Children with ADHD often struggle with working memory deficits, which can make it difficult for them to follow instructions. They’ll start on a task, get distracted, then never circle back to it, because it has gone right out of the minds.
Don’t get mad at them, they are not being deliberately disobedient! Instead adopt some strategies that to help your child overcome these challenges. Here are some practical and effective approaches:
1. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
- Why it helps: Children with ADHD can feel overwhelmed by multi-step tasks. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps reduces cognitive load.
- How to do it: Provide one instruction at a time and wait for the child to complete it before giving the next step. For example, instead of saying, “Clean your room,” say, “First, pick up your toys, then put your clothes in the hamper.”
2. Use Visual Aids and Checklists
- Why it helps: Visual aids provide a concrete reference that can help children remember what they need to do.
- How to do it:
- Create checklists for daily routines (e.g., morning routine, homework steps).
- Use visual schedules with pictures or icons for younger children.
- Place checklists in visible locations, like on the fridge or bedroom door or bathroom mirror. Or all those locations!
3. Incorporate Timers and Alarms
- Why it helps: Timers help children with ADHD manage time and stay on task.
- How to do it:
- Use a timer to break tasks into short, focused intervals (e.g., 10-15 minutes of work followed by a short break).
- Set alarms or reminders for important tasks, like starting homework or packing their backpack.
4. Teach Mnemonic Devices
- Why it helps: Mnemonics are memory aids that make it easier to recall information.
- How to do it:
- Teach acronyms or rhymes to remember steps or concepts (e.g., “PEMDAS” for order of operations in math).
- Use visualization or mind-mapping techniques, such as imagining a story or picture to remember a list of items.
5. Provide Frequent Feedback and Positive Reinforcement
- Why it helps: Positive reinforcement encourages children to stay motivated and builds their confidence.
- How to do it:
- Praise specific efforts, like “Great job finishing your math problems on time!”
- Use a reward system, such as stickers or points, for completing tasks or following instructions.
6. Create a Structured Environment
- Why it helps: A predictable routine reduces distractions and helps children with ADHD stay focused.
- How to do it:
- Establish consistent daily routines for homework, meals, and bedtime.
- Designate a quiet, organized workspace for homework with minimal distractions.
7. Use Chunking for Information
- Why it helps: Chunking breaks information into smaller, more manageable pieces, making it easier to remember.
- How to do it:
- Group related items together (e.g., remembering a phone number as three chunks: 555-123-4567).
- Teach the child to categorize information, such as grouping vocabulary words by theme.
8. Practice Working Memory Exercises
- Why it helps: Regular practice can strengthen working memory over time.
- How to do it:
- Play memory games like “Simon Says,” card matching, or sequence recall games. Make this a game with your child, like two sequence recall exercises each evening before bed. (You say “3-7-6-9” and they repeat the sequence either in order or backwards, “9-6-7-3.”)
- Use apps or programs designed to improve working memory, such as Lumosity (for teens).
9. Teach Self-Monitoring Strategies
- Why it helps: Self-monitoring helps children become more aware of their actions and progress.
- How to do it:
- Encourage the child to check off completed tasks on a checklist. Older children should create their own checklists, at the start of the day or as they begin homework.
- Teach them to ask themselves, “Did I follow all the steps?” or “Do I have everything I need?”
10. Collaborate with Teachers
- Why it helps: Teachers can provide additional support and accommodations in the classroom. Even if your child does not have an IEP or 504 Plan, you can enlist the teachers’ help in keeping your child track.
- How to do it:
- Request accommodations, such as written instructions, extra time for assignments, or frequent reminders.
- Communicate regularly with teachers to ensure consistency between home and school.
11. Encourage Physical Activity
- Why it helps: Exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function, including working memory (if you struggled to remember all the dance moves in Macarena, you know what we mean!).
- How to do it:
- Incorporate regular physical activity into the child’s routine, such as sports, dancing, or even short breaks for movement during homework.
12. Be Patient and Supportive
- Why it helps: Children with ADHD may need more time and practice to develop working memory skills.
- How to do it:
- Avoid criticism and focus on progress, no matter how small.
- Celebrate successes and provide encouragement during setbacks.
And finally, consider hiring a homework coach
As your kids get older, they are more likely to resist their parent’s instruction. One way around this is to bring in a specialized tutor — we call them homework coaches — who can help build your child’s working memory as well as all the executive function skills that often challenge a child with ADHD. Look over our HomeworkCoach website for more information about our service and don’t hesitate to call for a no-cost consultation.
