Life with ADHD can feel like a daily tightrope walk—balancing routines, emotions, and expectations. But here’s the truth: your mindset as a parent sets the tone for the whole family. When you choose to focus on progress—not perfection—you teach your child that every step forward matters.

Whether it’s remembering the backpack 🧳, staying calm during a meltdown 😌, or just making it through the day with a smile, every small win deserves a moment in the spotlight. This week, we’re diving into why celebrating progress is often the missing link in many family’s journeys!

Celebrate Progress: The Secret Superpower for ADHD Families

Managing ADHD isn’t easy. It can feel like a roller coaster some days. 🌀 You try your best, but between forgotten homework, impulsive outbursts, or misplaced car keys, it’s common to feel stuck. That’s why celebrating progress is so essential. It actually rewires the brain for resilience and growth.

🔬What the science says: 

According to research in neuroplasticity, our brains grow stronger through repeated positive reinforcement. That means every time you recognize and celebrate a small win, you’re literally helping your child (and yourself!) build new pathways for confidence, motivation, and emotional regulation. 

Let’s explore why this matters and how to make celebrating progress a powerful, joyful habit for your whole family.

Why Celebrating Progress is So Powerful

1. It Builds Confidence 💪

Kids with ADHD often hear a lot of "no’s" and "not quite’s"—which can chip away at self-esteem. But when you stop to say, “You remembered your water bottle today!” or “You worked hard to stay focused!” you’re lighting up reward pathways in the brain.

Positive reinforcement is a key ADHD strategy supported by behavior therapy research.  It teaches the brain to associate effort with success, encouraging more of the same.

🔬What the science says: 

Dopamine (the “feel-good” brain chemical) is lower in many people with ADHD, according to a 2022 study in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. Because celebrating wins boosts dopamine naturally, it can help motivation and mood in those with ADHD! 

2. It Brings Families Closer 🤗

Connection is the heart of growth. Every high-five, smile, or “I’m proud of you” deepens emotional safety, which is critical for kids with ADHD, who often feel misunderstood.

When families regularly recognize effort and improvement, it creates a nurturing environment where kids want to keep trying.  These shared moments turn challenges into victories you experience together.

3. It Keeps You Going (Even on the Hard Days) 🚦

ADHD progress doesn’t follow a straight line. It zigs. It zags. And sometimes it loops back around. But celebrating progress can keep you going! 

🔬What the science says: 

A 2020 study published in Soc. Personal Psychol. Compass showed that noticing and acknowledging progress toward a goal increases motivation and persistence - a key to long-term success! 

Think of it like hiking a mountain: You’re getting tired, and then someone hands you a high-five and a granola bar every few steps. Doesn’t that make the climb easier? Every small celebration is like a rest stop with snacks and encouragement. Without it, you might forget how far you’ve already climbed.

How to Celebrate Progress (Without Overthinking It)

Celebration doesn’t need to be Pinterest-perfect. It just needs to be real. Here’s how to make it simple and meaningful:

Step 1: Start Small

Celebrate tiny wins. Remembered the water bottle? Finished a math problem without tears? Took a deep breath instead of yelling? These are each BIG wins that should be celebrated!

Say it out loud: “That was awesome. I’m proud of you for sticking with it.”

Step 2: Make It Fun

Fun builds routine. Here are a few ways to sprinkle joy into your day:

• For kids: Reward charts (like this one!), “win” jars (to create these, just use jars like these and add slips of paper with “wins” written on them), dance parties, etc. 

• For adults: Treat yourself to a cozy coffee. Someone gave me this mug and I am empowered by this everyday when I drink my coffee because I know I am making a difference and you are too! Go on a solo walk, or spend 20 peaceful minutes with your favorite show. ☕

Step 3: Create a “Win Wall”

Turn your fridge, bulletin board, or hallway into a celebration station.

• Write down wins on sticky notes.

• Snap photos of proud moments. (Use this instant polaroid camera to capture the moment on the spot and put it on the wall!) 

• End the week by reading them together like a victory parade. 

Step 4: Make It a Family Habit

Make celebrating progress a normal part of life. Here’s how:

• Option 1: Weekly Win Circles

Pick a time (maybe dinner or bedtime) and go around the table: “What’s one thing you’re proud of today?” This reinforces a growth mindset and reminds everyone that effort counts.

