Kristin Wilcox Ph.D.

Why Kids with ADHD Can Be So Forgetful

Working memory deficits are common in adhd. these strategies can help..

Posted August 15, 2022 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

  • What Is ADHD?
  • Find a therapist to help with ADHD
  • Working memory is critical for focus and following instructions.
  • Due to deficits in executive functioning, children with ADHD often struggle with working memory.
  • Some simple strategies can help improve working memory function in children with ADHD.

Why does my ADHD son think his memory is perfect? Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know what he is forgetting.

I’ll admit when it comes to my son, I have an obsession with neon-colored sticky notes. I have been known to put those colorful reminders everywhere—on my son’s school folders, his desk, even the bathroom mirror—reminding him to put his laundry into the hamper, turn in his schoolwork, and practice piano. I thought maybe his ADHD brain would pay attention to the bright neon colors.

Nope. My son’s working memory simply doesn’t work. So, what is working memory and what does it have to do with ADHD?

Working Memory Deficits in ADHD

A key component to why your ADHD child may seem distracted and forgetful is working memory, our most immediate form of memory. Due to executive functioning deficits, ADHD brains tend to struggle with working memory, which helps you to keep information in your brain until you need to use it.

For example, you use your working memory when you solve a math problem. Consider the problem 4 + 5 + 10. First, you calculate 4 + 5 = 9—then, using working memory to keep the number 9 in your brain, add 10 to get 9 + 10 = 19. Working memory is also important when you are following a series of steps, like a recipe, so you know what steps were already completed.

With regard to ADHD, working memory is important for helping kids to pay attention and follow instructions—all the things teachers and parents like them to do. But children with ADHD can forget what they were supposed to be paying attention to since the important information held in their working memory can easily be replaced by other stimuli, like a favorite activity.

See if this scenario sounds familiar. Your ADHD child is engrossed in some activity of his/her choosing, like a video game, and you give him/her a 15-minute warning to get ready for soccer practice. When you check on your child 15 minutes later, you find he/she has not moved, and you are now going to be late to practice.

Kids with ADHD have trouble stopping behaviors that are inappropriate at the time (playing a computer game) to focus on appropriate behaviors (getting ready for soccer practice), since they can easily forget what they are supposed to be doing.

Strategies to Improve Working Memory

My son, now a freshman in college, was diagnosed with ADHD in third grade. Over the years, several strategies proved useful for helping his working memory:

  • Breaking down big tasks into very specific parts so his brain doesn’t get overwhelmed, and he has an easier time remembering what needs to be done.
  • In middle school, my son had a special folder for homework assignments that needed to be turned in to the teacher the following day. I would like to say that he diligently checked the folder at the end of the school day to make sure it was empty, but I try to live in the real world of ADHD. Even so, this strategy did help to decrease the number of his missing and late assignments since he only had to remember to check one folder.
  • Having a place for important items like his backpack, trumpet, and car keys helped to streamline weekday mornings. As a result, my son was more likely to be on time to school since he didn’t have to spend already hectic mornings searching for and trying to remember where he put things.
  • Making sure I have my son’s full attention before I ask him to do something is critical if I want him to remember it. If my son is focusing on an activity he likes to do, what I am asking will go in one ear and out the other.
  • My son finally decided to use a paper planner in high school after several years of my gentle nudging—OK, nagging—explaining that if he wrote things down, and saw them, his working memory wouldn’t have to work so hard to remember. His planner was always filled with lots of cool doodles of rocket ships but never any homework assignments. He has gone through dozens of planners, electronic and traditional paper ones, and whiteboard calendars. Typical of his novelty-seeking ADHD brain, the planners were used for a week or two then abandoned (maybe I can pile them up to use as a plant stand). When my son started using a planner in high school, writing down everything including school assignments and other activities, he eventually gave in and agreed that it was indeed helpful for keeping him on top of assignments in school and planning out his time efficiently.

Maybe it’s time to put away the neon-colored sticky notes. And if anyone needs a planner, I will be happy to oblige.

Kristin Wilcox Ph.D.

Kristin Wilcox, Ph.D. , has spent over 20 years in academia as a behavioral pharmacologist studying drug abuse behavior and ADHD medications at Emory University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

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ADHD and Memory Loss

How Memory Is Affected and How to Manage Forgetfulness

What Is Working Memory?

Adhd and memory problems.

  • Other Causes of Memory Loss
  • How to Improve Memory

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that can impact how the brain processes memory. People with ADHD might notice they forget daily tasks like appointments, schedules, and bringing lunch, for example. ADHD can also impact both working memory and long-term memory.

Verywell / Lara Antal

This article will discuss how ADHD affects memory, strategies for improving memory, and managing forgetfulness.

ADHD is classified into three subtypes: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combination.

Inattentive symptoms include trouble focusing, difficulty following through on tasks and instructions, making "careless" mistakes, losing items, and problems with other activities that require sustained mental focus.

Hyperactive /impulsive symptoms include being constantly in motion, physical restlessness, trouble with impulse control, interrupting or blurting out responses, and difficulty waiting for a turn.

The combination type of ADHD has aspects of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive. People with this type of ADHD meet the criteria for both other types of ADHD.

Working memory is the brain's short-term storage space . When information is taken in, working memory holds it for a short time while it processes the information, encoding it into useful data. From there, the information is stored in long-term memory.

Working memory involves:

  • Reordering : Maintaining and rearranging information
  • Updating : Active monitoring of incoming information and replacing outdated information with more relevant ones
  • Dual-processing : Maintaining information in the mind while doing another task

It's estimated that up to 80% to 85% of children with ADHD experience problems with working memory when evaluated with cognitive tasks. Research suggests these difficulties persist into adulthood.

Working Memory

Longitudinal studies suggest that the severity of impairment in working memory correlates with the severity of ADHD symptoms. While not everyone with ADHD has trouble with working memory, impairments in working memory are linked to symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in people with ADHD.

Difficulty with working memory can influence areas such as academic achievement, organization, emotion processing, and social relationships.

Working memory affects how people process and store information and follow instructions. For example, working memory is at play when remembering items on a grocery list or following multi-step instructions like, "Eat your breakfast, then put your lunch in your backpack, then put on your shoes."

