how to motivate adhd child to do homework

7 Ways To Motivate A Kid With ADHD To Do Homework And Chores

Start by meeting your kid where they are — and really listen to what they’re telling you.

All parents fight with their kids to do their chores or homework, but with kids who have ADHD, it’s a whole other battle. Children with ADHD are neurologically wired to have difficulty starting and finishing tasks . They often struggle with executive functioning , a family of mental skills that includes the ability to plan, conceptualize, and execute goals. All of this means that completing everyday tasks such as homework and chores — or even getting up for school — can become major points of difficulty for some kids, and major points of conflict between them and their parents.

That doesn’t mean that the only option is to push your way through. For children (and adults) with ADHD, staying on task can sometimes be as easy as reframing the process using management and motivation styles that better fit their needs and are more suited to the way they think. While the same strategies won’t work for everyone, these seven tips are a great place to start figuring out the right setup to keep your kid with ADHD on task.

1. A Little Understanding Goes a Long Way

Start by meeting your kid where they are — and really listen to what they’re saying. When a child appears disinterested or unable to start a task or an assignment, try to identify anything that might be getting in their way. ADHD and anxiety often go hand in hand , and tasks can feel overwhelming if they’re long and complex, or they may bring up some underlying discomfort (like assignments from that one terrifying teacher). Once you know what obstacles your child is facing, you’ll be better poised to find ways to overcome them. And yes, being bored definitely counts as one of these obstacles.

2. Break Down Larger Goals

Maintaining focus and motivation over a long period of time is difficult for kids with ADHD — it’s like trying to remember your place in a book with pages that won’t stop flipping around. Plenty of projects can be broken down into discrete parts, and writing them down on a piece of paper or a whiteboard can help free up brain space and encourage your child to focus on one step at a time, says Carey Heller, Psy.D. , a Maryland-based psychologist who specializes in childhood and adolescent ADHD. Try finding a way to help your child unwind in between each step.

3. Encourage Routine

“Creating structure is really important,” Heller says. Small routines, like a pre-homework snack after school followed by a set reminder to do homework , can help create a familiar flow of activities that eliminates the need to spend mental energy on planning when to tackle heftier tasks.

Knowing when a change in activity is coming is also a huge boon for the ADHD brain, which can easily become fixated and difficult to redirect . “For example, if a child is reading for fun, or playing a game of some kind, suddenly being surprised by parents saying ‘It's time to do homework ’ may make them yell or react a little more strongly because of the difficulty shifting attention, rather than it being that they truly don't want to do it,” Heller says. If it’s a routine that game time stops at 5 p.m. everyday, switching away from that activity will likely be less of a fight.

4. Set Reminders

When it comes to ADHD , organization is key. Luckily, there’s no shortage of tools to help parents and children achieve it. For older kids with smartphones, using the reminder and calendar apps to break up tasks into to-dos and deadlines is just a matter of building the habit. For parents of younger children, or those who may not want their kids relying on screens to manage their planning, smart home devices can act as hands-free virtual assistants for even the tiniest of tots. Heller says he uses his own Amazon Echo to set reminders so often that his son was listing off his own tasks to the device at the age of 4. For a tech-free option, paper planners can be a huge help to older kids — some are even made specifically for those with ADHD . The best reminder system for your kid, Heller says, is whichever one they’ll use.

5. Add Rewards

It’s what we all want for a job well done — something to look forward to. There’s good evidence that the dopamine reward pathway — the portion of the brain that makes you feel good when you accomplish something — is disrupted in people with ADHD, leading to a deficit in the ability to motivate from within . Thankfully, there’s also evidence that for children under 12 , having an extrinsic reward, or something tangible to look forward to, can improve performance on a task.

For bigger projects, Heller suggests sprinkling rewards along the way. Which rewards work best is going to vary a ton from child to child, but options such as a favorite meal or quality time with a parent tend to be a hit in his office.

6. Embrace Fidgeting

Sure, your kid has to sit still at school. But at home, there’s no need to be so rigid. Heller swears by the strategy of “ harnessing fidgeting to improve focus .” Turn your kid’s desk into the most fun home office in the house with items like an under-desk elliptical, a balance board, or even a simple standing desk setup — find what clicks for them. Even something as simple as pacing the room while reading can help some kids with ADHD stay engaged.

7. Remember: You’re There to Guide

Helping your child manage their ADHD is all about “parenting for independence ,” Heller says. He encourages parents to develop strategies that their children and teens can take into adulthood and use themselves, rather than ones that require constant parental involvement. For younger kids, modeling certain routines and behaviors can be a huge push in the right direction.

This article was originally published on Aug. 16, 2022

Nine Homework Strategies for Kids with ADHD

Kids with ADHD

It’s that time of day again: your 8-year-old steps off the school bus with a backpack full of homework that will soon be sprawled across your kitchen table.

After a warm hug and a kiss on the head, you take a deep breath and clench your jaw in anticipation of the struggle to come.

Sound familiar?

When you’re a parent of a child with ADHD, homework time can feel like a burden … or even a battle.

But chances are, you’re also determined to do whatever it takes to help your child succeed, grow, and gain independence. So, day after day, you sit down beside her, determined and committed to work through the wiggling and the daydreaming to help her get the work done.

The good news is that with a little planning and some smart homework strategies, you can help make homework time smoother, more focused, and more successful for your child with attention challenges.

9 Strategies to Help Your Child with ADHD Concentrate

You and your child CAN do this, and it doesn’t have to be a battle.

Here are 9 straightforward strategies that you can implement today to help your child concentrate at home and get his or her work done.

Prepare Your Mindset

Before homework time even begins – preferably before your child even steps off the bus – take time to prepare yourself.

Take a few deep breaths, inhaling slowly through your nose, counting to 3, and then exhaling slowly through your mouth. Adopt a flexible mindset and be ready to adjust your strategies as you watch how your child transitions to homework time and how her needs change over time.

The most important thing you can do for your child with ADHD – or for any child, really – is be present, empathic, and supportive.

Above all, remember that even when the work feels tough, you’re both on the same team.

Set Realistic Expectations

After preparing your mindset, make sure you set expectations that match your child’s developmental level. Take a moment to reflect. Do you ask your 8-year-old with ADHD to finish 3 worksheets in one sitting? Or do you provide breaks?

If you’re asking too much of your child during homework time, one or both of you may end up in tears. However, setting realistic expectations can prevent frustration, disappointment, and conflict – and ultimately help your child succeed and grow little by little.

Reduce Distractions

Now that you’ve worked on your own mindset and expectations, it’s time for more detailed homework strategies.

Environment affects concentration. So, choose a homework space for your child with minimal sensory distractions. What can your child see, hear, and touch in the area that may interfere with focus?

Watch your child in that space. What seems to distract him from the work at hand? Is the desk next to a window, with squirrels and birds outside grabbing his attention? Does a sibling have music going in an adjacent room, with the noise reaching the homework space? Is the room too hot or cold?

If your child needs to work in a high-traffic area of the home, if siblings are nearby, or if other noises are difficult to control, consider using noise-canceling headphones. (And see tip #8 for listening ideas.) Of course, this will work best for kids who are old enough to complete significant portions of work without you having to talk them through it.

Here are more quick tips on creating a helpful homework space .

Set A Routine

All kids thrive on routine – and even more so for kids with ADHD . Routines provide structure, security, and predictability . They also make the logistics of day-to-day life run more smoothly.

Following a consistent, simple routine for completing homework sets you and your child up for success. Once you establish a routine, you will both know what to expect, and as the routine forms habits, tasks will feel easier than they did before. Homework time will be less of a battle.

Inevitably, though, events and life changes will threaten to interrupt your routine. That means sometimes you’ll need that flexible mindset you adopted earlier to revamp your plan. Other times, you’ll need to stand strong: stick to your routine even when it would be easier to let it slide for a while.

When a routine must be interrupted or changed, try to give your child advance notice and talk about what she can expect in the future.

Break Work into Chunks

Large projects can be overwhelming for kids with ADHD. So, if your child brings home a hefty assignment, break it up into shorter, simpler parts. For younger children, you will need to do this planning yourself. But, if your child is old enough, this is a great opportunity for modeling and collaborating.

Is the assignment writing a paragraph? Perhaps start with developing a topic sentence, then take a short break before writing the supporting sentences. After those successes, your child may feel ready to write a concluding sentence without another break. But, if she needs a breather, no problem.

