Homework Tips
With ADHD
Homework Tips with ADHD – In the States we are starting our second half of the school year, and there is a renewed determination to get back on track, or stay on track. Homework is often a struggle time for students and parents alike.
Here are some quick, easy tips for managing the dreaded combination of homework and ADHD. These tips can be applied to ourselves or our kids, and are applicable to students of any age.
As always, take what works for you and leave the rest. If you have a tip you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it!
Create The Perfect Environment
When parents or students come to me regarding a struggle with getting homework done one of the first things we look at is – do you have a dedicated environment set up for your needs? Here are some things to consider.
- Create a dedicated area that you feel comfortable in, use it only for homework.
- Cater to your sensory needs – pay attention to the lighting that you enjoy, what sounds are near by, does your environment allow for movement if needed, etc. Create the ambiance that helps you feel good.
- Have everything you need within reach – having to get up and go find a supply is an invitation to get distracted.
Pick The Right Time
This one comes up more frequently with parents trying to get their kids to do their homework than it does with independent learners. Many of us tend to want our kids to do their homework on a time schedule that works for us. But is it the best for our kids?
- Do they need to unwind after school before tackling homework?
- Do they prefer to get right to it and get it out of the way?
- Do they have a lot of homework and need to do it in chunks?
- Does the time of day dedicated to homework have other obligations competing for their attention?
Learn What Works For You
There are a million and a half different strategies out there, and most people will tell you that THEIR way works best. But the reality is – MOST of those things do work for some people. But not everyone. So the trick is really about figuring out what strategies and tips work for you and/or your kid and lean into those. Here’s just a few things to consider.
- Do you like to have company with you? Consider homework buddies.
- Do you like to listen to music or like it totally quiet?
- Does making a game of getting it done motivate you?
- What things tend to distract you?
- Do you like to work on one project at a time or do you like to multitask?
Get Rid of It
One of the things I wish most that I had known as a mom of ADHD kids was that – home work can be excluded. Schools don’t like to tell you that, but if they are in the states and not privately funded, they have the IEP process. No homework IS an accommodation that can be requested and approved, even if they tell you otherwise. This is especially true of your child shows mastery of the skill they are teaching by repetitive homework.
- Request no homework at all, and push back if the school says that’s not possible.
- Request limited homework – this can look like – only the first 10 problems of a 30 problem sheet, or no more than one subject at a time, etc.
- Request accommodations – if you need to listen to something vs read, or verbally give a report instead of written – request the accommodations that you or your child need to be successful.
Let’s Work Together
If you or your child are struggling with homework, I’d love to partner together to find a better way. I can help you brainstorm accommodation requests and strategies, and I can help your student develop strategies for homework and school studies as well.
Book a free, no obligation discovery session with me today and let’s discuss how we make homework time less of a dreaded, tear-filled time.
PS – if you have ADHD or are the parent or caregiver of someone with ADHD, join one or both of my FREE and INCLUSIVE communities today for weekly topics, encouragement, celebrations, and mutual support.
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