Working memory also affects areas such as reading and math.

Long-Term Memory

Problems with long-term memory are also associated with ADHD. It is believed that the problems people with ADHD experience with long-term memory stem from their difficulties with working memory. While they don't have problems with recalling information, recall is only as useful as how it was stored.

People with ADHD may encode the information in a disorganized way, causing it to be processed in such a way that it is less useful, or does not enter long-term memory.

How Long Is Long-Term Memory?

While long-term memory sounds like it refers to your ability to remember things from years ago, it actually describes memory that has been processed through working memory and stored. This can take just moments. If you finish watching a movie and are asked to name your favorite part, your description would be retrieved from your long-term memory.

ADHD and Other Causes of Memory Loss

Some of the cognitive symptoms associated with ADHD may also resemble symptoms of prodromal dementia , also called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This is particularly notable for people over age 50.

Despite similarities between the two conditions, they are fundamentally unrelated conditions. A causal relationship has not been established between them. If ADHD causes any increased risk of MCI, it is likely through health-compromising behaviors that are more common in people with ADHD, such as smoking , alcohol, and substance use.

A 2021 study showed that parents and grandparents of individuals with ADHD were at a higher risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, but the link is not well understood. More research is needed in this area.

Managing ADHD Forgetfulness

Stimulant medication has been shown to improve many symptoms of ADHD, and for some, it may help manage working memory and other memory difficulties.

Organization Tools

There are many ways to help you stay on track and remember the details you need to know. These include:

  • Calendars, either physical or digital
  • Setting alarms and reminders for appointments, tasks, and commitments
  • Apps for organization
  • Lists so no step or item gets missed
  • Posted lists of instructions and routines for children
  • Visual reminders such as sticky notes
  • Visualizing the end result, not the individual tasks, such as posting a picture of your child completely ready for school with all the items they need

Memory and sequencing games such as Concentration, matching games, and Simon Says can help strengthen existing memory skills.

Repeating and rehearsing information , routines, and other things you or your child need to remember can help it "stick" better. When giving instructions to a child with ADHD, ask them to repeat what you said.

Mnemonics involves using little "tricks" to link new information being learned to information you already know.

Examples of mnemonics include:

  • Chunking : Organize bigger pieces of info into smaller groups of info, such as how a phone number is formatted as 111-222-3333.
  • Musical : Set the info to a tune you know, or make one up. Think of how jingles work.
  • Acronyms : Use the first letters to create an acronym that prompts you to remember the whole phrase, such as HOMES for the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior).
  • Acrostics : This type of poem works by assigning each letter in the concept a word to make up a phrase, such as E very G ood B oy D eserves F udge to remember the sequence of lines in a treble clef, or P lease E xcuse M y D ear A unt S ally for the order of operations in math (parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction).
  • Rhyming : Rhyming can help make something easier to remember, such as, "I after E except after C" or "30 days has September, April, June, and November."
  • Connections : Make connections between information. If you need the red and green files, think of them as the "Christmas files." Assign an adjective to people's names, such as Happy Harry.
  • Method of Loci : Picture a path with familiar objects along the way, such as the rooms in a house or landmarks on the way to school or work. Assign information you want to remember to each of those places. When you need to remember that information, mentally "walk" the path, triggering the recall of the information as you go.

How to Improve Your Memory

There does not appear to be a way to reliably improve working memory in a sustained, long-term way. Apps and games exist to improve working memory and "brain training," but the evidence is mixed on their efficacy.

There is more evidence for improvements in a task specifically "worked" by an app but less to support these gains applying to other areas more broadly.

A 2019 study suggests promise for training tasks that target multiple cognitive constructs instead of working memory or attention alone and are administered in person instead of virtually. This approach impacted the trained skills with transferred effects to everyday functioning such as behavior, academics, confidence, cooperation, and self-esteem. More research is needed to explore these findings.

Memory problems such as forgetfulness and poor working memory are linked to ADHD. People with ADHD may have difficulty encoding and processing information in their working memory, which may lead to problems with long-term memory.

There is no proven way to improve working memory overall, but research is being done into "brain training" apps and games to affect working memory in people with ADHD positively. Tools such as mnemonic devices, calendars, organization apps, and reminders can help people with ADHD remember information, tasks, and events.

Stimulant medication and behavior therapy as part of the overall treatment of ADHD may also help with memory difficulties.

Al-Saad MSH, Al-Jabri B, Almarzouki AF. A review of working memory training in the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .  Front Behav Neurosci . 2021;15:686873. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.686873

Understood. Attention: how it’s different from working memory .

Fosco WD, Kofler MJ, Groves NB, Chan ESM, Raiker JS Jr. Which 'working' components of working memory aren't working in youth with ADHD? .  J Abnorm Child Psychol . 2020;48(5):647-660. doi:10.1007/s10802-020-00621-y

Gu C, Liu ZX, Tannock R, Woltering S. Neural processing of working memory in adults with ADHD in a visuospatial change detection task with distractors . PeerJ . 2018;6:e5601. doi:10.7717/peerj.5601

Mukherjee P, Hartanto T, Iosif AM, et al. Neural basis of working memory in ADHD: load versus complexity .  Neuroimage Clin . 2021;30:102662. doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102662

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Making memories with ADHD .

Skodzik T, Holling H, Pedersen A. Long-term memory performance in adult ADHD .  J Atten Disord . 2017;21(4):267-283. doi:10.1177/1087054713510561

Callahan BL, Bierstone D, Stuss DT, Black SE. Adult ADHD: risk factor for dementia or phenotypic mimic? .  Front Aging Neurosci . 2017;9:260. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00260

Le Zhang, Ebba Du Rietz, Ralf Kuja‐Halkola, et al. Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer's disease and any dementia: A multi‐generation cohort study in Sweden . Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2021. doi:10.1002/alz.12462

Campez M, Raiker JS, Little K, et al. An evaluation of the effect of methylphenidate on working memory, time perception, and choice impulsivity in children with ADHD . Exp Clin Psychopharmacol . 2022;30(2):209-219. doi:10.1037/pha0000446

Stevens MC, Gaynor A, Bessette KL, Pearlson GD. A preliminary study of the effects of working memory training on brain function .  Brain Imaging Behav . 2016;10(2):387-407. doi:10.1007/s11682-015-9416-2

American Psychological Association. Memory training unlikely to help in treating ADHD, boosting IQ .