Each step or section completed is a success to celebrate. Plan for completing work in manageable segments – and consider using a fun visual to track progress – and homework won’t feel as daunting.

Take Breaks

This strategy goes hand-in-hand with the last one, and can be helpful for kids with either type of ADHD (hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive) .

Between activities or chunks of homework, offer your child plenty of short breaks. These prevent fatigue and give kids something to look forward to after each task.

How you use each break depends on your child: you might try five minutes of exercise, looking at a favorite book, going for a short walk, or LEGO building.

Use A Timer

Even when you’ve broken homework into more manageable chunks, you may not know exactly how long a task will take. After 15 minutes on a worksheet, you may realize it’s going to take too long for one sitting.

This is where a timer can help, especially one your child can see counting down. Set the timer before starting a task so your child knows no matter what his pace, he’ll get a breather. Then if the work is feeling tough, for example, you can say, “Look, only 3 more minutes until we take a break!”

You can also challenge your child to see if she can work for 10 (or 15 or 20) minutes without any distractions, or answer a certain number of questions before the timer goes off. As always, watch to make sure this is helpful and motivating rather than stressful – and be flexible to change if needed.

Incorporate Music

To enhance concentration, you can also plug in those noise-canceling headphones mentioned earlier and try playing music during homework time. Music actually helps develop parts of the brain that tend to be underdeveloped in people with ADHD.

For many kids, instrumental music is best, since lyrics could be distracting. Otherwise, the type of music you choose will depend on your child’s preferences and, more importantly, how he or she seems to react to a specific type. Take the time to notice what helps your child relax, get moving, or stay more focused.

In general, avoid music that seems chaotic or arrhythmic, and try to avoid using a music player that will include commercials, which may break your child’s concentration. Here’s more advice on choosing music , and even some suggested playlists.

Allow Movement

Kids with ADHD sometimes seem like they ‘can’t sit still.’ Thankfully, their energy and motion can actually help them concentrate and perform better on cognitive tasks .

So, embrace your child’s need to move as a way to increase focus while doing homework. Feel free to get creative and customize this to fit your child. Maybe it’s as simple as playing with a fidget toy while reading aloud, or maybe it’s playing hopscotch while reciting math facts.

As a side benefit, this can make homework time more fun, which in turn makes it less of a battle and easier to build good homework habits. Movement for the win!

Bottom Line: Use What Works

As you reflect on these strategies, keep in mind that you don’t have to implement them all at once. Choose one or two to try first, then integrate the others as you need or want. Since every child is different, above all, watch to see which strategies are most helpful. Keep what helps and don’t worry about the rest.

Helping your child with ADHD concentrate to do their homework can be a daily struggle – but with these simple strategies, the time can be structured, successful, and perhaps even fun for both of you.

Finding Support

As you continue this beautiful, challenging journey of caring for someone with ADHD, Advenium offers support for both you and your child, with activity-based groups that focus on holistic healing. From fitness-assisted therapy to play therapy and parenting workshops, we have something for adults, adolescents, and children. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment or click here to learn more.

• https://impactparents.com/blog/adhd/a-huge-aha-for-the-adhd-parent-set-realistic-expectations/
• https://www.additudemag.com/how-to-make-study-space-homework-help/
• https://www.verywellmind.com/why-is-structure-important-for-kids-with-adhd-20747
• https://impactparents.com/blog/adhd/strategies-to-make-homework-easier-for-kids-and-parents/
• https://chadd.org/for-educators/classroom-accommodations/
• https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-music#potential-benefits
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150611082116.htm

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Help a Child with ADHD Do Homework

Last Updated: March 29, 2022

This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD . Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care. This article has been viewed 12,838 times.

Getting a child with ADHD to focus on their school work can be a challenge, especially if there are assignments, readings, and due dates involved. You can help a child with ADHD complete their homework with flying colors by introducing methods for learning at school and at home. You should also focus on staying positive and supportive of the child with ADHD so you both feel a sense of accomplishment when the homework gets done.

Preparing for Homework at School

• You may ask the teacher to hand out a typed assignment sheet to take home, especially if the child has attention deficits that make it difficult for them to copy down the homework in their notebook.

• If the child tends to forget to hand back in their assignments, their teacher can include a sheet for a parent to sign once the homework has been completed and packed in the child’s bag. This will serve as a reminder to the child’s parent to check that the homework has been done and is packed in the child’s school bag.

• The “study buddy” system can help the child make sure they bring home the books they need for the assignment. It can also ensure the child with ADHD stays organized.
• Another option is to get the child to join a homework club, where they spend time with other students and a tutor after school to get their work done. This can be useful if the child’s medication is still working after school and you want to keep them motivated to do their schoolwork.

• You can then work with the child's teacher to modify the IEP so the child has less homework or a lightened workload. For example, as part of the child's IEP, maybe the teacher assigns only the odd-numbered math problems for the child or five homework questions instead of ten. This can help the child still learn and get their work done, without being overly stressed or frustrated.
• You may also talk to the child’s teacher about spreading out the child’s assignments so they are not due all at once as part of the child's IEP. You may sit down with them and create a schedule of assignments that will fit the child’s abilities and time management skills. This can make the child feel less overwhelmed, but still get their work done.

Helping the Child at Home

• Having your own copy of the child’s assignments will also allow you to read them over beforehand. You can then help the child with the assignment and break it into manageable chunks for the child.

• You may set the homework time for right after school, especially if your child does well with staying in “school mode” at the end of the day. Or you may give the child a break after school and then prepare them for homework time ten to fifteen minutes ahead of time.
• Some children do well with warnings a few minutes before homework time, such as reminders to “get their brain turned to homework” or “have their mind set to homework mode.”

• Keep the child’s homework spot stocked with school supplies, an extra set of school books, and folders for their assignments. You may also make sure they have a reading lamp and lots of writing utensils in their spot.
• Make sure the homework spot is free from distractions such as TV, phones, or frequent visitors. A room through which other family members are constantly passing, for instance, may not be the best spot.

• For example, you may block out the child’s homework in 20 minute chunks, followed by short breaks. You may schedule 20 minutes on math homework, followed by a five minute break. Then, the next 20 minutes may be on social studies homework, followed by another five minute break.
• You may also set a timer for 20 minutes and place it in front of the child so they stay motivated. Once the timer goes off, you may then allow them to take a five minute break to do something else.

Staying Positive and Supportive

• Try to encourage the child to come up with an answer on their own before you help them. You do not want to do their work for them or allow them to lean on you too much.
• If you notice the child has reached their threshold, but they have not finished their work, do not try to force them to keep going. Speak to their teacher about assigning less work so the child can still get some work done.

• You can also use verbal praise as a reward. A simple “Great job!” or “Excellent!” can encourage the child to stay positive and focused as they do their assignments.
• You should offer the child a reward if they get good grades on their homework. You may take them on a fun outing or get them an item they really want as a reward for doing well.

• You should also make sure they have put their completed homework in their bag so it is ready to turn into their teacher. This will ensure the homework ends up in the right hands and that the child gets graded by their teacher.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1034.html
• ↑ https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/simple-homework-tips-for-kids-with-add-and-adhd/
• ↑ http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7006.html

About this article

Reader Success Stories

May 22, 2019

Did this article help you?

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

3 Homework Strategies for Teens With ADHD

How they can get their homework done..

Posted September 28, 2023 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• What Is ADHD?
• Find counselling to overcome ADHD
• Completing homework can be difficult for kids with ADHD.
• Phones can be a major distraction for children with ADHD, so take them away before they start working.
• With the body-double method, a child works on their homework in the same room with another person.

It’s the start of a new school year, the honeymoon phase is slowly beginning to fade, and the rigor of academics is taking off. Every year, I begin the new school year with a mountain-high amount of hope that the summer served as a source of maturation and consolidation of a new set of skills. In many ways, I’m correct and my three children show a new level of growth.

For kids with attention -deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ), or executive functioning struggles, the start of a new school year often comes with a greater need for organization of school materials, time management , prioritization, and study skills.

One thing I hear from parents is that their child may spend hours "working" on homework and have nothing to show for it. How can that be? Well, I went to my best source of information: adolescents.

The responses were honest and raw. I heard that they start their homework, but then the phone dings, or they get an idea about a show or a game, and look it up (because they can). Before they know it, so much time has passed and little or no progress on their assignments has been made.