• Option 2: Celebrate with Traditions

Start a "You Did It!" tradition with ice cream (dairy-free recommended to keep that inflammatory load lower!), game night, and letting your child pick dinner! Make these fun rituals part of your family’s identity.

And Remember: Celebrate the Effort Too! 

Even when the task isn’t complete, effort matters. 

🔬What the science says: 

Research in Brain Res. confirms that mastery comes from repeated attempts and gradual improvement, not from getting everything right the first time. The cerebellum and other brain regions are particularly involved in this incremental, feedback-driven process. 

Or, in other words, the brain learns through trying—specifically, through trial and error and learning from mistakes—not through perfection.

Here are a few of our go-to statements you can use to acknowledge and celebrate effort: 

“You didn’t finish, but you gave it a great try.”

“You stuck with it longer today than yesterday. That’s real progress.”

Remember: Progress, Not Perfection

In ADHD families, every day brings something new (and not always in a neat package). But by celebrating what is going well, you help everyone feel stronger, more connected, and hopeful.

So today, take a breath. Look for the sparkle in the middle of the mess. ✨

Ask yourself: What can we celebrate right now?

Then say it out loud or maybe post it on the fridge. Because every step forward—no matter how small—is shaping your child’s confidence, your family’s bond, and your shared story of resilience.

Would you like to share a win from your day? Reply and let us know! Let’s cheer each other on. 🥳

Turn your home into a celebration station with a Win Wall! This visual reminder helps the whole family recognize and celebrate progress together. 🎉

How to Create It:

1. Pick a spot (a whiteboard like this one, bulletin board, or even the fridge).

2. Write down wins as they happen—“Remembered to pack gym shoes,” “Stayed calm during sibling fight,” or “Finished a tough project.” Use sticky notes or colorful markers for fun! 

3. At the end of the week, gather around the wall and review the wins. Say something positive about each one, like, “I’m so proud of how you worked hard on that!”

This simple practice reinforces the importance of progress, no matter how small, and keeps the whole family motivated to keep trying. 

We’ve created a simple, family-friendly Progress Tracker that you can download, print, and start using today. This tool 🛠️ is designed to help you celebrate wins—big and small—and build confidence for everyone in your home. 

What’s Inside:

• Daily Progress Boxes: Track wins like completing homework, staying calm during challenges, or following a routine.

• Weekly Reflection Space: Celebrate the week’s highlights as a family.

Why It’s Great:

• Helps ADHD families focus on what’s going right.

• Boosts self-esteem for kids and adults alike.

• Creates a habit of celebrating progress and staying motivated.

👉 Download Your Progress Tracker using the link below and start turning small wins into big confidence boosters today!

One of the greatest joys of being in the ADHD wellness space is connecting with other passionate experts who get it: the ups, the downs, and the beautiful mess of parenting and thriving with ADHD. 

From time to time, my colleagues put together amazing summits and docuseries that I believe can bring real value to your journey. 

Here are three upcoming events that I’m a part of as a featured expert in ADHD and pediatrics. These are all about empowering YOU with knowledge, support, and tools you can use right away: 

1️⃣ Parenting Your ADHD Kid Summit 

This summit is packed with advice from top ADHD experts (including yours truly!) who understand the daily challenges families face. Learn strategies that actually work for kids with ADHD—and feel supported every step of the way.

Save your seat here 

2️⃣ Young & Thriving Docuseries 

This inspiring docuseries focuses on helping children, teens, and young adults thrive through natural, holistic health approaches. If you're curious about lifestyle medicine, brain health, and long-term resilience—this is a must-watch. I am SO thrilled to be one of the featured speakers in this docuseries! You’ll see me in Episode 1 (look for me at around the 18 minute mark and again at around the 52 minute mark), Episode 4, Episode 7, Episode 10, and Episode 11!! 

Sign up to watch here

3️⃣ Calm Connection Summit  

Feeling burned out or like you're always in reaction mode? The Calm Connection Summit brings together gentle parenting tools, regulation techniques, and emotional support from experts (like yours truly) to help you reconnect with your child and yourself. 

Save your seat here

Here is another great newsletter we highly recommend!

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Véronneau-Veilleux Florence , Robaey Philippe , Ursino Mauro , Nekka Fahima. A mechanistic model of ADHD as resulting from dopamine phasic/tonic imbalance during reinforcement learning. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. Volume 16 - 2022 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/computational-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncom.2022.849323 doi 10.3389/fncom.2022.849323

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