Moore AL, Ledbetter C. The promise of clinician-delivered cognitive training for children diagnosed with ADHD . J Ment Health Clin Psychol . 2019;3(3):3-8.

By Heather Jones Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism. 

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ADHD Symptom Spotlight: Forgetfulness

Rachael is a New York-based writer and freelance writer for Verywell Mind, where she leverages her decades of personal experience with and research on mental illness—particularly ADHD and depression—to help readers better understand how their mind works and how to manage their mental health.

adhd forgetting homework

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

adhd forgetting homework

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Forgetfulness in ADHD

The root of working memory problems, memory retrieval problems can look like memory loss.

  • Tips to Help with Forgetfulness

ADHD Symptom Spotlight is a series that dives deep into a hallmark or overlooked symptom of ADHD each week. This series is written by experts who also share their tips on managing these symptoms based on firsthand experience and research-backed insights.

For a long time, people with ADHD were seen as having loosely defined “memory problems,” and little distinction was made about exactly what processes or kinds of memory were impaired. Fortunately, that’s changed in the past decade or so as new research has not only revealed that it’s specifically working memory that's primarily impaired but also why traditional memory training techniques don’t seem to help.

Working memory is where you keep information relevant to the task you’re doing right now. It’s the ability to walk to the kitchen and still know what you went there for by the time you arrive. It’s also the ability to follow the plot of a movie because you still recall events from the beginning by the time you get to the end.

When that’s impaired, it can lead to annoying and disruptive symptoms like:

  • Losing things, even things you just had a few minutes earlier
  • Missing appointments, dates, and other plans
  • Abandoning a task midway because you forgot you were doing it
  • Immediately forgetting something that someone just told you
  • Difficulties with recalling specific memories on demand (e.g., When was the first time you went to the beach? What was the last movie you saw in theaters?)

I forget what I’m doing while in the middle of doing it on a daily basis. Most of the time, I don’t even realize I’ve forgotten. I’ll put a pot of water on the stove to make pasta, and if I leave the kitchen while I’m waiting for it to boil, there’s a good chance I’ll forget I was ever making pasta, and the water will boil away until the pot’s empty.

I will lose items that I was just holding, forget plans I agreed to just moments ago, and lose track of conversations I’m in the middle of having. Meanwhile, without skipping a beat, I can recite entire poems from memory and tell you the exact dates of the Siege of Sarajevo. It’s weird.

In the past few decades, research has revealed that alpha waves (one of a handful of electrical rhythms that can occur in the human brain) are involved in filtering out sensory input from our environment so that we can focus only on the information we want to focus on.

In simple terms: alpha waves block out distractions and irrelevant information so that we can work, study, or even just watch a TV show without consciously thinking about the sound of cars driving down our street or the texture of the chair we’re sitting in.

Studies of children and adults with ADHD show weak alpha modulation during encoding and retrieval stages of memory, meaning the brain isn’t efficiently separating relevant details from distracting and unimportant ones while creating the memory or while recalling it.

Without that filtration, encoding a clear memory is a bit like trying to record someone talking in a crowded club while synth-pop is pumping at maximum volume in the background. Retrieving a memory is like listening to that recording and trying to tune out the music and background noise so that you just hear what that person is saying.

What’s most interesting about this research on alpha modulation deficits in ADHD is that it helps explain why standard memory training exercises don’t always help.

Where many memory exercises focus on improving the maintenance (or storage) stage of memory, people with ADHD don’t show signs of a deficit there. Long-term memory works relatively well, and there’s no evidence that people with ADHD forget information after a delay any faster than people without the condition.

Retaining information isn’t the problem. Selectively focusing on a particular piece of it, either during encoding or recall, is.

One reason researchers used to think the entire memory system had gone haywire in ADHD brains is that many of the tests they use to measure memory rely on retrieval. It’s hard to test what a person remembers without asking them to recall it.

But to retrieve a memory, your brain not only needs to target that specific memory but filter out any competing ones. With weak alpha modulation, that filtering isn’t happening as well as it should, so it can be hard to tune out competing memories and give the specific answer that’s needed, even though it’s stored in there somewhere.

A study of adults with ADHD confirmed that this ability to inhibit competing memories was impaired. When you structure memory tests in a way that doesn’t require as much attention suppression or memory inhibition, people with ADHD perform well.

In the study, subjects were shown a collection of 48 category-and-example pairs (like “fruit: apple”). While categories appeared multiple times, no two examples in the same category started with the same letter. Researchers then administered three different recall tests. In one, just a category cue would appear on the screen (like “fruit?”). In the other two, the category was followed by either a one- or two-letter cue (like “fruit: a____”).

The results confirmed that individuals with ADHD have a deficit in inhibitory control of memory.

Memory Exercises and Tips to Help with Forgetfulness

Knowing that the problems are mainly due to difficulty filtering out distractions and competing information, tricks and workarounds that compensate for that are your best bet.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness exercises may help your brain get better at triggering alpha waves (those that help you tune out distractions) on demand. An ADHD-friendly mindfulness exercise that I’ve found more manageable than pure meditation is focusing on the five senses .

Set aside 5-10 minutes of your morning to go somewhere relatively quiet and do this exercise: Name five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can smell, two things you can feel, and one thing you can taste.

For me, it’s easier than trying to clear my mind or focus only on my breath, as so many mindfulness exercises suggest.

Write Everything Down

I take notes all the time for everything. I’ve got a notes app on my phone that I use any time I agree to any plans, no matter how vague, or need something from the store or find a new show or book I want to check out.

As soon as the thing comes up, I make a note, even if it seems trivial. Having this ongoing record makes it so much easier to keep track of all the small things that tend to slip through the cracks the second the conversation ends or you leave the room.

