The child who suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder has a tough time focusing and following through on simple tasks even at home. This problem affects children at school, causing them to lose their homework and struggle to complete simple tasks.
These children’s lives at home are just as disorganized, causing stress during homework time, difficulty completing chores and other simple tasks such as getting dressed or cleaning up a room. With a flexible schedule in place, parents can begin to regain control over their hectic lives and help their child succeed both at home and at school.
Homework Time for the Child With ADHD
Homework time for a child diagnosed with ADHD is often torture for both the child and the parent. It is important to set up a homework station in the home that can allow the child the best possible atmosphere for focusing and learning. This may be a desk in a separate room or the kitchen table, but it must be distraction free.
Some things to keep in mind when setting up a homework station:
- Clear out the clutter. The space should be clean and clutter free in order to help minimize visual distractions. This means turning the TV off too, if the child can see it from the homework station.
- Turn it off. The radio, TV, video games and the computer should be silent during homework time. Younger children should be encouraged to play outside or in another room where the noises will not be distracting.
- Keep it short. Homework time may need to be split into two separate times if the child is unable to sit still long enough to complete all the assigned work. Having 10-20 minutes before dinner and 10-20 minutes after dinner devoted to homework time will help the child focus on each assignment.
- Remain patient! The parent will most likely need to redirect the child's attention many times during homework time. Try to keep homework time low-key and up-beat so that the child does not get frustrated.
Playtime for the Child With ADHD
While it is important for all children to play outside every day, it is doubly important for the child with ADHD to spend time outdoors. Researchers Andrea Faber Taylor and Frances E. Kuo found that even 20 minutes of play outside in a park or other natural (green) setting has the potential to improve the ADHD symptoms in children.
Time spent watching the television and playing video games should be limited and replaced with interactive board games and time reading books when outdoor play is not possible. One way to determine if a child has too much TV or video game time is to take it away for a day. If that child becomes very upset, it is possible that time spent playing that video game or watching that TV show should be limited even more.
It is important to take steps to improve the quality of life for children with ADHD and bring more structure to activities. Reducing distractions will help homework time go more smoothly and playtime should include outdoor play each day whenever possible.
Read more tips on working with children who have ADHD.
Taylor, Andrea Faber and Kuo, Frances E. "Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park", Journal of Attention Disorders, August 2008.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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