Encouraging self-esteem in any child helps them to develop confidence, independence, and a reasonable sense of themselves, traits that help them grow and interact with the world. Self-esteem may be even more important for a neurodivergent child, since some may see them as different or outsiders.
It’s true that neurodivergence features atypical ways of processing information. It’s a variation in neurology rather than a disease, and it includes conditions like attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyslexia, or variances in sensory processing.
Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD specializes in care for autism and other neurodivergent conditions, both diagnosis and treatment, at her Fountain Valley, California, practice. Contact our office to learn more about our services.
Much depends on the specific neurodivergence your child deals with. In general, they may process information differently from other children in these key areas:
Signs of neurodivergence can emerge early in their lives. Common markers include limited smiling or not responding to their name by the time of their first birthday.
The core patterns for boosting self-esteem are similar for all children. Neurodivergence may mean finding more creativity in your approach to better suit your child’s behavioral and learning styles.
Target these five actionable strategies to improve your child’s self-image:
When you’re good at something, you feel good about yourself. While your child may not display satisfaction in a common way, you’ll see their version of enthusiasm at play when they’re immersed in their favorite activities. Engage them in these, and encourage their interests.
A neurodivergent child may not be results oriented in a typical way. Coordination may affect the quality of their output.
Instead, focus on the engagement, the time they spend working on a task, while minimizing grades or perfection.
Build your support around unconditional love. As with any child, you can love a neurodivergent child while not loving their behavior, though you may need to reassure their feelings and frustrations are valid to separate them from the expressions of those feelings.
The way you recognize neurodivergent interests and skills goes a long way toward building esteem. Frame their characteristics in a positive way so they feel different-good, rather than different-bad. Remember, your weight as a parent counts for more than the words of outsiders.
Age-appropriate responsibilities, like choosing their clothes, caring for a pet, or tidying their spaces, are another way to foster esteem through accomplishment. Independence climbs as they develop mastery of their chores and duties.
When you need help with your neurodivergent child, contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD for sound experiential and medical advice. Don’t delay seeking evaluation. Early intervention and treatment can lead to better outcomes.
Call or click today to book a consultation with Dr. Tandon today.