Likewise, keeping a to-do list for the day can prevent you from forgetting appointments, due dates, and plans.

Use Tons of Alarms

Alarms can help jolt your memory and remind you of what you should be doing. For daily habits, set recurring alarms with labels like “take medication”, “eat lunch”, or “take the dog for a walk.” If you’re taking a “15-minute” break from studying or work, set an alarm for 15 minutes and label it “go back to work” so you don’t lose track of what you were doing.

Leave Texts and Emails Unopened Until You’re Ready to Answer

Reading an email or text and then saying “I’ll reply later” when you have ADHD is the equivalent of saying “I’ll be right back” in a horror movie. They’re not coming back. You’re not going to remember to reply later.

Either reply right away or leave it unread. If you don’t open the text, the app will have that little notification attached to it to remind you that you’ve got texts to answer. Likewise, unread emails will be easier to spot next time you check your email.

Foxe JJ, Snyder AC. The role of alpha-band brain oscillations as a sensory suppression mechanism during selective attention .  Front Psychol . 2011;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00154

Lenartowicz A, Truong H, Salgari GC, et al. Alpha modulation during working memory encoding predicts neurocognitive impairment in ADHD .  J Child Psychol Psychiatry . 2019;60(8):917-926. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13042

Jancso-Farcas, Zsuzsanna & SZAMOSKÖZI, ISTVÁN. (2016). The effects of working memory trainings with game elements for children with ADHD. A meta-analytic review . Transylvanian Journal of Psychology . XVII. 21-44. 

Kaplan BJ, Dewey D, Crawford SG, Fisher GC. Deficits in long-term memory are not characteristic of ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder . J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 1998 Aug;20(4):518-28. doi: 10.1076/jcen.20.4.518.1477. 

Storm BC, White HA. ADHD and retrieval-induced forgetting: evidence for a deficit in the inhibitory control of memory .  Memory . 2010;18(3):265-271. doi:10.1080/09658210903547884

By Rachael Green Rachael is a New York-based writer and freelance writer for Verywell Mind, where she leverages her decades of personal experience with and research on mental illness—particularly ADHD and depression—to help readers better understand how their mind works and how to manage their mental health.

Home / Expert Articles / Conditions / Diagnoses / ADHD / ADD

Simple Homework Tips for Kids with ADD and ADHD

By robert myers, phd.

Homework can be difficult for most kids during the school year, but it can become a major challenge when you have a child with ADHD. But here’s some good news for exhausted parents: if you take the right steps now, at the beginning of the school year, homework hassles can be kept to a minimum. The key is to be organized and plan ahead to minimize the frustration your child is bound to experience around multiple homework assignments. Begin by tackling the two most important places: school and home with these homework tips for kids with ADHD and ADD .

At the beginning of the school year, meet with your child’s teacher (or teachers) to find out what the expectations are regarding homework. Try to work out a system where they can let you know in advance what homework will be assigned either on a week-to-week basis or for the whole semester. Many teachers are even willing to keep you informed by e-mail. You should check with your child’s teachers periodically to make sure that things are going well. And definitely remember to ask them to inform you whether assignments are being turned in on time.

Another big problem for kids with ADHD is that they often forget to bring their books home. You may be able to work out with the school, particularly if your child has a 504 plan, to get an extra set of books. This way, your child will have a set of books at school and a set of books at home.

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Children with attention disorders, particularly those with a 504 plan, are entitled to accommodations to make school demands appropriate to their abilities. So for example, in math or other subjects with long lists of questions or problems, the accommodation states that the school must allow the child to do every other question or problem, rather than the entire list that’s been assigned. Talk to your child’s teachers about your child’s abilities and the accommodations that can be made. It can make the difference between enduring endless hours of frustration at homework time and having your child succeed.

Moving now to the home front, it’s important, if possible, to have a quiet time in the home where there’s no TV and no other media to distract your child. You might even stop phone calls during homework time. And if you have a project that you’ve brought home from work, consider doing it while your child is doing his schoolwork. (But be available for help if necessary.) This helps younger children with ADHD to understand that homework is a normal part of life—just another responsibility that needs to be met, and it also sets the right mood for focusing and concentration.

It’s best to have a scheduled time for homework and a quiet place to do it. For older kids, it may even be a good idea to set up their own “office”. This could be a space in their room, the living room or kitchen where they do their homework on a regular basis. You might even put up a bulletin board with all their long-term assignments and due dates. What this provides is a way to make it easy to have all the materials they need and to keep them on task.

If you know what your child’s assignments are, you should review them together. Make sure that they understand what they need to do. In particular, be certain they understand the directions completely. If they have homework for several different subjects, you can eliminate much of the hassle simply by helping them to organize their time.

It may be a good idea to break homework into sections. You can set aside time for each specific subject, with some relaxation breaks in between. High school age kids with ADHD certainly can do an hour of homework at a time without a break, while first graders may only be able to go for 10 to 15 minutes without a break. You need to determine what you feel is a reasonable amount of study time for your child, and then help him or her to manage their time appropriately. When they complete their homework successfully, use fun activities such as on TV or video games (or whatever your child enjoys) as a reward.

Finally, a big problem for kids with ADHD is that even when they get the homework completed, they forget to turn it in to the teacher. It’s wise to have a notebook with a clipboard or a separate folder for homework for your child. Remind him or her to check the clipboard or folder at school for each class to be sure that they turned in all the work. Then, before they leave school, they should check it once again. If they find any assignments that were not turned in they should take it to the teacher or the office and hand it in before they leave the campus. Most teachers will accept an assignment later in the day from a child they know to be attempting to cope with ADHD.

The internet also has great resources to help you and your child gather information for homework projects. These include Kid Info www.kidinfo.com , Fact Monster www.factmonster.com and Searching for Stuff-Kid’s search tools www.slco.lib.ut.us/kids_search.htm .

Related Content: 8 Tips for Parents of Children with ADHD ADHD, LDs, ODD? How to Stop Doing Too Much for Your Special Needs Kid

About Robert Myers, PhD

Dr. Robert Myers is a child psychologist with more than 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD - ADHD) and learning disabilities. Dr. Myers is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UC Irvine School of Medicine. "Dr. Bob" has provided practical information for parents as a radio talk show host and as editor of Child Development Institute's website, childdevelopmentinfo.com . Dr. Myers earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.

