Homework Strategies for Children with ADHD
- By Bruce Ravenscraft, LCSW
- •
- 16 Feb, 2018
- •
Ways to help your child with ADHD successfully complete homework assignments
Homework time can be very stressful in households where there is a child with ADHD. There are several strategies parents can utilize to decrease that stress and help their child complete homework assignments with a lot less yelling and tears, including:
* Utilize an agenda/daily planner book for school assignments and behavior feedback from teachers. This is a great tool for communication between you and your child's teacher and to help your child stay organized. You will need to speak to your child's teacher or teachers to arrange to utilize a daily agenda book for your child.
* Help your child organize folders and backpack every school night. Your child's backpack and folders will be stuffed with random papers, half-completed assignments, and lapsed school notices if you do not take this step.
* Set aside a quiet homework area with limited distractions, such as television or siblings playing.
* Break down assignments into smaller blocks (if assigned 20 math problems, break it down to 4 sets of 5 with a short break in between each set).
* Highlight or underline directions in homework handouts.
* For math use lined or graph paper to complete homework to help your child keep numbers lined up. Color code operation signs (+, -, etc.).
* For reading, read together with your child allowing them to read and helping them with difficult words.
* Be available to help child with completing homework.
* Give small rewards for completing work (stickers, snacks, 15 minutes extra media time, verbal praise, hugs, high fives).
Many parents with children with ADHD dread homework time, but with the above strategies you can make homework time a more positive and productive experience.
Next Blog: Increasing Your Child's Resiliency
* Utilize an agenda/daily planner book for school assignments and behavior feedback from teachers. This is a great tool for communication between you and your child's teacher and to help your child stay organized. You will need to speak to your child's teacher or teachers to arrange to utilize a daily agenda book for your child.
* Help your child organize folders and backpack every school night. Your child's backpack and folders will be stuffed with random papers, half-completed assignments, and lapsed school notices if you do not take this step.
* Set aside a quiet homework area with limited distractions, such as television or siblings playing.
* Break down assignments into smaller blocks (if assigned 20 math problems, break it down to 4 sets of 5 with a short break in between each set).
* Highlight or underline directions in homework handouts.
* For math use lined or graph paper to complete homework to help your child keep numbers lined up. Color code operation signs (+, -, etc.).
* For reading, read together with your child allowing them to read and helping them with difficult words.
* Be available to help child with completing homework.
* Give small rewards for completing work (stickers, snacks, 15 minutes extra media time, verbal praise, hugs, high fives).
Many parents with children with ADHD dread homework time, but with the above strategies you can make homework time a more positive and productive experience.
Next Blog: Increasing Your Child's Resiliency
How to determine if your child may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.