This is usually the time when a parent checks in and the young man or lady tries to "look" busy, but truly, no real work has been done. Or, teens have said to me that’s when they “bark” at their parents and ask to be left alone. Part of that response is the awareness that they have been sitting in front of their homework for a while but little has been done, and the other part is pure frustration and procrastination .

And this cycle continues on and on, for hours. Sound familiar?

Let’s talk about a few strategies that you can initiate at home that will help with building those executive functioning skills while getting their homework done.

The Body Double Method

Some of us get the most done when nobody is around, with no sound, in the silence. For some of our children and adolescents with ADHD, it helps to have another person in the same room or nearby.

Perhaps it’s knowing that the person is present and can check in at any time that maintains focus and improves productivity . Some of us need the presence of another person to regulate and ground us. That person doesn’t have to say or do anything, they just need to exist. This is known as our body double.

Speaking from experience, my preference is to set my computer at the kitchen counter and work while my kids are around me. I have always preferred the buzz of other people in the background, rather than working alone.

My son, on the other hand, prefers to work in his room because he finds our "human sounds" too distracting. My daughter likes to work on her homework sprawled out, in the middle of my kitchen floor. We each have our preferences and those preferences can even shift from assignment to assignment.

If you’re not sure if your child or adolescent needs you to serve as her body double, ask her. If she isn’t sure, experiment. That is, set your child up on the same floor as you are, perhaps at the kitchen table or in your dining room (or another room that has a table and a chair). Ask your child to complete one assignment and then assess it. Was it helpful to work near you or was it too distracting?

If your child responds that he was able to get through his assignment quickly and with focus, you have your answer. Now you know that your child is going to need to set up at a table or workspace somewhere by you, instead of sending her up to her room.

Put the Phone Down and Nobody Gets Hurt

Distractions are around our children with ADHD all the time. The chirping bird or the passing truck can very easily result in a turned head. For many of our children and adolescents, their ability to filter out background sound is difficult.

They may hear all sounds in the environment at an equal level. Imagine if you couldn’t filter out the buzzing of the lawnmower while you were sending an email. It can be overwhelming and exhausting.

Now, let’s compound that with a vibrating phone or the "ping" that signals your child that someone has reacted to the last SnapChat—omg, I need to check. The temptation is there to check Instagram every time your child doesn’t want to start a writing assignment or finds that chapter in social studies really boring .

Let’s take away a layer of distraction that is tangible. Ask your child to turn their phone in once they begin their homework. All of the texts and other social media notifications will be there once they return, but in the meantime, their homework will get done.

Estimate and Time It

Children with ADHD tend to think that any assignment will take the figurative "five minutes." How many times have you thought, “You’re going to finish a paper that was assigned two weeks ago in an hour?”

He may think that it will take "five minutes" given that his sense of time is not entirely accurate. To build that sense of time, I like to ask students, “How long do you think this math worksheet will take?”

Whatever the answer is, set the timer to that estimated time and let the child work. Once time is up, ask him to assess, “How far did you get on this worksheet?” If you notice he’s completed half, ask him, “It looks like you finished about half of the problems in X minutes. How much longer do you think you’ll need?”

This will begin to develop that sense of time and what is a realistic amount of time to finish different assignments. It may also take him another 50 practice runs just like this until that sense of time begins to develop.

But by the 51st time, your child may be able to say, “I think it’s going to take 15 minutes so it’s going to take 30 minutes. Whatever I think, I double it.”

Setting the timer also gives your child a sense of beginning and end. For students who struggle to begin a task, this can motivate them to begin, and for the student who struggles to sustain attention to an assignment, this gives an end in sight. Setting the timer can also bring a sense of levity to homework in that the goal is to complete the assignment before the bell rings.

For an assignment that requires a longer time to complete, set the timer for the duration of your child’s attention span. If she can work on one task for 30 minutes, set the timer for 30 minutes and go.

Once the time is up, ask your child to walk away from her work area, set the timer for five minutes, and take a break. During that break, encourage your child to move around, engage in jumping jacks, or stare out the window, but do not engage in anything electronically based. Then, set the timer for another 30 minutes, and repeat this cycle until the assignment is completed.

Try using any or all of these strategies at home, but introduce one at a time so as not to overwhelm your child. Once you introduce the strategy, don’t do it for them, but rather model how to do it so there is a level of ownership.

For example, if you want to help your son plan the upcoming week, you can stand by the whiteboard but hand the red marker to him and ask, “Do you have anything in math coming up?” If he says yes, ask him to write it. You ask, he answers, he writes.

To turn any of these strategies into a habit, practice the skill for two weeks at the very least, consistently. If it works, keep it. If it doesn’t, scrap it and try another strategy. It’s a journey but along the way, you will ultimately put your child in the driver’s seat.

Liz Nissim-Matheis, Ph.D. , is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and certified School Psychologist in private practice in New Jersey.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Support Group
• International
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Brain O' Pedia
• General Parenting
• Kids Activities
• Kids Section
• Learning Technology
• Offline Learning
• Online Tutoring

7 Strategies To Help ADHD Children With Homework

Did you know that 6.1 million children have ADHD, according to a national survey conducted in 2016? Are you a parent who is having difficulty assisting your ADHD child with studies and homework? Don’t be anxious! We know, no youngster enjoys sitting for homework, but it is more difficult for an ADHD child. However, we have 7 strategies to help ADHD children with homework and studies.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most common childhood neurological disorders. A child becomes hyperactive and unable to focus on any tasks. Having ADHD changes the biology of the brain, which leads to changes in behavior in kids. Such children don’t think much before doing any actions and are hyper-active. Moreover, children are easily distracted and have difficulties following the rules and directions.

Symptoms Of ADHD

1. The child gets restless most of the time. 

2. Unable to concentrate on studies. 

3. A child is distracted and can’t focus on tasks. 

4. These kids talk too much and can’t remain calm.

5. They make careless mistakes.

6. Kids are always jumping and moving. 

7. Take trouble taking action without thinking much about results. 

8. Such kids have difficulty in getting along with other kids. 

9. Always daydreaming. 

10. Forget about things easily. 

1. Design A Kid-Friendly Homework Station

Find a comfortable spot in your house to set up a kid-friendly homework station . Choose a quiet corner in your home for your child to study. This corner should be secluded from any sort of distractions. This place should be devoid of noises of siblings, televisions, or any other sounds. 

Such kids have limited attention spans, and they get easily distracted. So, if you won’t make them sit in a quiet spot for studies, they will zone out in a few minutes and start daydreaming or get hyperactive. 

You can add some calming and concentration-boosting music. Moreover, after the consultation with the doctor, you can also use essential oils in diffusers which induce calmness, relaxation, and reduce anxiety. Thus, use essential oils like Sandalwood, Orange, Lavender, and Chamomile. So, create a calming environment to help ADHD children with homework and studies. 

2. Split-Up Homework  

Such kids can easily get overwhelmed with a large pile of homework lists. The aim is to make the child work on small chunks of tasks to eradicate the overwhelming emotions in kids.

 Consider this scenario; you are hungry, and seeing too much food on your plate, lessens your desire to eat. And if you start eating, you won’t be able to finish it in one go. On the contrary, you can eat the same amount of food in smaller quantities or one at a time.

 Similarly, ADHD children become overwhelmed when faced with a large amount of work; however, introducing the task in smaller portions makes it easier for them to work. 

Related Article: How to Boost Lagging Students During Online Classes?

3.  Individualized Education Program (IEP)

It is one of the most effective strategies to help ADHD children with homework and study. Through this, you can ask the school teachers to lessen the homework load, provide study aids, extra time, supplement questions banks, 1:1 online tutoring, valuable resources to study, and bonus learning materials to modify the education of the students according to the need or requirements. 

For example, if a teacher assigns four chapters to learn, they can decrease it to two to help an ADHD student focus better. Moreover, you can create schedules for the child to finish the homework according to it without making them feel stressed or frustrated.

4. Physical Exercise For ADHD Child

We’ve all heard how important it is to exercise. It is not only beneficial to ADHD children but also for every individual. Exercising is an integral part of life to lead a healthy and positive lifestyle. 

Moreover, It’s a proven fact that if parents expose ADHD kids to daily exercises, it can help them concentrate and focus better on studies and homework. Moreover, If you can combine physical workouts, yoga classes , and breathing techniques with medications, they will be able to control their symptoms better. 