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keepingthefaith My 12-yr old is officially diagnosed with ASD/Anxiety/Mood Disorder/Depression.  I recently withdrew him from public school.  The admin was using detention and taking away his break time to motivate him to do his work at school.  He has an IEP for every accommodation conceivable, but he was refusing to write More paragraphs and essays.  I pulled him out after the school took away his "safe room" and started piling on consequences.  My question is, how am I going to get him to write paragraphs and essays when we start homeschooling?  He sees a behavioral therapist and a psychiatrist and is on meds to focus.  He is a bright boy, usually coring three grade levels ahead.

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A Child with ADHD Can Be Frustrated by Homework

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  • February 17, 2020
  • , Resources , Tips

If your child has ADHD, you may feel a sense of dread or frustration at the mere mention of homework. Most likely, this is a challenging time in your household and you may not be sure why or how to handle it. 

Here’s why homework can be incredibly frustrating for children with ADHD , and how to handle it as a parent or aide. 

Why is Homework Frustrating for Children with ADHD?

First things first, why is homework such a challenging part of the day for children with ADHD? 

Issues Retaining Information 

Children with ADHD may have thoughts that race much more quickly than they can voice them. Meaning that they may have assignments that ask them to explain concepts, historic events, etc. While they may very well understand the task, it may be hard to organize and articulate their thoughts on the subject. 

Their responses may be incomplete or simply wrong because they are trying to get their thoughts down on paper as fast as possible. ADHD can also affect memory as well, so retaining information can be difficult overall. 

Feeling Defeated

If your child is not doing well in school to start with, homework can be another reminder of their struggles and cause them to lose confidence. They may believe that they won’t do well no matter how long they spend on their homework, which could cause them to rush or become very frustrated. 

Poor Time Management and Organization

Issues with both time management and organization can be common problems in kids with ADHD. When your child comes home with multiple homework assignments, they may not know how much time to spend on each assignment or how to plan out their evening of homework. 

Also, they may put all of their focus into one specific task and then not have the energy to handle any more work. 

Dealing with Developmental Disabilities 

Lastly, children with ADHD often have developmental disabilities as well, such as dyscalculia or dyslexia . Compounded, these can cause additional frustration, fatigue, and inability to complete the homework. 

How to Handle Homework Frustrations for Children with ADHD

Now let’s get into how to handle homework frustrations for those with ADHD. Here are our top suggestions. 

Choose the Best Time of Day for Homework

First things first, consider your child’s specific after-school routine and choose the best time to start homework based on their wants and needs. Some kids may do better by starting their assignments right after they get home. Other children may have an easier time after dinner, playtime, etc. 

Schedule Breaks

Either you or your child’s aide should stay nearby to monitor your child’s progress. If there is obvious frustration or distraction, it may be time for a break. To stick to a rigid schedule, consider creating specific break times to keep your child motivated. 

Consider a Reward System

If you utilize reward systems for your kid, it may be a good idea to consider this for homework time. Whether it’s additional TV time, a special meal, a sweet treat, etc. consider what motivates your child and have a discussion with them about what needs to be done to earn that reward. 

Listen to Your Child

Last but most importantly, make sure to communicate with your child about the issues they are having with homework specifically. Discuss what they think would make the process easier, and stay patient if they become overly frustrated. 

If the task becomes too overwhelming and you sense a meltdown or excessive frustration, it may be time for an additional break or conversation. Listening to your child will make all the difference when it comes to navigating a high-stress situation.

Looking for more resources on children with ADHD? We can help! Here is a great tool to get you started.

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Homework Strategies for Kids with ADHD, autism

Homework strategies for kids with ADHD, autism

What a pain.

Kids don’t want to do homework. Can you blame them? They just sat in school for 6+ hours, now we want them to sit down and do more school work during the little free time they have for themselves in the evenings. And struggling learners have been pushing so hard all day to listen and do what they’re asked. They’re spent, making them even more adamant that they not do any homework. And thus, the homework battles commence.

Homework is a parenting struggle for the majority of us raising kids with ADHD and/or high-functioning autism. It’s personally the most dreaded time of the day. There are some rules and strategies to implement to make it a bit better {thank goodness!}.

Homework Ground Rules

There are some general ground rules that should always be followed for homework time:

  • TV and other distractions must be turned off (music in the background actually helps some children drown out their surroundings and focus — it is a distraction for me and my son, but my daughter does homework better with music on).
  • Have a dedicated spot for homework and work there each day — routine and consistency are key.
  • Praise and reward often (typically more often than you are comfortable with).

Homework Timing

We’ve played around with time of day my son does homework over the years. I first tried homework right after school thinking medication would still be working {and that we should just get it over with}. That was a disaster. Kids need time to unwind and do whatever their hearts desire after being in school 6+ hours on someone else’s time.

We also tried after dinner, when school was a distant memory. That wasn’t as big a battle to get him to agree to do homework, like immediately after school was. However, his medication is no longer helping him slow down by that time, and it was a monumental chore to actually get anything accomplished.

4 pm turned out to be our “magic” homework hour. Now, I use the term “magic” very, very loosely. Our children with ADHD will never be willing to do homework, nor will they be efficient at it. It’s finding what works best under their circumstances that will be “magic” for your family. It may not be “magic” for a typically-abled child, but it’s magic for us. Remember, even the best laid plan will not cure the resistance to homework.

Be sure you offer lots of breaks. Physical movement helps with mental alertness, but also gives your child the opportunity to destress and regroup.

Homework Location

At 4 pm we turn off all electronics and sit down at the dining room table or kitchen counter. It could be on the floor, hanging upside down on the sofa, or under the bed for that matter — anywhere your child is comfortable, focused, and can write. Don’t be rigid about your idea of the way homework should be done (at a desk, for instance). The key is to figure out where and how your child can do their best on this task. It may be unconventional, but whatever works for them is totally acceptable, and best.

The HowdaHug chair was a miracle tool for us for many years.

