Boost Your ADHD Child's Creativity

The ADHD symptoms that can make life difficult for your child - impulsivity, lack of focus, and spaciness - can also make him unusually creative and imaginative. Children with ADHD see the world with different eyes and can come up with out-of-the-box ideas that no one else can think of. But just as fire requires oxygen to feed the flames, so kids with ADHD require creative inspiration for these desirable ADHD traits to come out. You can help your child nurture the gift of ADHD by encouraging this creativity. Here's how.

Let your child goof off

We value achievement and hard work, but everybody needs a break every now and then - especially children. What may appear as laziness is actually part of the creative process; after all, the best ideas come from the deepest corners of the mind and need a certain playfulness for it to come out. Cultivate your child's imagination by letting him goof off every once in a while. Teach your child to daydream at the right place and time - at the bus on the way to school, or before going to bed at night. Emphasize that getting lost in his imagination is a good thing, but that he should be able to catch himself if he does so at inappropriate places, like in the classroom.

Reframe your thinking

Not all ADHD symptoms are destructive - sometimes, they can be manifestations of creativity. Instead of threatening dire consequences, it might help to reframe your thoughts about your child's symptoms when he or she "acts up". For instance, your son makes an inappropriate comment at the doctor's office. Try to look at this behavior from a different perspective; perhaps your son was just trying to elicit a laugh and make things livelier. When the incident has passed, speak privately to your child. Say that it's a good thing to try to cheer people up, but that a certain tone or certain words might be offensive to some people. Teach your son that it's important to temper creative expression with respect for others.

Listen to your child

One other way to transform symptoms into strengths is to find out how your child understands his behavior. The next time he "acts out", ask him privately why he did what he did. The answer might surprise you - behaviors that might seem defiant may actually be done with good intentions. By listening and communicating with your child, you can work together to improve his behavior and find socially acceptable ways of demonstrating his creativity