Thus, exercises can help ADHD children enhance their mood and focus. Also, Exercises increase the activity in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in learning and memory. Moreover, playing sports helps kids to be more mindful and active.

5. Provide Verbal Feedback & Rewards

When your child finishes the homework on time, offer verbal feedback to motivate them. Helping ADHD child focus is a long journey, and it requires a lot of pampering, feedback, and rewards for encouragement. 

Tell them words like, “I am proud of you,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re doing good,” and more. Words carry positive energy and value. If you provide feedback to kids, they will feel good about themselves. It is a great way to motivate ADHD kids and make them feel important. Moreover, Make a point of praising their efforts rather than criticizing them. They may become defensive, believing that you do not appreciate what they have done. 

Furthermore, give them regular rewards such as 1 hour extra game time, their favorite ice cream, 1-hour extra playtime, and so on. It will also encourage them to complete their homework. 

6. Introduce The POMODORO Study Technique

Helping ADHD child with homework is not a child’s play because they can’t focus for more than 30 minutes. The POMODORO study strategy is the finest way to help ADHD children with homework. It’s a technique that allows youngsters to take proper breaks while also allowing them to focus better.

What is the Pomodoro technique? 

1 – Choose a pending homework.

2 – Set a timer for 25 minutes. 

3 – Work till the timer beeps.

4 – Take a break for 5 minutes!

5 – Repeat this cycle four times.

6 – After completing 4 cycles, take a longer break for 15-30 minutes.

7. Let Them Choose What They Want To Study

Allow your children to choose what they want to study or which subject’s homework they want to complete first. Forcing them to study will anger, disappoint, and irritate them. As a result, the goal for such children should be learning rather than grades. Let them have their own choices and ideas. Make sure children understand the concepts taught. Also, It is a great way to teach them. They will feel motivated and empowered knowing that they have chosen something for which they are interested. Moreover, This will also help them focus and learn without being distracted. 

Related Article: Excellent Tips For Balancing Studies with Extracurricular Activities

Final Thoughts 

 ADHD is a disorder and it cannot be treated without medications. Thus, if you combine these strategies along with medications, then this will work wonders for your child to overcome study challenges and distractions. They cannot handle their behavior and can get out of control sometimes. 

Hence, parents need to provide a safe and positive environment. Create a home that is conducive to learning and provides a learning environment. Do not give your child a lot of homework. Moreover, Give them the freedom to choose what they want to study.

 Moreover, Do not make them study for too long. It will tire them out, and they’ll have difficulty concentrating. Keep the learning fun and interesting so that they can focus.

These 7 strategies will help ADHD children with homework and study. Furthermore, PiggyRide has turned out to be the most preferred choice in solving parenting kids-related issues. Follow the official website of PiggyRide for more tips and advice.

WRITTEN BY: Nidhi Arora

Hi Friends! I am Nidhi Arora. I am working as a content writer with PiggyRide. I graduated from Delhi University with a bachelor's degree in literature and am currently pursuing an MA in Literature. I am an enthusiastic reader and a dedicated writer.

Leave a Reply

Book A Demo

AWARD-WINNING BLOG

Five motivators for adhd kids to get anything done.

Why Can't They Just...?

Nearly every parent we work with asks the question, at some point, “Why can't my kid just ________!” You can fill in the blank with a variety of phrases: …get their homework done? …listen to me? …stop talking back? …get out of bed in the morning?

The reality is that they can't just ________! The brain challenged with executive function needs to be genuinely interested or engaged in order to take action. Only certain motivators really work for kids (and adults!) with ADHD.

For people who have no real challenges with executive function, this can be one of the hardest things to understand, even though it's simple science . The presence of a motivator is what fuels the neuropathways in the ADHD or anxious brain. Motivation is a powerful tool that helps people with challenges of executive function take action!

When neuro-typical people are faced with something they really don't want to do, they simply press an imaginary “just get it done” button, and voilà! They are able to make it happen. In the complex brain, the challenge is that the “just get it done” button has a glass box around it! They can see it, but they have a very hard time accessing it.

Article continues below...

Want to motivate kids.

Download a free tipsheet "The Parent's Guide to Motivating Your Complex Kid" to help your child find the motivation to do... anything and everything!

The Five Motivators

Motivation is essential to help a person with executive function challenges get something done. Psychologist William Dodson talks about an importance-based nervous system (motivated by things like obligations and deadlines) vs. an interest-based nervous system (motivated by what's compelling enough to get activated). While Dodson refers to five motivating factors with the acronym INCUP: interest, novelty, challenge, urgency, and passion, at ImpactParents we find that PINCH is easier a little easier to understand and remember.

While not everyone with ADHD or anxiety is motivated equally by all five of these motivators, below are some clues to help you identify what will work for your child.

Remember the acronym PINCH (P.I.N.C.H.):

• Play (includes Creativity/Fun/Humor)

Competition/Collaboration/Connection

• Hurry-Up (Urgency!)

Play/Creativity/Fun/Humor

Humans are inherently motivated by things that are fun, pleasurable, or enjoyable. This is all the more true for people who need some kind of stimulation to engage or take action – and there is no better stimulation than something that is fun, playful, or creative. Fun can tie into other motivators, like being interesting, novel, or competitive. Mostly, it's a motivator in and of itself. Want to get a kid with ADHD to get something done? Turn it into a game , and you're halfway home. As long as there's not too much competition, anxious kids will love it, too.

The complex brain seeks stimulation, and things that it finds interesting are stimulating. Parents often complain that “my child won't do anything he doesn't want to do,” and to some extent, that's because it's not compelling enough. Students do well in classes with teachers who are engaging and in subjects they find interesting. While “boring” is a kryptonite for an ADHD or anxious brain, “interest” ignites a power chamber of fuel.

Complex brains are stimulated by things that seem new or different. This can be simple as simple as a distraction (“Ooh, it's shiny!”) or as complicated as all of the changes that come with the beginning of a new school year. Many students will start off strong, motivated by new teachers, classmates, and schedules. As the school year progresses and is no longer novel, their engagement starts to wane. This is why new places to do homework or new strategies can be helpful – effectively, new is interesting.

Competition, Collaboration, and Connection are great ways to offer some brains the stimulation that it seeks. For some, competition builds on many of the other motivators listed above. Competition usually offers the possibility of a reward and often plays to someone's strengths. This is true of competing with yourself, as well as competing with others. Competition can provide interest, urgency, novelty, and play.

However, some people are more motivated by human connection and/or collaboration. People with anxiety, for example, can be stressed rather than motivated by the chemical reactions that come with urgency or competition. For many, human connection (like a study group) or the partnership of collaboration are strong motivators.

Hurry Up (Urgency)

People with complex brains often wait until the last minute to do things – whether it's starting homework or getting ready to leave the house.

This is because the frontal lobe of the brain (where the executive functions reside) is sluggish and isn't properly stimulated to get things done. Urgency shifts to a different part of the brain – the primitive brain – which provides the chemical incentive to take action. Deadlines can be really effective motivators for people with ADHD or anxiety (as long as they're not creating too much in the way of unrealistic expectations).

While urgency can be an effective strategy for motivation, we want to help our kids cultivate a number of motivators so that urgency is not their only way to stimulate themselves into action. Many parents worry about kids doing things at the last minute, and if it's their only tool in the toolbox, it can be a problem. But sometimes, it can be really effective.

Find What Works For You And Your Child

As a parent, start by identifying what motivates your child and helping your child to understand the role that motivation plays in her success. Over time, work with your child to identify what she sees as her motivators; and eventually, your child will learn to identify her own motivators. When that happens – when your child begins to understand the concept and create tools to help himself – that's when you'll know you've taught a lifelong lesson.

More From ADHD Blog

Privacy Overview

The Drake Institute now offers remote treatment for ADHD, autism, and other brain-based disorders. With the help of our trained clinicians, you can get the help you need from the comfort of your home.

How to Get a Child with ADD to do Homework

Homework can be tricky for children with ADHD, especially after they’ve spent all day at school.

When children come home from school, they want to play, spend time with their friends and family, or watch TV. Homework is simply not something most children are excited about, but most kids are willing to do it because they have accepted that it is a requirement and there will be negative consequences if it is not completed.  

Unfortunately, it is often difficult for children with ADHD to sustain their focus long enough to do their homework, making them resigned to the negative consequences of not completing their work.

