Q: How Can I Make Homework Less of a Tedious, Awful Chore?
How can we make homework less frustrating and more fun for ADHD brains? By turning it into a game, of course!
This Dear ADHD Family Coach® column was originally written for ADDitude Magazine.
Q: “How, with different homework challenges and focus problems, can I make homework time less than a chore for a younger child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD)?” — ADBoys
Hi ADBoys:
Trust me, you are not alone on this one! To infuse your son’s homework routine with fun and creativity, get him moving! Movement helps to create energy around the mundane and make our work feel more like a game.
[READ: What Time Management Apps Will My Teen with ADHD Actually Use?]
One game I play with my younger students is “Hide the Homework.” Here’s how it works: When your son comes home, you hide his assignments in various places around your house. And, wherever he finds it is where he finishes it! The secret to making this work is to find out-of-the-box locations. So think spelling in the bathtub (no water!) and math problems completed under the kitchen table.
Another game you can play is “Beat the Clock.” Set up homework stations around your kitchen or dining room table. Place a timer in the middle; when it goes off, your son moves to the next station. He keeps going until all his work is completed.
[READ: In the Age of e-Learning, How Can I Police My Child’s Computer Use?]
Does your son like to be outside? I have students who do their math homework with sidewalk chalk or learn vocabulary words while jumping on a trampoline or bouncing a ball. Have a dog that needs walking? You grab the flashcards, your son grabs the dog – and by the time you’re back, he’s studied for his test.
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