Help a Child with ADHD Do Homework
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How to Help a Child with ADHD Do Homework
Homework can be difficult for any child to complete, but there are often additional challenges for a child with ADHD. Inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and difficulty concentrating make homework challenging for both the child and other family members. My 8 year old son has ADHD and homework time at our house has been the most negative time of day in our home. I have spent countless hours pleading with my son to do his homework. Homework sessions have left both me and my son frustrated, angry, and resentful, that's no way to begin and afternoon with your child.
I have found some helpful ways to ease the pain of homework time. There are still difficult days, but for the most part homework is completed without incident. I have had to let go of the traditional views on homework and embrace new ways of doing things, just as you will have to. After all,the most important thing is that your child learns from the homework.
I have found some helpful ways to ease the pain of homework time. There are still difficult days, but for the most part homework is completed without incident. I have had to let go of the traditional views on homework and embrace new ways of doing things, just as you will have to. After all,the most important thing is that your child learns from the homework.
Ways To Help A Child With ADHD Do Homework
- Prepare To Do Homework Before Begining
- Help Your Child Focus On The Work
- Inject Fun Into Homework
- Be Understanding
- 1,2,3 Magic Is Amazing
- Just A Small Sample Of Homework Time When A Child Has ADHD
- My Blog About ADHD And My Son
- Sound Off About ADHD
- ADHD In Blogs
- ADHD In The News
- "Energetic" Shirts
- What do you think about this lens? Do you have a story? Any tips?
Prepare To Do Homework Before Begining
* Take care of all needs before beginning- Have your child use the restroom, get a drink, and have a snack before doing homework.* Explain assignments-Explain exactly what is to be done and decide on an order for it to be done in. Why not give your child a choice when deciding what will be done.
* Let your child choose where to do homework-Sometimes my son sits at the desk, sometimes he sits or even lays in the floor, sometimes he lays on the bed. I don't care if he sits on the washer or dryer as long as he's doing his homework. It gives us one less thing to argue about.
* Limit distractions-Turn off the T.V, but allow music to be on in the background if your child likes it to be on. Make sure siblings are busy in a different room, and that the noise level is low.
Help Your Child Focus On The Work
* Allow your child to stand up and move around while doing homework as long as they are doing their work- Sometimes children with ADHD have to concentrate to be still. We don't want that, we want them concentrating on the work. If we allow them to fidget, tap their foot, rock, or what ever else, then we allow them to concentrate on the assignment. As long as work is being done, my son is free to move, but he must be doing his work.* If there is a lengthy assignment or if there are multiple assignments, break it up some with small breaks in between- I'd rather my son focus for a short time then have a break, than to argue with him about staying focused. Set a timer and give your child a 5 minute break every 10 to 15 minutes Each child is different, and the time they can focus might be less time. Try to gradually increase the time before breaks if your child can only focus for less than 10 minutes. Use a timer so that they know how much time they have.
Inject Fun Into Homework
* Let your child use a dry erase marker to practice spelling words on either a dry erase board or the front of the stove or refrigerator. (wipes right off)* Have your child teach you as he does his homework- he will be learning and you will get to find out how well he understands the concepts. After he teaches you, flip roles and teach him what he may not understand very well.
* If it is a long reading assignment take turns reading- He or She reads a sentence, then you read a sentence.
* Use a funny voice when reading to your child-Why not make a funny voice for each character?
* Have your child read aloud to a younger sibling. (My son loves to do this.) -It makes them feel all grown up.
Be Understanding
* If your child gets frustrated, let him or her walk away for a while and come back later* If your child doesn't understand the assignment, explain it in a different way or show him or her how to do it.
* Give positive feedback throughout the assignment Children with ADHD need positive feedback often.
* Follow the Positive/Negative/Positive way of giving feedback if there is something negative to point out- For example: "You did a great job putting that sentence together. I think cat is spelled wrong, it's spelled C-A-T. Your handwriting is wonderful."
If there is too much homework to handle in one evening, communicate with the teacher about it.
1,2,3 Magic Is Amazing
A must for any parent with a child with ADHD
Just A Small Sample Of Homework Time When A Child Has ADHD
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My Blog About ADHD And My Son
Caution My Kid Has ADHD
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Do children with ADHD need to be given alternate ways of doing things?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byAbsolutely!
Keeah says:
Of course, alternate ways both to get the work done and to capture and hold their interest in as many subjects as possible.
Posted October 15, 2011
teacher2 says:
As a teacher, having taught to several students with ADHD, throughout my career, I definitely agree with you! I loved the creative ways that you came up with through experience with your child. Thank you for sharing these tips with your readers! Great and useful lens!
Posted March 14, 2010
Momtothezoo says:
By all means...it is more diffifcult for them to function as we do and need to know they can handle tasks in the way best for them.
Posted August 05, 2009
RinchenChodron says:
Absolutely - often their learning modality is tactile not auditory or visual.
Posted March 16, 2009
luvmyludwig says:
I think regardless if a person has ADHD or not it is always helpfull to have more than one way to accomplish the same goal. Children with ADHD have different gifts, different ways of doing things, and different learning styles.We must teach to all learning styles.As parents we must adapt our ways to better showcase our children's talents.
