.avif)
.avif)
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often feel unmotivated to complete tasks like homework. This can be worrisome for parents who want their children to succeed.
Thankfully, there's research behind what tends to aid task motivation in people with ADHD. Parents can use it to help kids get motivated to complete homework and other important tasks. So, what should you know?
In this article, we'll talk about how parents can promote increased motivation in kids, why homework can be hard with ADHD, and whether ADHD affects motivation. Then, we'll discuss how Joon can help.
How To Get Motivation To Do Homework With ADHD
If homework is a daily battle in your home right now, it is possible to get to a more peaceful and productive place. Here are some strategies you can use to help motivate a child with ADHD to finish school assignments.
How Joon Can Help With Homework Time
More than just an app, Joon is an effective ADHD reward system that's easy for parents to keep track of and maintain. Here's how it works:
Parents sign up first with the Joon Parent App and create a personalized task list for their children. You can add unlimited tasks, including homework, chores, personal hygiene activities, or any other part of your child's routine. Kids connect with a separate app called Joon Pet Game. When kids complete tasks, they get rewards that allow them to take care of a virtual pet and move forward in the game.
90% of kids who use Joon finish all the tasks parents assign, and many parents say that Joon has improved their parent-child relationship. Joon is rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store, with over 4k reviews from parents like you.
Click here to try it for free.
Create a homework-only space
Does your child typically do homework at the dining room table? If so, it might be time to set aside a homework-only space. For parents who are able, creating a space that is for homework only is beneficial for several different reasons. First, it helps kids avoid distractions that may present in other parts of the home. Second, with consistency, the brain will make a connection between homework and the designated spot, which can help kids lock into "work mode" and focus easier.
The ideal homework space is one where an adult family member can keep an eye on the child without hovering. Make sure that distractions are limited; if a child can hear the TV in the next room, has toys or pets nearby, or if something else that impacts your unique child's ability to focus is present, it might not be ideal for homework time.
Consider adding white noise or anything else that may be beneficial in helping your unique child concentrate. If kids struggle to sit still, let them fidget or move around as long as it doesn't distract the child. Sometimes, kids with ADHD will be more focused if they can move.
Stay organized
Both in terms of time and physical space, organization matters. We know that being in an uncluttered, organized space can aid focus and mood. When you designate a homework-only space, make sure that you keep it clean and uncluttered.
If there are special tools your child needs for assignments, decide on a specific place to store them and make it a part of your child's routine to store them after homework time is over. Similarly, it can be helpful to help students designate a spot for items they'll need during the school day.
Organization can also help your child keep track of what needs to be done and when, which means that they are less likely to fall behind. Most students use a planner to keep track of assignments, but a child with ADHD may need to use additional strategies such as a to-do app. Find ways to organize your child's tasks that work for them.
Keep a consistent schedule for homework
Time management skills are vital for all of us. When something is a consistent part of a child's routine, it can be less difficult to adapt to the activity, and it may help kids with ADHD avoid the tendency to forget homework assignments, too. To create a homework schedule for your child, identify a time of day when they can work on assignments consistently.
Think of what will set your child up for success and add that to their routine, too. For example, a pre-homework snack and time to move around between the time school ends and when homework starts each day.
Complete work in short sections of time
Frequent breaks can be necessary for people with ADHD. If your child has a lengthy assignment or study session to tackle, break it up into small pieces (e.g., 10 minutes at a time with three-minute breaks in between or one subject at a time). That way, it will be less overwhelming, and they will experience the "reward" of finishing each section one at a time, which can aid motivation.
A break also gives children a chance to get up and move around, which can increase their ability to focus. Sitting for prolonged periods of time can make it hard to concentrate and may be particularly tough for kids with ADHD.
Kids with ADHD often have difficulty with time management and may need help learning to use extra time management skills. If students have a large assignment or project to finish for school, help them plan ahead. Set aside small chunks of time daily to complete smaller tasks that will ultimately complete the project. For example, an essay might be written in steps throughout the week.
This can be helpful for meeting deadlines as well as reducing stress.