This is because the ADHD child’s brain is “stuck” in a certain pattern of dysregulation that doesn’t allow them to sustain concentration on non-stimulating tasks or perform certain executive functioning tasks, such as planning, organizing, and prioritizing their assignments. In a way, ADHD children are physically incapable of self-regulating and performing certain tasks because their brain won’t allow them to engage with the task.

However, with the right homework plan, it is possible to help motivate ADHD children to complete their assignments on time, study for tests, and become responsible, successful students. While completing schoolwork will likely always be more difficult due to their struggles with focus, there are strategies that can help mitigate this weakness and maximize their available resources to increase their productivity.

In this article, we will cover some effective ADD homework strategies for children that can improve their study habits. This article will also discuss the Drake Institute’s non-drug treatment protocols used to help children reduce or resolve ADHD symptoms by achieving a healthier state of brain functioning, resulting in long-term symptom relief.

Diet for ADD

Learning how to study with ADD can be difficult, especially if your mind and body are not receiving the necessary resources for the brain to function optimally. That’s why providing children with a healthy and nutritious diet should be a top priority for every household, as diet is the foundation of productive thinking and behavior.

Without a healthy diet, children suffering from ADHD will find it even more difficult to concentrate on their schoolwork, and this is especially true if their diet consists of sugary soft drinks, candy, and processed fast foods. Indeed, if your child is not eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, they are more prone to misbehaving and performing poorly on their assigned tasks.

For parents with ADHD children, avoiding processed foods loaded with artificial colorings and high sugar content should be a top priority, as both of these ingredients can have detrimental effects on behavior and health.

As a general guideline, ADHD diets should consist of essential trace minerals such as Zinc, Iron, and Magnesium. Foods that are heavy in these minerals include:

• Beef & Lamb
• Nuts such as cashews, pecans, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and hazelnuts
• Sesame seeds
• Beans & Lentils
• Low-Fat Dairy
• Dried fruits such as figs, prunes, apricots, dates, and raisins

Parents should also take great care to ensure that their children are eating enough healthy fats, as every cell in the human body (including our brain) is made up of fats, and some reports have shown that in some children, Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is 40% as effective for ADHD as Ritalin, minus the side-effects. Healthy sources of Omega-3 fatty acids include:

• Coldwater fish (e.g., mackerel, tuna, salmon, and sardines)
• Cod liver oil
• Flaxseed and chia seeds
• Soybeans & Tofu

Even if your child doesn’t have ADD, providing them with a healthy diet is one of the best ways to ensure that they will grow up to be healthy and productive.

And when it comes to mitigating the effects of ADD and ADHD, we feel that the optimal method is to combine ADHD diets with clinical ADHD treatments, like brain map-guided neurofeedback, as nutritious diets can reinforce and maximize the improvements in brain functioning brought on by our non-drug treatment protocols. 

Create a Homework Schedule

When it comes to ADD and homework, creating a homework schedule is one of the best ways to improve a child’s productivity.

By creating a homework schedule, children will know exactly what they will be doing once they get home (so long as the schedule is enforced), so there’s no guesswork involved from either the parent or the child as to when the work will be completed. However, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be arguments about the schedule and whether it’s fair: children with ADD intrinsically struggle with non-preferred asks, and a homework schedule won’t make these issues magically disappear.

That being said, a homework schedule can help students be more disciplined and productive because, without it, most children would rather turn on the TV, play a video game, or browse social media instead of completing their homework. In children with ADD, these issues are exacerbated, as their ability to plan and organize their day (executive functioning) is already hindered due to their attention deficit disorder.  

When creating a homework schedule, remember to include breaks, as most children will need a few minutes to relax so that they can better focus on their work. Many researchers have pointed out that the average attention span of children and adults is only around 20 minutes. Beyond this point, it becomes increasingly difficult to pay attention to the task at hand. So, by giving children a brief, 5-10 minute break, they will be better able to focus on their assignments without becoming too tired or fatigued.

Knowing when to schedule these homework breaks will require a bit of trial and error, as every child is different. However, including a break as part of the schedule somewhere around the 20 or 30-minute mark is generally a good place to start. During these scheduled breaks, it would be a good idea to have healthy snacks readily available to ensure that your child has enough energy to power through their assignments. Parents should encourage children to stand up and walk around during these breaks, but to avoid activities that are too stimulating or too far away from the task at hand.

Finally, there are two other important aspects to creating a homework schedule that parents should keep in mind: place and time.

In general, it’s a good idea to have a designated “homework space” for your child to work in that is free of distractions. As part of the schedule, the child should work in this space each day since this will help the child get into a “work mode” that allows them to concentrate on their tasks.

Time is the last aspect of creating a homework schedule, and this too will require a little bit of trial and error. In some cases, your child may need a break from schoolwork and might not be ready to jump into their homework as soon as they come home. Instead, they may need to go outside and play or go on a long walk before they can re-engage with their schoolwork. On the other hand, many children are more than willing to dive straight into their homework as soon as they get home so that they can watch TV later in the day or play video games with their friends.

In the end, it’s up to the parents to determine when “homework time” will begin, and once the time is set, everyone must abide.  

Monitor Distractions

From smartphones to televisions, there are a whole host of things fighting for your child’s attention.

As mentioned, part of the solution to this problem is to create a “homework space” that is free of distractions; however, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your child will be more productive.

Sometimes, your child might feel “alone” or “claustrophobic” in a workspace that is too sterile or boring, which can actually decrease their ability to concentrate. 

As many of us can attest, sometimes we need a “slight” distraction while working or performing schoolwork, like listening to the radio or having the TV on in the background, as these things can provide stimulation that helps some children to concentrate.

However, even background noise can be distracting for some students, especially if they have ADD. This is why parents need to monitor the effects of these distractions to see whether they improve or decrease productivity. Furthermore, while background noise may be beneficial for some people, individuals with ADHD will likely have a lower threshold for what is “too distracting.” For example, having the TV on is likely to be entirely too distracting for individuals with ADHD, and they will likely have better success if background noise consists of things such as music, ambient sounds, or even white noise.

If your child seems to work better while listening to music, then this “distraction” should be fully integrated into the homework schedule.

Be Present During Homework

Being there for your child when they’re working on their homework can be critically important to their success, especially when a difficult problem comes up.

By being present, children are less likely to become frustrated or to give up when they encounter a problem that they can’t solve because they know that they can turn to you for support.

Try setting a good example and sitting with your child reading a book, a magazine, or doing some other quiet, sedentary activity that is similar to studying and doing homework, proving to your child that it’s possible to sit still and focus for an extended period of time. Don’t forget to leave your smartphone behind!

If you can’t be there during “typical” (early afternoon) homework hours, you might want to consider trying to align your child’s homework schedule with your work schedule so that you can be there to help when they do need it. Being able to provide support to your child during a task that is challenging to them can be crucial to their success. Even if you are not actively providing guidance, simply knowing that someone is there to support them can be invaluable in maintaining their focus, motivation, and self-confidence.

Find a Study Buddy

When a child with ADD gets stuck on a homework problem, they’re likely to get frustrated, which in turn can cause them to misbehave.

In many cases, a parent can help their child work through a difficult homework problem, but sometimes having a “study buddy” will be even more effective, especially if the children are friendly and have academic strengths that complement each other.

However, it’s also important that parents ensure that their child is studying when with their study buddy, as sometimes this arrangement can cause children to goof around and not take their homework seriously. There also has to be some monitoring to make sure they are not simply being provided with answers by their partner. While this partnership may not be appropriate for everyone, for those who can work through these “temptations,” the benefits of such an arrangement can be significant.

This isn’t to say that parents should hover over their child when they’re with their study buddy, but monitoring the rate at which homework is being completed and its correctness will be important when determining the effectiveness of the study buddy.

That being said, if the homework is taking a little bit longer to be completed, but it’s being done correctly, and your child is happy about doing it, then that’s a tradeoff that might be worth making.

Provide Positive Feedback

Something that often gets overlooked is positive feedback for turning in assignments on time, receiving high marks, and abiding by the homework schedule.

Positive feedback is also often the best answer to the question of “how to get kids to do their homework,” as both children and adults like attention and rewards, and will alter their behavior to earn more of them.

However, obtaining attention can be accomplished in a variety of ways—not all of which are healthy and productive.