Homework Toolkit

Continuous preparation is a common procrastination technique, conscious or not. To prevent this, create a homework toolkit. The toolkit should be some sort of box or desktop organizer ( this desktop organizer is perfect for your toolkit!), even an actual toolbox , with every single thing necessary to complete homework, prepped and ready to go:

pencils (sharpened — sharpening pencils is a favorite procrastination technique of children), pencil sharpener, pencil grips (if used), markers, colored pencils (sharpened), age-appropriate scissors, notebook paper, construction paper and/or blank copy paper, calculator, ruler, dictionary, index cards, highlighter, tape, glue stick, post-it notes, clip board (if not working at a table or desktop), anything else your child may use for homework.

A timer (there are many specifically for ADHD and special needs) is a great tool for completing a task, too. ADHDers often struggle with the concept of time. My son constantly asks me “how much longer?” when doing something he’d rather not be doing. He often overestimates the amount of time something will take, as well. A timer helps with both. If he is given a math worksheet and he has 15 minutes to complete it, the timer is set for 15 minutes. At any given moment, he can look at the timer and know how much time he has left to finish. The Time Timer is my favorite.

Get Creative with Homework

Get creative and make homework visual when you can. When my son was young, we got really creative. We used macaroni for math (in middle school, we’ve used candy corn to solve math problems, then eat them as the reward — I don’t like a lot of candy, but sometimes desperation wins). He liked to spell words with uncooked spaghetti mixed with elbow macaroni for curves (when the spelling words were 3 or 4 letters). Does your child love to paint? Let them paint their spelling words or their illustration for their writing assignments. Painting letters is actually a common therapy tool for children that struggle with hand writing. What about play-dough? I purchased a box of 101 alphabet and number cookie cutters for $10, and sometimes we used that for spelling and math.

Homework Accommodations

I can’t begin to count how many parents have told me their child is spending hours on homework every night just to get it done. We’re talking 2-4 hours for kids in elementary school. That’s not okay, folks!

Kids with developmental delays (ADHD and autism) and learning disabilities should not have to work on homework any longer than their neurotypical peers. To have a child work on a math assignment for two hours that took their peers 15 minutes to complete is punishing that child for having a disability . That’s not acceptable. That’s very, very unacceptable!

The rule of thumb for the maximum daily time spent on homework is supposed to be 10 minutes for every year of grade. That’s 10 minutes for a first grader, 20 minutes for a second grader, 60 minutes for a sixth grader, etc… Ask your child’s teacher how much time they expect their students to spend on homework each night. If your child is doing substantially more, ask for modified assignments, so your child is only working that length of time, whether the assignment is finished or not. We did this all through elementary school, and it helped a great deal.

<<< DOWNLOAD THE FREE HOMEWORK STRATEGIES CHEATSHEET >>>

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Penny Williams

A parenting coach for neurodiverse families, Penny Williams is the award-winning author of four books on ADHD, including "Boy Without Instructions," host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast, co-host of the annual Neurodiverse Parenting Summits, and co-founder of The Behavior Revolution, an initiative devoted to celebrating and supporting kids with ADHD or autism through neuroscience-backed insights, hard-won strategies, compassion, and guidance.  Penny empowers parents to help their neuro-atypical kids — and families — thrive.

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Homework time is a disaster every single night and weekend in my home. My 7th grade son with ADHD/anxiety routinely spends 2-4 hours on homework. He has a 504 plan but his school is adamant that they will not give any reduction of homework. He is very bright but just shuts down when overwhelmed by homework. I will not be surprised when he is trying to drop out of school in HS. I have even told the school he already vetbslizes this along with extreme emotional upset and they are still unwilling to do anything help ease the stress that homework is giving. The only thing they’ve been willing to do is to give one extra night…which only stresses him out more because it just puts him behind. Between his troubles and my 9 year old sons emotional issues (ADHD/SPD/anxiety) I feel like I am constantly drowning and instead of throwing me a life preserver I just get more water thrown at me 🙁

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I’m so sorry Tracy! I would continue to push the school. If the principal refuses a reduced assignments accommodation, I’d call the Director of Special Education/Special Services/Exceptional Children for your school board (city of county department of education) and let that individual know that there’s a school they are responsible for that is refusing to appropriately accommodate a special needs student. Again, forcing a kid with a disability to work on homework substantially longer than their peers is PUNISHING THAT CHILD FOR BEING BORN WITH A DISABILITY. That’s not acceptable.

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My 13 y/o son has had ADHD since he was in 1st grade. We choose to medicate him because he can’t make it through a day without it. He’s now in 7th grade, in a charter/college prep school, and homework is mostly just classwork that he didn’t finish. He has a 504 plan in place to help him at school. But at home it is a fight, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY to get any more work out of him. He is failing one class, and close to failing 3 more. I have done everything from tutoring, to one-on-one time with homework. No matter what I try, nothing works. Electronics are his vice, so those have been taken until his grades come up. I’ve spent 3+ hours today to get him to write a 5 paragraph essay that’s due by midnight. I’ve cried, threatened, walked away, and now feel like the worst parent on Earth right now. I have met with the teachers, principal, counselor (today), and everyone in between. Its so frustrating that we end up yelling, lecturing, and then my husband and I fight about it. I’m currently looking into military schools for lack of any other options. Do you have any ideas how I can do better?? I’m a nurse and my husband is a supervisor, so schedules are weird some days. I’m starting to think there is some autism problems in there also. I just don’t know what to do now. Even psychologists can’t get through to him. Do you have any additional advice, or strategies to try with him?? I’m at my wits end and I feel like I’m destroying my son and my family every night. My daughter (6th grade) takes his side and hates me too most days. Please help…

I’m so, so sorry to hear that you’re struggling so much. Let’s see what we can do about it.

What you have done so far and are doing now isn’t working. That means it’s time to try something new. No matter how much you threaten or punish, it won’t change the behavior, because you’re not addressing the underlying issue, which is the actual problem. I just did an entire podcast on this last week – listen here: https://parentingadhdandautism.com/2017/11/02/parenting-adhd-podcast-015-behavior-just-symptom/ .

