ADHD and Me: How to Talk About Your Strengths

A tool to help youth with ADHD discover, appreciate and talk about their many strengths.

Focusing on strengths increases self awareness, and builds confidence and resilience. Help your child focus on their strengths by asking them to respond to this checklist. Once completed, your child can use the Conversation Starters to help them talk about their strengths with others. 

The Upside of ADHD: Your Strengths

Let’s focus on your strengths! Having ADHD means that your brain works in unique ways. It’s important to understand what you do well so you can use your strengths to boost your abilities within school, home, and your everyday life!

Instructions

Read the statements below and select the option that best describes you. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. Download a copy of ADHD & Me: How to Talk About Your Strengths and fill in your responses offline.

ADHD & Me: How to Talk About Your Strengths
Strengths	A lot like me	Sometimes like me	No, that’s not me
I am energetic about the things I like
I have lots of creative ideas
I don’t give up easily
People tell me I have a good sense of humor
I love to try new things
I love to come up with new ideas to solve problems
I am always ready for a new adventure
I love spending time with my friends
I enjoy being the center of attention

Conversation Starters: Talking About Your Strengths

Here’s a little help to start those conversations with your parents and teachers.

Talk with your parent(s) and teacher(s) about all the things you checked in the first column (A lot like me) and brainstorm ideas about how you can use your strengths to help you at home, at school, and in life.

Starting points for conversations with parents/caregivers

• I think that I’m good at  [fill in with a strength from the A lot Like me column on the checklist]. Will you help me figure out how to use that strength with my friends? 
• According to this checklist, I [fill in with a strength from the A lot Like me column on the checklist]. I’m not sure what that means. Will you talk with me about that?
• This checklist tells me that I [fill in with a strength from the A lot Like me column on the checklist]. I am not sure how that is a strength. Will you help me understand that?

Starting points for conversations with a teacher/instructor

• I like to [fill in with a strength from the A lot like me column on the checklist]. I’d like to use that strength on this project. Will you help me figure out the best way to do that?
• I filled out this checklist and it helped me identify some of the things I do well. Can we talk about how I can use these strengths in the classroom or in my studies?
• I filled out this checklist about strengths and talked about it with my parents. I think I understand my strengths a little better now. They suggested I talk with you about it too. Is there a good time to do that? I’d like to figure out how to use my strengths more at school.
• I filled out this checklist about my strengths. [Share the completed checklist with your teacher/instructor]. Will you help me brainstorm ways that I can use my strengths when I work in a group with other students?

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Do you have questions? CHC is here to help.