This is especially true when it comes to completing schoolwork: if your child makes an effort to adhere to their homework schedule and to achieve good grades, but isn’t rewarded, they will have less incentive to continue behaving in this manner. While it is tempting for parents to view this behavior as simply “doing what they are supposed to be doing,” there needs to be an acknowledgement that for individuals with ADHD, as this is an accomplishment that likely took significant effort. That additional effort is an accomplishment for these children and should be acknowledged and rewarded.

Therefore, it would be wise to reward your child for good behavior, especially behavior that results in positive grades at school.

Many parents have found success using a star chart that keeps track of their child’s weekly progress, where these stars can be “cashed in” for a reward of some kind, like extra time for playing video games or perhaps a snack of their choosing. How these stars are rewarded is up to the child’s parents, but it’s probably best to be a little lenient to incentivize homework and positive behavior.

For example, completing a homework assignment might be worth 1 star, but completing the homework correctly might be worth 2 or 3 stars. Extra stars can also be rewarded for other, non-homework related tasks, like taking adequate notes in class, remembering to bring the correct books home from school, and keeping their study materials (notebooks, binders, etc.) tidy. 

Talk to the Teacher

Finally, if your child is still struggling to complete their homework despite adhering to a homework schedule and everything else mentioned above, it might be time to talk to their teacher.

Some teachers will be more than willing to adjust the amount of homework your child is receiving on a day-to-day basis, so long as the problem is presented clearly, calmly, and without placing any blame on the teacher.

In addition to not placing blame, it’s probably best to discuss your child’s struggles in a face-to-face conversation, as too many things can get lost in translation over the phone, through emails or text messages.

When discussing your child’s struggles with homework, it’s important to mention how your child is trying as hard as they can to complete their assignments, but despite these efforts, the homework is taking an inordinate amount of time. Make sure to discuss all of the structure and accommodations being provided at home and be open to the teacher’s suggestions of things that may provide additional benefit for the child.

When this occurs, some teachers will allow parents to sign off on homework once the child has worked on it for a certain amount of time. Other teachers might substitute the current homework for something else that might be more suitable for your child’s needs. Accommodations can also be formally provided by requesting an IEP or 504 plan that addresses these concerns.

In short, conversations with your child’s teacher should be solution-oriented, face-to-face, friendly, and focused on improving your child’s academic performance, while still requiring them to perform at the best of their abilities.

ADD Treatment Options

When it comes to treating ADD, there are a few options available to parents, including stimulant ADD medications , and non-drug treatment options like the ones found at the Drake Institute.

Treatment of ADD or ADHD with medication is a widely used treatment option, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best in terms of safety and long-term improvement. Many stimulant ADD medications carry a significant number of negative side effects, including:

• Nervousness
• Change in personality
• Loss of appetite
• Suppressing growth rate
• Weight loss
• Upset stomach
• Psychotic reactions
• increase in blood pressure and palpitations
• Risk of substance abuse

In addition, many people develop a tolerance for these medications over time, which results in the individual needing a higher dosage to obtain the same level of symptom reduction. Unfortunately, when the dosage of these medications increases, so does the likelihood that they will experience one or more of the negative side effects associated with the medication. It should also be noted, that treating attentional deficits with medications is not necessarily correcting the cause of the problem, meaning that if an individual were to discontinue these medications, their symptoms are likely to return.

Popular ADD medications include Ritalin, Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine, and while these drugs can work for some people, parents must understand all of the associated risks.

Non-Drug ADD Treatment at the Drake Institute

Learning how to study when you have ADD doesn’t require taking medications.

At the Drake Institute, we fully believe that children can experience symptom reduction without the use of ADHD medications, which is important since many of these medications carry a significant number of negative side effects.

Through the use of advanced treatment technologies such as qEEG Brain Mapping, Neurofeedback, and Neuromodulation, children can actually improve their brain functioning and sustained focus, resulting in better performance at school and work.

Brain Mapping

At the core of everything we do at the Drake Institute is Brain Mapping , as it provides us a window into how the patient’s brain is functioning and where the dysregulation is occurring.

In the case of ADD, brain mapping can help identify which parts of the brain are under or over-activated and contributing to the child’s struggles with school. During treatment, we’ll target these regions to improve brain functioning, which can help minimize the effects of the child’s attention disorder.

Once brain mapping is complete, the findings are compared to the FDA-registered normative database to identify which regions are deviating from “normal” activity patterns.

When dysregulation is discovered, a treatment protocol using Neurofeedback and Neuromodulation is designed specifically for the patient’s unique situation. This customized process allows us to provide better results compared to treatment protocols that use a “one size fits all” approach. It should also be noted that by addressing their underlying cause of the child’s difficulties, the subsequent improvements obtained through neurotherapy are typically long-lasting and do not require continued maintenance, like medications do.

Biofeedback & Neurofeedback

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback treatment is a non-invasive, non-drug treatment protocol that helps the patient retrain the brain to more optimal functioning, thus increasing their ability to complete homework or other assigned tasks.

During Neurofeedback treatment, the brain is not artificially stimulated and drugs are not administered; in fact, nothing invasive is performed at all.

Instead, Neurofeedback involves placing sensors on the patient’s head that records and displays the patient’s current brain functioning patterns, providing real-time feedback into how their brain is operating. When patients can witness firsthand how their brain is functioning, they are better able to self-regulate and improve brain functioning for concentration, which in turns, helps reduce the manifestation of negative symptoms.

One example of Neurofeedback treatment is one where the patient’s brainwave patterns are converted into a computer game where a car is driving down the highway. When the patient’s brain shifts into a healthier functioning frequency, the car moves and stays in the proper lane and an auditory tone is triggered. This tone is then repeated every half second that the patient sustains this healthier mode of thinking, which helps improve and stabilize this brave wave pattern.

With continued treatment, Neurofeedback treatments like the one described above will help the patient learn how to improve sustained focus on even nonpreferred tasks. Furthermore, with practice and repetition, the underlying dysregulation that caused the child’s difficulties can actually be improved, resulting in a “stronger” brain and long-lasting benefit.

Neuromodulation

Finally, the Drake Institute utilizes Neuromodulation therapy to support, enhance, and accelerate therapeutic improvements gained through Neurofeedback. This approach has been so successful that we’ve fully integrated it into our existing treatment protocols in 2019.

What is Neuromodulation?

In short, Neuromodulation provides therapeutic neurostimulation of dysregulated brain functioning by stimulating brainwave patterns that the patient is deficient in. Once established, the brain can then mimic or emulate this pattern to form healthier brain wave activity. This treatment protocol can also increase blood flow in damaged areas and reduce inflammation.

This treatment technology is so safe and effective that it is now used worldwide in renowned medical centers such as Harvard University School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, UCLA School of Medicine, and many others.

Contact the Drake Institute

If your child is struggling with their schoolwork due to ADD or ADHD, please don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation. Our non-drug treatment protocols have provided many students with long-term symptom relief, helping them to achieve and go farther in school than they ever have before.

Free Consultation - Telehealth Consultation Available

If you or a family member need help, please fill out our confidential online form

Accelerated Treatment Program

6 weeks for ADHD or ADD

8 weeks for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Testimonials

Lifestyle magazine.

Interview with Dr. David Velkoff

Seth's Story

National Geographic

Spanish News Feature

Media Recognition

Contact us today.

To get the help you or a loved one needs, call now to schedule your no-cost screening consultation.

800-700-4233

"They started biofeedback right away to produce more alpha brain waves. I went daily for 4 weeks I believe? It was relaxing. My brain learned what to do. It CURED me."

"The treatment involves doing different protocols, you start to notice a difference after a couple weeks. The Drake Institute, and their treatment method is the way of the future! It absolutely was an answer to our prayers."

"I was hesitant to go to The Drake Institute but was at a loss on how to help my son. I can not thank Drake and Maria enough I don't think we would be where we are today without it."

“David F. Velkoff, M.D., our Medical Director and co-founder, supervises all evaluation procedures and treatment programs. He is recognized as a physician pioneer in using biofeedback, qEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback, and neuromodulation in the treatment of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and stress related illnesses including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Dr. David Velkoff earned his Master’s degree in Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles in 1975, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1976. This was followed by Dr. Velkoff completing his internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology with an elective in Neurology at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine. He then shifted his specialty to Neurophysical Medicine and received his initial training in biofeedback/neurofeedback in Neurophysical Medicine from the leading doctors in the world in biofeedback at the renown Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. In 1980, he co-founded the Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine. Seeking to better understand the link between illness and the mind, Dr. Velkoff served as the clinical director of an international research study on psychoneuroimmunology with the UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. This was a follow-up study to an earlier clinical collaborative effort with UCLA School of Medicine demonstrating how the Drake Institute's stress treatment resulted in improved immune functioning of natural killer cell activity. Dr. Velkoff served as one of the founding associate editors of the scientific publication, Journal of Neurotherapy. He has been an invited guest lecturer at Los Angeles Children's Hospital, UCLA, Cedars Sinai Medical Center-Thalians Mental Health Center, St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, and CHADD. He has been a medical consultant in Neurophysical Medicine to CNN, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Univision, and PBS.”

