I coach from a strength-based perspective so cheerleading is part of my mantra. 

Reminding someone with ADHD of their negative traits and failures isn't going to spur them into action, is it?  All it will do is compound the negative self-talk which, combined with a dollop of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), can have a negative impact on mental health.

When I work with families it's imperative that they focus on the strengths and motivators of the young person.  They will grow in confidence and self-esteem - which is a win, win for everyone!

However, this is also important for adults with ADHD. Quite probably, the cheerleading needs to be louder and more robust.  We tell ourselves we are not good enough and any criticism we receive reverberates throughout our brains (which tend to overthink anyway) and exacerbates unhelpful thoughts.

If you are a parent/carer of a child with ADHD be their cheerleader and model positive self-talk as much as possible.  Celebrate the wins, no matter how small.  Create a Positivity Board at home.  Place it in a prominent position and place notes or visuals with positive mantras.

People with ADHD have amazing strengths - they just need a cheerleader to propel them forwards!