Posted March 05, 2009
No Way!
ADHD In Blogs
Who's talking about ADHD?
- Shire Announces Judges Panel for Scholarship Program for Individuals with ADHD
- PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces a distinguished panel of judges for its ADHD scholarship program for the 2012-2013 academic year. The program is for individuals in the United States ...
- The Pipeline: ADD and ADHD Drug shortages challenge teens
- Mr. Mike Behrens holds an empty medicine bottle to show the effect of the recent shortages in ADD and ADHD drugs. - Katie Paul For teenagers with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), current shortages of ...
- ADHD: On the rise or over-diagnosed?
- Then others questioned whether ADHD was being over-diagnosed in people mimicking the symptoms. "I think it's being over-diagnosed, and I think that there's less tolerance of children and less ability to deal with their fluctuations," said Dr. Elias ...
- ADHD Parenting Book: Win a Copy of "Easy to Love but Hard to Raise"
- But if you are raising a child with ADHD, LD, or other "alphabet soup" conditions, I think you'll find that you have a lot in common with the fictional character in the Easy to Love introduction, excerpted below. So, tell me: How is your personal ...
ADHD In The News
What do you know about ADHD?
- Shire Announces Judges Panel for Scholarship Program for Individuals with ADHD
- PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces a distinguished panel of judges for its ADHD scholarship program for the 2012-2013 academic year. The program is for individuals in the United States ...
- The Pipeline: ADD and ADHD Drug shortages challenge teens
- Mr. Mike Behrens holds an empty medicine bottle to show the effect of the recent shortages in ADD and ADHD drugs. - Katie Paul For teenagers with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), current shortages of ...
- ADHD: On the rise or over-diagnosed?
- Then others questioned whether ADHD was being over-diagnosed in people mimicking the symptoms. "I think it's being over-diagnosed, and I think that there's less tolerance of children and less ability to deal with their fluctuations," said Dr. Elias ...
- ADHD Parenting Book: Win a Copy of "Easy to Love but Hard to Raise"
- But if you are raising a child with ADHD, LD, or other "alphabet soup" conditions, I think you'll find that you have a lot in common with the fictional character in the Easy to Love introduction, excerpted below. So, tell me: How is your personal ...
What do you think about this lens? Do you have a story? Any tips?
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Keeah
Oct 15, 2011 @ 12:00 pm | delete
- I'm a big fan of letting the child be the teacher for a change. I mention this on my Math lens and I'm going to add your link to my lens roll.
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Wednesday_Elf
Feb 18, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
- Better late than never.... finally compiled my SquidAngel Lens from my 'angel flight' last Fall. :-) So.... returning to tell you that this lens has now been 'featured on' and 'lensrolled to' "SquidAngel Blessings by an Elf".
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adhd-bipolar-depression
Jan 21, 2011 @ 1:59 am | delete
- Thank you for this lens.
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Muxlow78
Nov 12, 2010 @ 9:01 am | delete
- My daughter has adhd and homework time is not the easiest of times but I have to agree that your tips here do make things easier
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Wednesday_Elf
Sep 29, 2010 @ 5:47 am | delete
- My grandson has ADHD and homework time is frustrating for him. My son has had to find alternate ways of dealing with homework time then he does with the older brother, as concentration can be hard. Very good suggestions you have given here. I will share them with my son. ~~Blessed by a SquidAngel~~
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thesuccess
Sep 21, 2010 @ 3:23 am | delete
- A worthy lens, useful for any parent
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teacher2
Mar 14, 2010 @ 3:25 pm | delete
- I loved this lens! It introduces a variety of creative ways to make homework an easier task to perform. It makes it easier for both parents and child. Keep up the good work! I intend to promote this lens on one of mine, on a similar topic.
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Momtothezoo
Aug 5, 2009 @ 10:32 pm | delete
- Hey, haven't heard from you in weeks...where ya been? I really needed this lens. My five year old granddaughter, Devin, has just been diagnosed with ADHD and began meds which have really helped. She begins Kindergarten next week and we are so hoping her ability to stay on task will be improved from preschool last year...she had a rough year. She is so very intelligent but the classroom is difficult for her. Thank you for this helpful information. I am glad my daughter is a teacher...this will help a great deal in her ability to cope with Devin's needs.
Jeanie
http://www.squidoo.com/eugenias-short-stories
http://www.squidoo.com/foster-teen-parenting
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FunGifts4All
Jul 30, 2009 @ 8:36 pm | delete
- Another great lens. Again, I can relate. My son has ADHD and I went through a lot of that. Positive feedback is important. But, hang in there. My son is now 19 years old, going to college and plans on joining the police academy. Homework was always tough with him. Your tips are right on the money.
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OhMe
Apr 27, 2009 @ 6:38 am | delete
- I used to tutor students with learning disabilities. I had elementary age and college age students. I found that the most of the ones with ADHD were visual learners. We would work together making colorful descriptive posters of the subject matter and practice remembering what it looked like.
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by luvmyludwig
luvmyludwig
For More information and tips, ADHD humor, and more visit My ADHD Blog: Caution, My Kid Has ADHD.
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