More About What Makes Drake Institute Unique

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

I'm a Neurodivergent Psychologist & These 5 Things Get My ADHD Brain Into Gear

Work with your brain, not against it

Dr. Amy Marschall is an autistic clinical psychologist with ADHD, working with children and adolescents who also identify with these neurotypes among others. She is certified in TF-CBT and telemental health.

Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate is a neurodivergent therapist and specializes in and centers on the lived experiences of autistic and ADHD young adults, many of whom are also in the queer and disability communities. She prioritizes social justice and intertwines community care into her everyday work with clients.

Verywell / Dennis Madamba

Reinforcement Schedules

Dueling projects, scheduling that works for you, lean into your interests, outsourcing.

Motivation is commonly a struggle for people with ADHD. We hear teachers, parents, employers, and others call us “lazy” as a result. It is true that many people with ADHD have issues with procrastination, fail to start or complete tasks, and struggle to self-motivate. We tend to internalize these negative messages, wearing on our self-esteem.

Standard tips and advice for self-motivating are designed for neurotypical brains and, as a result, often do not work for people with ADHD. This further perpetuates the cycle of negative self-talk: Why aren’t these tips working for me? Why can’t I just do it? Why am I so lazy?

No one set of tricks will work for everyone. It is important to try different things and choose the best tactics for you in your environment. That being said, here are five tips that have helped me as a psychologist who has ADHD .

Dopamine is the brain chemical that causes us to feel various positive experiences, including pleasure, satisfaction, and achievement. When we complete a task and feel good about it, that's the dopamine surging through your brain.

People with ADHD tend to process dopamine differently than those without ADHD—while neurotypical brains often experience motivation as a result of dopamine, many of those with ADHD have disruptions in our dopamine pathways that interfere with this process. As a result, someone with ADHD might not experience the same dopamine effects when accomplishing non-preferred tasks or when we have to put in a lot of effort to achieve the desired outcome.

This means that those of us with ADHD do not experience the same automatic positive reinforcement and satisfaction that comes with completing a task as the other 90%  of the population.

Have you wondered why you just can’t motivate yourself like other people can? Wondered why you can’t make yourself just Do The Task already? If you have ADHD, this may be the reason. Your brain is not providing automatic rewards.

So, when we have tasks to complete, it can help to set up our own reward system or reinforcement schedule. Then, we can identify specific achievement points in the task so that rewards come relatively frequently (for example, when writing a paper, we can earn a reward each time we write a certain number of words).

Choose rewards that you find motivating, and remember that you can change them at any time you don't feel motivated by them anymore. Since an ADHD brain craves novelty, it might lose interest in a reward we wanted in the past—that's okay! The important thing is that it motivates us now.

We might also struggle with holding off on rewards. When the person imposing the reinforcement schedule is you, giving yourself the reward ahead of schedule is easy. Ask someone you trust to dispense rewards to keep you motivated.

This is a strategy I came up with when I first became an author. Writing a book is not easy and takes a long time, and the dopamine of finishing a task is so far away, especially when you first get started. It can feel impossible even to start working on a large project, one that you know will take months to complete. In addition, since ADHD brain craves novelty, any topic will start to feel boring over a long enough period of time, and focus becomes more difficult.

My solution is always to have two projects in progress at a time. When one topic starts to feel boring, I can switch to the other project and make progress. When that topic starts to get boring, I switch back, and the first topic feels novel again.

People with ADHD tend to have difficult relationships with sleep and are at higher risk for sleep disorders than the rest of the population; however, it's theorized that this may be due in part to a difference in circadian rhythm for those with ADHD . Standard work schedules in the U.S. are typically 9 to 5, emphasizing starting work early in the morning and being productive during daytime hours.

But it's not inherently superior to get something done at 9 in the morning compared to 9 at night (or any other time). Pay attention to the times when you feel at your best, your most alert, and your most energetic. Change your schedule so that those are the times when you do the things that need to get done.

An ADHD diagnosis entitles you to workplace accommodations , so you can talk to your employer about changing your work schedule to fit your needs. You can also shift your sleep schedule based on your own natural rhythm.

In addition, some people with ADHD require specific, set schedules to stay on top of things, but others do better with ever-changing schedules . Determine what fits your needs and motivates your brain, and implement that.

It is much easier to focus on something that we enjoy. This is true for everyone, but even more so for us with ADHD.

What are your interests and preferred tasks? What do you enjoy doing? How can you incorporate those tasks into your day or into other tasks that you tend to avoid or struggle with? If you can make a task more interesting by tying it into something else that you truly enjoy, that can make the less-preferred task more desirable.

Some tasks are not enjoyable, and we will not look forward to them regardless of how we frame them, break them down, or reward ourselves for completing them. Everything we do takes energy, and non-preferred tasks take even more energy because we have to overcome our reluctance to start or keep going. The more undesirable the task is, the harder it will be to start and continue.

You might realize that the energy that goes into certain tasks drains you and prevents you from having the bandwidth to do other important things. In that case, you might choose to outsource things that take up too much of your energy. It is okay to ask for help if you are struggling, and that includes outsourcing tasks that feel overwhelming or that cause a lot of trouble or stress.

For example, I struggle with keeping my home clean. There are so many tasks I would rather do than vacuum my living room, so I use a cleaning service that comes twice per month and does that for me. That frees up my energy for other tasks that do not drain me in the same way. I've spoken with other ADHDers who use services for things like laundry, meal prep, and other daily tasks that cause a lot of difficulties.

If you can make a task more interesting by tying it into something else that you truly enjoy, that can make the less-preferred task more desirable.

Even if something is not technically impossible for you, it is okay to seek support or outsource the task to professionals if it's within your means. You deserve to access the support you need. If you can afford these services, there is no shame in using them.

Everyone’s brain motivates in its own way, and those with ADHD tend to have particular difficulty starting and following through on tasks. Finding the motivation techniques and schedule that work for you can make important tasks manageable.

Skalski S, Pochwatko G, Balas R. Impact of motivation on selected aspects of attention in children with adhd.   Child Psychiatry Hum Dev . 2021;52(4):586-595.

Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Newcorn JH, et al. Motivation deficit in ADHD is associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway.   Mol Psychiatry . 2011;16(11):1147-1154.

Bijlenga D, Vollebregt MA, Kooij JJS, Arns M. The role of the circadian system in the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD: time to redefine ADHD?   ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord . 2019;11(1):5-19.

By Amy Marschall, PsyD Dr. Amy Marschall is an autistic clinical psychologist with ADHD, working with children and adolescents who also identify with these neurotypes among others. She is certified in TF-CBT and telemental health.

Celebrating 25 Years

• Join ADDitude
•  | 

• What Is ADHD?
• The ADHD Brain
• ADHD Symptoms
• ADHD in Children
• ADHD in Adults
• ADHD in Women
• Find ADHD Specialists
• New! Symptom Checker
• ADHD Symptom Tests
• All Symptom Tests
• More in Mental Health
• Medication Reviews
• ADHD Medications
• Natural Remedies
• ADHD Therapies
• Managing Treatment
• Treating Your Child
• Behavior & Discipline
• School & Learning
• Teens with ADHD
• Positive Parenting
• Schedules & Routines
• Organizing Your Child
• Health & Nutrition
• More on ADHD Parenting
• Do I Have ADD?
• Getting Things Done
• Relationships
• Time & Productivity
• Organization
• Health & Nutrition
• More for ADHD Adults
• Free Webinars
• Free Downloads
• ADHD Videos
• ADHD Directory
• eBooks + More
• Newsletters
• Guest Blogs
• News & Research
• For Clinicians
• For Educators
• Manage My Subscription
• Get Back Issues
• Digital Magazine
• Gift Subscription
• Renew My Subscription
• ADHD Parenting

How to Motivate (Not Demoralize) a Student with ADHD

In order to do their best in class, children need to be motivated and encouraged. too many teachers focus on changing the child — instead, it may be more efficient to change the policies and procedures in the classroom. here’s how..

