s self-esteem is a key developmental factor that may be adversely affected by ADHD.”

Organization Gives Children the Self-Confidence to Succeed

As discussed on the Cambride Educational Website, organization leads to better grades, less stress, more self-confidence and more time for fun with family and friends.

The concept of organization to achieve self-confidence and success is wholistic. The ability to organize one’s things, tasks, thoughts, plans and dreams all come together to create a sense of well-being and confidence. Take the time to work with your ADD/ADHD child, step by step, through each of these areas and help to “organize” his or her way to success.

The copyright of the article Self-Confidence and the ADHD Child in ADHD Children is owned by Christin Aitchison. Permission to republish Self-Confidence and the ADHD Child in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.