Thursday, September 25, 2025

Helping Kids with ADHD/ASD Through the “4 Smarts”

I recently shared a talk with parents of children with ADHD/ASD, drawing on my experience in ACT, CBT, parenting support, and counselling.

Many of these kids have an incredible thinking mind — they shine in Critical Thinking Smart and Practical Smart. Unfortunately, school and home life don’t always nurture these strengths, especially in the earlier years when tasks and subjects may feel irrelevant. This mismatch can lead to disengagement.

Where children with ADHD/ASD often need the most support is in the feeling-based smarts:

1. Social Smart – connecting with others, building collaboration, empathy and harmony.

2. Self Smart – emotional regulation, self-awareness, resilience, self-compassion, and deep self-acceptance.

When these areas aren’t supported, children can feel out of balance, and challenges at school and at home can quickly grow. 

The key?

Helping children integrate all four smarts — so that their strengths are recognised, their challenges are scaffolded, and they are supported to thrive both in learning and in life.

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