The key to motivating the child with attention problems is to modify and adjust the learning environment. Many teachers invest significant time and effort in attempting to change the child. Their time might be better spent trying to change the practices and procedures that they are using with the child.

As much as possible, the curriculum should be stimulating and relevant to a child’s life experiences. Research has shown that a curriculum that is irrelevant to the student’s social and economic interests generally results in disruptive behavior , poor academic performance, limited progress, and dropping out. These children live very much in the present. Therefore, long-term goals and rewards (grades and report cards) are often ineffective motivators.

The child with attention deficit disorder ( ADHD or ADD ) will respond positively to a curriculum that allows him choices and options. He will also be more likely to participate actively in tasks when there is a degree of creativity and novelty (presenting a history review as a Jeopardy! game). In order to maintain the motivation of this child, the teacher must simultaneously consider what is being taught and how it is being taught.

Among the teaching strategies that may foster motivation are:

1. Provide a structured, predictable environment.

2. Give simple single-step instructions.

3. Simultaneously provide verbal and visual input (dictate instructions as you write them on the board).

[ Free Poster: What Every Teacher Should Know About ADHD ]

4. Clearly outline rules, limits, and expectations. Post them.

5. Allow for an occasional break to let the child relax and reenergize.

6. Legitimize the child’s need for movement and activity by designing classroom activities that allow and encourage movement.

7. Have the child’s attention before giving him a direction or instruction. This can be done by calling his name or using a hand signal. After the instruction has been given, have him repeat it back to you before carrying it out. Many children with ADHD are adept at appearing to understand when they do not.

8. Use a cue or a private signal that you can send to the child if her behavior or attention is beginning to deteriorate.

[ How to Use Project-Based Learning in School ]

9. Do not emphasize quality and quantity at the same time. Lengthy, complex assignments are difficult for a child with attention challenges. It is better to assign five math problems and emphasize/expect accuracy than to assign 20 problems that will overwhelm the child and result in 20 inaccurate responses.

10. Provide the child with several (10 to 15) seconds to respond to verbal questions. It may take him that long to process and comprehend the question. Whenever possible, supplement verbal questions with visual input.

11. Avoid attributing judgmental reasons for the child’s inconsistency and impulsivity. Remember that these behaviors occur through no fault or choice of the child’s.

12. Remember that hyperactive behaviors during seat work (drumming fingers, pencil tapping, squirming in seat) are a release for a child’s hyperactivity. Unless the movements are distracting or disruptive to others, ignore them.

13. Provide the child with ADHD opportunities to show divergent, creative, and imaginative thinking and to receive recognition for his originality.

14. Follow difficult activities with more interesting or rewarding activities: “Joseph, when you finish the math worksheet, you can feed the gerbil.”

15. Try alternative methods of assessment, such as oral testing or demonstration testing. Written tests and assessments are difficult for children with attention problems because of their language and organizational weaknesses.

16. Never take good behavior for granted. Praise and reinforce the child for not interrupting, for working patiently, remaining in his seat, and cooperating.

[ 12 Teachers Strategies to Inspire Listening and Self-Control ]

Excerpted from The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child , by RICHARD LAVOIE. Copyright 2007. Reprinted by permission of Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For Teachers: Read These Next

How to Sharpen Executive Functions: Activities to Hone Brain Skills

A Teacher’s Guide to NVLD: How to Support Students with Nonverbal Learning Disability

“My ADHD Looks Nothing Like Your ADHD”

How Do You Reassure Your Anxious Child When You’re Scared, Too?

Adhd newsletter, success @ school, strategies for homework, accommodations, ieps, working with school & more..

It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form.

5 Simple Ways to Motivate a Child with ADHD

Categories Education

This post was first published on ADHDSupergirls , a site all about girls with ADHD and how to motivate a child with ADHD!

So many tears.

Did my daughter’s pet goldfish just die?

Nope, it’s just homework time.

Every night it’s a battle to get through the homework. My mother used to call this experience as fun as pulling teeth.

With a child who has ADHD, homework time isn’t just hard, it’s torture. Teaching ADHD is a struggle for both child, teacher, and parent.

But all is not lost.

I have ADHD, and so does my daughter. I come from a family with at least 7 people who have ADHD. The struggle is not only recognized, it’s the only thing I know.

Over the years of working with my daughter, I’ve found that there is a good way to try and motivate a child with ADHD, and there are a bunch of really bad ways to motivate that same child. Today, I’m sharing the ADHD motivation tips that work best in our family with you.

If you have a child with ADHD, use these ADHD motivation tips to keep them on track and avoid power struggles.

ADHD Motivation Tips for Teachers and Parents

For the child with ADHD, anything they don’t currently want to do is The Worst Thing Ever. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to teach them a new math problem or telling them to tie their shoe. There will be equal hatred for any unwanted activity.

Most children with ADHD that I know don’t respond well to negative consequences. Many children will consider the consequences worth it to get out of doing what they didn’t want to do.

This list takes a different approach to ADHD motivation and teaching ADHD and offers practical, positive encouragement and motivation tips so you can help your ADHD child learn without power struggles.

ADHD Motivation Tips that Work Without the Battle

Use these ADHD motivation tips to relieve power struggles and facilitate learning throughout the year. These tips work just as well at home as in the classroom!

Let the Child Be in Control

Sometimes I think to have ADHD is to be a control freak. Have you ever tried to get a child with ADHD to do something they don’t want to do? You might as well try to pull a donkey through a doorway.

Pull them aside when they are not emotionally charged (you would do this on a weekend, perhaps, or before the school day starts). Talk about the goals of the week/month/year/whatever and discuss how the child wants to arrange their schedule to fit everything in.

I find that when I discuss the plan with Monkey and she comes to the realization that she will have to devote a certain amount of time to each daily task, she is much less likely to fight me when assignment time comes.

Brain Breaks

Kids are easily overwhelmed with work if they have ADHD. One simple way to help a kid with ADHD reset is to implement brain breaks. These 60-second or less activities help reset a child’s brain and gets her out of the flight or fight mode. You can use these at home or in the classroom!

Create a Reward Tracking System

Monkey, my daughter, and most ADHD kids I’ve met, love working toward a goal.

However, if the goal is too far off, or you can’t see the goal or progress, the child will get sidetracked and probably forget what she is working toward.

This is where I like to use visual progress trackers.

When I was a child, I LOVED these sorts of trackers and I would work extra hard to reach the goal sooner. This is probably why Sing Spell Read and Write worked so well as a reading program for my siblings, because they not only could see their progress on the race track, but they also got a small prize at the end of each milestone.

Any sort of daily checklist to reach a reward at the end of the school day, or a slightly longer-term progress tracker to earn a big reward (Monkey likes trips to the frozen yogurt shop) will make a huge difference to the ADHD child.

The ADHD child wants to know WHY she/he is doing something they don’t want to do, and if there is a constant reminder of the goal they are working toward, it will eliminate much of the teacher/student struggle.

Here are some of my favorite reward trackers for kids with ADHD:

• This hands-on to-do list tracker
• This paint-themed reward chart
• This customizable reward chart
• This super-simple reward chart

Engage in One-on-One Time

I don’t know if all children with ADHD are like this, but Monkey prefers me to sit with her when she is doing her homework. Usually, we go over the lesson and then when she is completing her assignment, she sits next to me while I work.

When I’m not with her, she gets distracted, makes sloppy mistakes, and takes longer to do her lessons. The one-on-one time helps eliminate much of this problem.

Make a Checklist

Monkey and I thrive on checklists. We love seeing everything we have to do and getting it done in a methodical way. We like wipe-away daily to-do lists.

There are a lot of printable to-do lists that you can find. Laminate it and you can re-use it over and over. Checklists are one of my favorite ADHD motivation tips.

A Word on Timers

Some parents love using timers to keep kids on track. This might work with some kids, but for Monkey, it creates high anxiety. If you find your kids reacting poorly to timers, I suggest using other motivational tools. 

More Activities for ADHD

Science Fair Projects for Active Kids Who Need to Move

DIY Fidget Spinners and Fidgets for Kids with ADHD

Educational Fidget Spinner Activities for the Classroom

ADHD Sensory Tools

Share this project with a friend!