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What If It’s Not ADHD? How Personality Could Be the Real Answer | Blog Post 14

We’re living in an era where nearly every energetic, distracted, curious, talkative, or impulsive child is being funneled through the same question: “Do they have ADHD?”

But here’s a question we should be asking first: Is this ADHD — or is this just an ENFP?

Personality ≠ Disorder

Before we jump to diagnoses, it’s critical to understand something foundational: every child comes wired with a certain way of thinking, behaving, and interacting with the world. This isn’t pathology. This is personality.

Take the ENFP, for example — one of the 16 personality types.

ENFPs are naturally:

  • Energetic

  • Easily bored

  • Emotionally expressive

  • Big-picture thinkers

  • Motivated by meaning, not rules

  • Stimulus-seeking and socially driven

Sound like ADHD? It often does. But labeling an ENFP as “disordered” because they don’t function like an ISTJ (their polar opposite) misses the point — and risks doing real harm.

When I was asking my questions to determine personality for two children, that turned out to be ENFP.. the first question we ask is - do you want one cookie now or two in 10 minutes. The first ENFP said, very enthusiastically - I WANT 500 cookies and the other, a little older … goes… hmmm can I have one NOW AND one in 10 minutes… 

It was just so fascinating because those are the only two that I have gotten an ENFP typing, and the only two that have attempted to get more than what is offered.. No one else has attempted… anyways…

The Problem with Over-Diagnosing

When we fail to consider personality first, we:

  • Medicate traits that could be managed with structure, purpose, and connection

  • Shame kids for being wired differently

  • Push compliance over creativity

  • Miss the opportunity to build regulation through interest-based motivation

When a Label Helps — and When It Hurts

Now to be clear: ADHD is real. Diagnoses can be life-changing. Medication has a place. But the diagnosis should follow deep understanding — not replace it.

Ask:

  • Is this behavior showing up in every environment or just certain ones?

  • Does this child feel misunderstood or mismatched by their current setup?

  • Do their strengths show when they’re doing something they care about?

An ENFP in a quiet, structured classroom might look like a problem.An ENFP in a collaborative, creative, movement-rich environment?They might become a leader.

Why This Matters

Our systems are labeling kids for behaviors that often align with normal personality traits. And once labeled, the child starts seeing themselves as broken — not as someone with a unique brain in the wrong environment.

This doesn’t mean we ignore challenges. It means we respond with:

  • Personality-informed support

  • Interest-driven engagement

  • Clear, loving boundaries

  • Regulation-building strategies that match how the brain works

Final Thought

Before jumping to "what's wrong with this kid?" — pause and ask, "who is this kid?"

Because understanding personality may not replace a diagnosis — but it could prevent the wrong one.

More resources on the 16 personalities, child development, classroom management, and even structured literacy at: mindchild.net


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