Jun
17
Don’t rush to diagnose – consider kids character strengths
The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) of the Amer Psychiatry Association has attracted a barrage of criticism from many sources. From my research I see an overarching issue being over-diagnosis potentially leading to the over-medicalization of children, adolescence and adults.
Particularly worrying is over-diagnosis of ADHD in kids. Does your child have difficulty sustaining attention, organizing tasks or waiting for his or her turn? According to DSM-5, if your child has these ‘symptoms’ or any 6 of the many listed, then he or she may be diagnosed with ADHD!
Be prepared to be shocked upon reading this list, because I’m sure most parents would consider many symptoms on this list to be a normal part of being a child.
Instead of rushing to diagnose active (even overactive) children with a disorder and medicating them, why not consider alternative approaches such as playing to their character strengths. Instead of highlighting weakness, faults, what is wrong and needs fixing, consider recognizing what is good, right and strong in children. In her illuminating article Elizabeth Elizardi suggests that giving children the freedom to play with their strengths mitigates the possibility of depression and anxiety in later life, all without drugs.
Character Strengths
The study of character strengths came out of the development of the field of positive psychology. Researchers and academics needed new language and strategies to use in the study of human potential and human flourishing. The VIA Institute (Values in Action) was formed, and with the co-operation of 55 scientists the VIA classification of 24 character strengths and 6 virtues evolved. These are used as a common language to describe positive dispositions and best qualities.
Strength Spotting
Leading research by Park and Peterson in 2006, found the character strengths of hope, zest, love and in later years, gratitude, to be the strongest in children.
But how do parents and teachers identify these strengths?
For those 10-17 the VIA Centre has a Youth Survey that can be taken online.
For younger children Elizardi offers some useful techniques to identify and play to your child’s character strengths, and shares some of the benefits experienced by both parents and children. Once identified, helping your child cultivate their strengths is essential to enable them to grow and develop their strengths into adolescence and adulthood.
There are many techniques, try them out and help your kids use their strengths in different ways. Also noteworthy is that character strengths influence each other, they don’t occur in isolation.
As part of strength spotting, whether with your children, in your relationships or at work, it is helpful to share what you value in the other person’s use of their character strengths. You may express your appreciation or tell them what you’ve observed and why you observed this. Positive reinforcement is helpful to encourage the use of character strengths.
Using strengths creates positive emotions in you and your child, further replenishing the inner wellspring of resources for challenging situations. Elizabeth Elizardi
Here is a video on how teachers have used character strengths in a primary setting.
If you have different techniques or strategies that help your children use their character strengths why not share them with us