As Ross Greene says, “Kids do well IF they can.”

So, let’s take threats and punishment off the table (I know, it feels wrong, but it isn’t working and won’t solve the problem). Instead, let’s ask WHY. Why is he refusing to do homework? Why is he taking so much longer to do the work than it should take? And ask your son why he is struggling with homework. We don’t ask our kids for their insights enough.

Potential reasons include: – undiagnosed learning disability (if writing is an overwhelming struggle, it could be written expression disorder and/or dysgraphia, my son has both) – overwhelming volume of work – doesn’t know how to get started – doesn’t understand the assignment or the work – just isn’t good at school

That’s right — some people just aren’t good at school. They don’t learn the way our public schools approach education, and struggle with the skills required, like executive functioning. Parents of kids with ADHD must adjust their expectations of “success at school” most of the time. Smart kids sometimes can’t accomplish A’s and B’s.

However, he should be passing. The fact that he’s not signals to me that the school isn’t supporting his needs effectively. It isn’t laziness or a lack of motivation, or even self-discipline necessarily. It is a difference in his brain that puts him at a real disadvantage under the mainstream, neurotypical expectations of school.

Remember too, while he’s 13, developmentally he’s 20-30% behind. That means some of his skills are still at the 9-10-year-old level. That’s where expectations need to be in those areas.

I know this isn’t the response you expected, and probably not what you wanted to hear, but it’s the truth.

Use Dr. Greene’s Collaborative Problem Solving Model (CPS) to get to the root of the issue: https://www.livesinthebalance.org/walking-tour-parents . It really works wonders!

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This sounds so rosy perfect. My 7th grade ADHD/ASD son is on an IEP at school (took six years and a near legal battle, but it got put into place). We do EVERYTHING listed above, and all he will do is fight and battle and shred his homework. He is doing okay in his classes with a class work focus, but when it comes to homework, even accommodated homework, he won’t. Even if he does it under duress, he won’t turn it in… even with a learning strategies class/teacher to help. He is drastically failing and does not seem to care… he simply would prefer to do anything other than work. He is the same way with his singular chore, emptying the dishwasher. He has always struggled with having to deal with the ‘inconvenience’ of work. We are at a total loss. We are exhausted from the battles and home repairs from him being in a rage. His meds help ‘take the edge off.’

There’s always a reason behind this behavior. Challenge yourself to stop using words like “refuses” and “won’t” and ask yourself WHY. He wants to do well, but he may have lost hope that it’s even possible for him anymore.

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Thanks to all the brave parents who are willing to share their journey. It helps knowing you’re not alone in the struggles. Some things you mentioned, Penny, are a good reminder. I often forget in the heat of the moment that their is a reason why my son is so angry, refusing help, etc. When I step back at the end of the day, with perspective, alone, without an extra parent’s perception, or teacher/principal expectations, it’s always clear that the little boy inside (the one that is much younger than the one standing in front of me) doesn’t believe in himself. He knows compared to his peers that he’s not the same. He feels alone no matter what my good intentions are for him. And what he always needs most are 1. More understanding than I could ever imagine someone needing 2. More breaks than I think are justified 3. And more grace than I alone can often muster. But ironically I need the exact same things!!! Great amounts of understanding that this is incredibly challenging, breaks!, and to forgive myself when I forget to put love first. I do not have a great co-parent but I have an awesome kid who feels incredibly bad about himself most days at some point. I just gotta love him and me through it. I get lots of help by reading about what helps, listening to others with atypical kids, prayer, therapy and yes, a drink when I need one. 🙂 <3

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12 Schoolwork Shortcuts for Kids Who Hate Homework

Finishing homework faster doesn’t mean rushing or hovering over your child until he melts down. it means following these 12 adhd-friendly strategies for creating calm, avoiding burnout, and staying organized..

Susan Kruger, M.Ed.

1. What Homework Strategy Is Best?

Talk with a parent about raising her child with ADHD and, sooner or later, the conversation will turn to the homework wars. “You can’t believe how long it takes for my son to finish homework,” she will say. “Will it ever get better?” Yes, it will. There are ADHD homework strategies and secrets for studying more effectively. Don’t tell your child which strategy to use. Instead, let her choose. Choice is a key factor for inspiring motivation.

A girl uses ADHD homework strategies to finish her assignments

2. How Should We Begin Homework?

When you first sit down to do homework, take two minutes to put loose papers into the proper folders. Use the next eight minutes to reread notes and/or handouts from school. These 10 minutes will save you hours of searching and studying. You will quickly get into the habit of putting assignments where they belong. Reviewing your notes transfers information to long-term memory, saving hours of study time when test time comes around.

A boy uses ADHD homework strategies to finish his assignments

3. How Long Should We Work on Homework?

Set a timer and limit each study or work session to 30 minutes. Challenge yourself to finish a certain amount of work within that time. The adrenaline rush of the challenge will improve your focus.

[ Get This Free Download: Top 5 Homework Frustrations — and Fixes for Each ]

A girl takes an exercise break, one of her ADHD homework strategies.

4. What's a Reasonable Homework Break?

Both your body and brain need frequent refreshers. Set another timer for five minutes, then do jumping jacks, run in place, or stretch. Start another 30-minute block of homework. This sounds too simple to work, but these breaks keep you sharp to get your work done faster. After two weeks, you will find that these five-minute blocks will significantly reduce procrastination.

A girl uses ADHD homework strategies to complete her assignments

5. How Can We Keep Homework Organized?

A lot of students with ADHD who keep a planner forget to use it throughout the day. Always keep it in your main folder or binder, along with a pen in the binding. Use a binder clip to mark your current page. It should take only a few steps to access your planner and to write down assignments and reminders — and you won’t waste time later, calling friends to ask about homework.

A boy and his father use ADHD homework strategies to finish assignments together.

6. What's an Energizing After-School Snack?

When kids do homework, they should sip (not gulp) a drink with sugar in it, says Dr. Russell Barkley, Ph.D., author of Taking Charge of ADHD (#CommissionsEarned) . Lemonade or sports drinks are good choices. These beverages deliver glucose to your brain, which is its only source of fuel. The more fuel you have, the more you will be able to work effectively and efficiently.

