Building Motivation and Self-Esteem: Empowering Teens with a Growth Mindset

Q: “My teen with ADHD has given up on himself. After some setbacks in school, he struggles greatly with motivating himself to stay on top of his academics. We know his self-esteem has taken a hit, but we want to encourage him to keep going despite these and other hurdles he will invariably encounter. How can we help him break free from his fixed mindset and develop a growth mindset?”

Every child wants to do well — in school and in other parts of life. But children and teens with ADHD often struggle with the how. When these struggles add up, they can greatly affect self-esteem.

Motivation is about believing that one can do something and that they have the skills to get there. Right now, it seems like your child has come to expect failure if he makes any kind of effort in school. He lacks confidence, and thus motivation, because he either hasn’t experienced enough successes in school to build his “I’m capable” foundation, or because he struggles to recall the times he’s succeeded in school and apply those past victories to his challenges at present.

When we try something, we risk failure. When we avoid it, we ensure it. To help your teen foster a growth mindset (i.e., the belief that one can change over time with practice and effort), focus on these steps and insights together:

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ADDITUDE Since 1998, ADDitude has worked to provide ADHD education and guidance through webinars, newsletters, community engagement, and its groundbreaking magazine. To support ADDitude’s mission, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.