How to Explain ADHD to Your Child

Should you tell your child about their ADHD diagnosis? Absolutely, yes! Children need context to understand how their brains work. Without it, they may incorrectly believe something is inherently wrong with them. We want to dispel that notion and help them understand ADHD.

Tailoring the Explanation

Explaining ADHD to your child depends on their age, but there are some core principles that apply across the board. It's crucial to emphasize that ADHD is a description of how their brain works, not their identity. They are not defined by a label.

A Simple Analogy

A simple way to explain it is that everyone's brain has strengths and weaknesses. Some things are easier to learn, and some are harder. Just like some people are naturally athletic while others are more artistic, brains have different areas of focus. With ADHD, some things are more challenging, while other areas might even be easier.

• Challenges:

  • Difficulty paying attention to uninteresting tasks.
  • Struggling to hear their "brain voice" (inner self-talk).

• Strengths:

  • Ability to hyperfocus on subjects they love, leading to mastery.
  • Tendency to be naturally honest and direct.

Personalizing the Explanation

The key is to personalize the explanation. If your child excels at drawing, tell them their brain makes drawing easy. If they’re great at social studies, point that out too. Connect ADHD to their individual strengths and challenges. Frame it as making certain things harder or easier, just like everyone experiences different learning styles.

• Examples of Personalization:

  • "Your brain makes drawing really easy for you to learn."
  • "Your brain made it easy for you to learn how to ride your bike."
  • "Your brain makes it easy for you to learn social studies."

• Key Message:

  • ADHD is about how your brain works, not who you are.
  • Everyone has things they are good at and things they find challenging.
  • ADHD just means some things might be a little harder, but you also have special strengths.

Watch the full video on YouTube, and don't forget to check out other helpful videos on the ADHD Dude YouTube channel, including The Brochacho's videos for elementary school-aged children.