You can start by setting up a space where your child will most likely succeed. We recommend you start this process before your child brings home any work. It will be much easier to do on a day when actually *doing* homework isn’t necessary. Having a space is the first step to success for children with ADHD and homework. You can find our favorite homework space products here. 

1. Involve your child

One of the most significant predictors of success with ANY system you set up is this: you need to get your child’s buy-in! Kids with ADHD often notice when grown-ups are doing things “for” them instead of “with” them, and this can cause your child to eventually be resistant to your help.

Getting your child’s buy-in can be done differently depending on your child. If interested in art, have them create drawings to hang in the space. If your child has sensory needs, ask them what type of fidgets would be helpful in the space. You get the idea!

Of course, you will probably need to set parameters around the space (my daughter would paint the entire room with purple and glitter if she were given the chance!) but allow them to make choices whenever possible.

2. Find a quiet space

Remember that it does NOT need to be fancy when thinking about your homework space. Most importantly, the space is quiet and distraction-free (as much as possible). This means that in your child’s homework space, you don’t want electronics, a lot of toys, or siblings playing.

Because of differences in executive function, kids with ADHD often have difficulty getting back on task after an interruption, so the goal is to limit those interruptions as much as possible.

3. Get all of your supplies ready

This one sounds straightforward but takes some planning. Again, involve your child in gathering and choosing the supplies they will use whenever possible. We recommend having the basic school supplies (scissors, glue, pencils, erasers, lined paper, white paper, colored pencils, and tape) nearby.

Bonus tip: Home organization is so helpful for ADHD brains. If you can, putting these school supplies into an art caddy can be a real lifesaver! Here is one that we often use and recommend: Art Caddy (affiliate link).

4. Set a timer

A visual timer can be a HUGE lifesaver for helping your child visualize how much time is left… especially on the “boring” tasks!

We are big fans of the Time Timer (affiliate link; you can save 5% with code: TCC). We will explain more about how to use this for homework in our next blog post on ADHD and homework!

More support for ADHD and homework

What questions do you have about ADHD and homework? Let us know in the comments!

If your child is struggling significantly with homework, more support may be needed. It can be incredibly overwhelming to navigate the school system, and we are here to help. We have an online course, Shining at School, which will give you tools you need to help your child with ADHD shine at school.

We also have an after school printable that you can easily customize to include the homework routine. By creating this visual for your child, you can give WAY less reminders and grow their independence.

Have a beautiful week,

Katie, Lori, and Mallory