Setbacks.

Coach your child through setbacks and times when they feel they aren't able to do something. It's important you encourage your child not to give up if something is harder for them or they aren't good at it right away.

✅ This builds a trait called "grit" - someone's willingness to keep trying even when times are hard. 

✅ Research has shown having grit is a better predictor of later success and happiness than having a high IQ. 

While neurodivergent children face more challenges earlier in life they also have more opportunities to develop grit. If a child feels heard and encouraged, with the focus put on their level of effort instead of results, then they are more likely to develop grit. This means encouraging them to try their best, and rewarding them for effort. 

If you have a very literal child you might need to explain "doing their best" doesn't mean sacrificing their wellbeing and giving literally everything they have to the point of exhaustion.

✅ It means putting in effort, but not so much they can't meet their basic needs or have no time to relax or enjoy themselves. 

✅ It's doing the best they can while still doing those things, and sometimes life will be harder and that might mean doing less, and that's okay.