Children with ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia often face challenges in traditional classrooms, but focusing only on their struggles can make them feel defeated. Instead, a strength-based approach—one that highlights their unique talents and abilities—can transform their learning experience and build their confidence. “ Success is like a Vitamin. Everyone needs some of it. When you don’t have enough success, it’s hard to feel very good about who you are, especially when other people around you seem to have plenty of success.” Says Dr. Melvin D. Levine in his book – Keeping a Head in School.
Why Focus on Strengths?
Shifting attention from what a child finds difficult to what they do well can make a world of difference. Here’s how it helps:
- Boosts Confidence: When kids are recognized for their strengths, they feel valued and capable. This positivity makes them more willing to face challenges and try new things.
- Increases Engagement: Children are naturally more interested in activities that align with their abilities. For example, a child with dyscalculia might thrive in math when concepts are explained visually or through stories.
- Encourages Creativity and Problem-Solving: Kids with ADHD often have out-of-the-box ideas. Recognizing their creativity helps them approach problems in innovative ways and feel proud of their contributions.
The Problem with a One-Size-Fits-All System
Traditional education often takes a “cookie-cutter” approach, expecting all children to learn the same way. This can have negative effects, especially for kids with ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia:
- Focus on Weaknesses: Constantly being reminded of what they can’t do can make children feel like failures. A child who struggles with writing, for example, might feel their creativity doesn’t matter.
- Loss of Confidence: When children fall behind because of rigid benchmarks, they can start doubting their abilities, making them less likely to participate or take risks in learning.
- Overlooked Talents: Unique strengths, like artistic ability or empathy, might go unnoticed if they don’t fit into traditional academic molds.
How to Use a Strength-Based Approach
Here are some ways parents and teachers can focus on a child’s strengths:
- Spot Strengths Early: Pay attention to what the child enjoys and excels at—whether it’s art, storytelling, or working with technology. I saw early on that my daughter loves stories and remembers them. For child with Dyscalculia, remembering how to work on a division problem can be very complicated. Even to remember where you put a dividend and where does the divisor go. So, she made a story on who is hiding under the roof and who is knocking on the door to do the surgery and cut the one under the roof into pieces. It may seem very odd to someone who doesn’t have dyscalculia but research shows that stories and pictures are stored in the long term brain and can be retrieved very quickly.
- Adapt Learning Methods: Tailor lessons to suit the child. For instance, hands-on activities can help kids with ADHD stay focused and engaged. Montessori schools teach everything kinaesthetically involving many senses at the same time, reducing the chances of being distracted.
- Celebrate Wins: Recognize every success, no matter how small. This builds a growth mindset and motivates them to keep trying.
- Use Multiple Senses: Multisensory approaches—like typing instead of handwriting for kids with dysgraphia—can make learning more accessible and enjoyable. My daughter uses Touch Type Read and Spell to learn keyboarding. TTRS uses a multi-sensory approach to repetition learning. It is also used by the British Dyslexia Institute.
- Support Emotional Growth: Create a safe space for kids to talk about their feelings and challenges. While, understanding that struggles are part of growth helps them stay resilient but more importantly, having adults who understand their challenges makes them feel heard, cared for and not alone in this world.
Seeing the Whole Child
Kids with ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are so much more than their challenges. They’re creative, resourceful, and capable of amazing things when given the right tools and support. By focusing on their strengths, we can help them build confidence and develop a love for learning.
Every child is unique, and by nurturing their individual strengths, we create an environment where all children can thrive.
“We’re in this together—have a tip or story to share? Drop it in the comments!”