Note: Are you looking for a way to keep your child motivated and make tasks like homework fun? We can help. Joon is a to-do app created for children with ADHD and related disorders that doubles as a game. Joon reminds kids to finish tasks like homework and acts as a reward system. Click here to download the app.
Add rewards when assignments are complete
External rewards can be highly valuable in motivating kids to do tasks they don't want to do. In fact, there's a ton of science behind external rewards as motivators for people with ADHD. Younger children often respond well to simple rewards like stickers. Older kids may benefit most from a token system (where a child earns tokens over time that they exchange for a larger reward, like new shoes) or rewards catered to their interests, like an extra hour of screen time or video game play. Children also commonly respond well to experiences as rewards.
Give positive feedback
Like many other rewards, positive verbal feedback can stimulate the dopamine reward pathway in the brain. Ideally, parents should give verbal praise for a child's effort and actions to encourage good habits rather than focusing on the outcome. For example, you might give your child verbal praise for working on a homework assignment during their scheduled homework time rather than for a good grade. Perfectionism can be a factor in procrastination, so focusing on rewarding kids for working on the task is ideal.
Talk with your child's teacher
Keep in touch with your child's teacher throughout the year, making sure to touch base and talk regularly. Together, you can brainstorm ideas to support kids struggling with homework and discuss patterns you notice that may have an impact on the process. For example, trouble with a specific subject, like reading, or persistent mental health concerns that might be affecting a student's success. In some cases, school accommodations such as reduced homework may be beneficial for a child with ADHD.
Talk your child through the process
Many parents find it helpful to sit with their children while they work on homework or as they get started on an assignment. Sitting down and talking your child through the assignment can be valuable, even if you leave once they get started. That way, you can answer questions they might have and help steer their attention to the project.
Exercise patience
Be patient with your child as you work on implementing new techniques to help them start and finish homework assignments. If children get off track while working on an assignment, redirect them gently. Discuss your child's homework schedule with them. Sometimes, kids will be willing to let you know what makes doing homework tough for them. If that is the case, having a conversation and working together to troubleshoot can be advantageous.
Why Is It So Hard To Do Homework With ADHD?
Does your ADHD child struggle with learning? Well, ADHD can make homework and school more challenging. This can be the case for more than one reason. Symptoms of inattention, such as trouble focusing and difficulty with tasks that require sustained mental effort, can make homework more challenging. Similarly, hyperactivity symptoms, like trouble sitting still, can make some activities and responsibilities harder. This includes school and homework.
It is worthwhile to note that, if school is tough for a child, it may create problems with homework. Being bullied at school, lack of adequate support at school, feeling like they don't fit in with classmates, and other factors can all play a role. If a child dreads school, it can be difficult to concentrate on it and take in information, which can affect homework success. Dreading school or feeling as though trying one's best isn't good enough can affect motivation. This is part of why talking to kids matters.
Brain differences that impact motivation are also a factor that can disrupt homework and other tasks in people with ADHD.
Can ADHD Cause Lack Of Motivation?
Is there a reason that a child with ADHD may feel less motivated to do homework? The answer is yes - research shows that ADHD is indeed associated with deficits in motivation. Specifically, the brain in ADHD is wired to prefer avoiding the “cost” or work involved in completing tasks over the reward or satisfaction of completing them. It is internal motivation specifically that appears to be impacted in those with the disorder. However, this doesn't mean that motivation is impossible for children with ADHD by any means. Instead, it is part of why techniques and tips such as using an external reward system or working together to find personal motivators can be so valuable for children who are diagnosed with or expected to have the disorder. Teaching children with ADHD how to work with their brain from a young age can help set them up for long-term success.
Takeaway
ADHD is connected to motivation deficits and can make tasks like homework more challenging to start or finish. Although it can take trial and error, finding ways to make homework time easier in your home is possible. Adults struggling to get their kids to do homework may find that ADHD-friendly tips like using a reward system, taking frequent breaks, and breaking certain tasks down into smaller pieces to make them more manageable and increase focus make a difference. Be consistent in helping your child stick to a homework schedule, and consider using an app like Joon to help.
About
Sarah Schulze MSN, APRN, CPNP
.avif)