A teen uses ADHD homework strategies to finish his assignments.

7. Should We Skip Tough Homework Problems?

If you come to a homework question (or two or three) that you find confusing, highlight or circle it and move on. The more you dwell on something you don’t understand, the more anxious you will get. The more anxious you get, the less energy you have for the rest of your homework. Stick with what you can figure out. Take the hard problems to your teacher at the start of class and ask for help.

[ Click to Read: The ADHD Homework System We Swear By ]

A girl uses ADHD homework strategies to finish her assignments.

8. What's the Best Way to Review School Notes?

Your brain will process the information in three ways: through your eyes as you read it, your mouth as you say it, and your ears as you hear your own voice. This improves your focus and memory.

A girl and her father use ADHD homework strategies together to finish assignments.

9. What's the Best Way to Review for Tests?

Writing down questions helps you learn better than reciting or memorizing information. The process forces you to think about the information at a higher level. Higher-level thinking helps you learn more things, thus shortening your study time.

A boy and his mother use ADHD homework strategies to finish assignments.

10. How Much Do We Need to Read?

Read through related sections of your textbook, but don’t read every word. Read headings, diagrams, and captions to photos and illustrations to get started. Set your timer and spend one 30-minute block reviewing a textbook chapter. Your enhanced comprehension will help you sail through your homework.

A boy uses ADHD homework strategies to finish reading assignments.

11. How Much Review Is Best?

Review textbook chapters before teachers lecture about them in class. This process gives your brain enough knowledge to help you pay better attention in class. You can reduce study and homework time if you have a deeper understanding of the material.

Two girls leave school with their backpacks, ready to use ADHD homework strategies to finish assignments.

12. How Do You Wake Up an ADHD Brain?

Most children with ADHD are groggy in the morning, so it’s easy to forget things if you are trying to get organized. Instead, gather all of your folders, books, notebooks, and supplies, and put them in your bag before you go to sleep. When you don’t deal with chaos in the morning, you have more resources to stay focused through the day. The calmer your day, the more energy you’ll have to blast through homework in the evening.

[ Read This Next: Scripts to End Every Homework Fight ]

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    adhd forgetting homework

  3. Homework Help for ADHD

    adhd forgetting homework

  4. School Year Success: Homework Tips for your Child with ADD or ADHD

    adhd forgetting homework

  5. Struggling to complete your homework : 10 ADHD friendly tips

    adhd forgetting homework

  6. A Child with ADHD Can Be Frustrated by Homework

    adhd forgetting homework

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  1. Not Turning In Homework? Helping Kids with ADHD Remember

    The problem: The student with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) consistently neglects turning in homework or long-term projects, even though she claims to have completed the work. The reason: Children with ADHD have difficulty keeping track of bits of information and paperwork.

  2. Help for Kids Who Forget Homework: Middle & High School Teens

    Teens with ADHD forget things more often. You may think they are lazy or have a bad attitude, but all of those "I forgots" are a symptom of the disorder. Teachers shouldn't punish a child for, say, forgetting to hand in homework, but should help him find solutions instead. Below are common problems, along with solutions. If a student:

  3. Homework Problems & ADHD?

    Homework problems prevent students with ADHD from reaching their full academic potential and from displaying their true ability. Unfortunately, homework problems also tend to be a leading cause of conflict and disagreement between parents and their children with ADHD.

  4. Why Kids with ADHD Can Be So Forgetful

    A key component to why your ADHD child may seem distracted and forgetful is working memory, our most immediate form of memory. Due to executive functioning deficits, ADHD brains tend to...

  5. Tracking Homework Assignments: Why Students with ADHD Struggle

    1 Help your student to develop a solid system for tracking assignments such as a planner or calendar. A student cannot complete assignments if they do not know which ones they are expected to complete. For some students, an online portal may serve as this resource if it is accurate 100% of the time.

  6. How ADHD Affects Memory and How to Manage Forgetfulness

    Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that can impact how the brain processes memory. People with ADHD might notice they forget daily tasks like appointments, schedules, and bringing lunch, for example. ADHD can also impact both working memory and long-term memory. Verywell / Lara Antal.

  7. Help Me with My ADHD Forgetfulness

    Tips for ADHD and forgetfulness 1. Take advantage of technology There are a lot of apps and smart devices that can help you program your day. For example, Focus@Will has a dedicated channel to...

  8. ADHD in teens, from friendships to forgetting homework (Miya's story)

    Email*. Miya Kofo is a 16-year-old high school student with ADHD — and the star of Understood's "Be the Reason" campaign to fight stigma around learning and thinking differences. Miya was diagnosed in middle school. Her dad, who also has ADHD, helped her see it was nothing to be ashamed of and that she could accomplish anything.

  9. ADHD Symptom Spotlight: Forgetfulness

    Forgetfulness in ADHD Working memory is where you keep information relevant to the task you're doing right now. It's the ability to walk to the kitchen and still know what you went there for by the time you arrive. It's also the ability to follow the plot of a movie because you still recall events from the beginning by the time you get to the end.

  10. PDF adHd and Homework Struggles For morE INFo

    forgetting problem. Time management is another animal, es-pecially when it comes to long-term projects. These are the enemies of kids with ADHD. ... adHd and Homework Struggles A chat with Ann Dolin, MEd are available at ANN DolIN, mEd, IS A FormEr PUBlIC SCHool tEACHEr with

  11. ADHD Memory Tricks: 6 Ways to Stop Forgetting

    Children with ADHD and learning disabilities often have trouble remembering and retaining information taught in class. To improve their ADHD memory skills, help them create links and visual, auditory, and conceptual associations between bits of information. Here are six ways to do that: 1.

  12. Doing Homework When You Have ADHD Is Painful

    Doing Homework When You Have ADHD Is Painful ADHD Parenting School & Learning Homework & Studying The Homework System That Really Works ADHD and homework mix like oil and water. All of the little details — from writing down assignments to remembering due dates — require intense focus and memory.

  13. ADHD and Memory Loss: What to Know

    What Causes Memory Loss? If you're noticing memory problems, your fears may go straight to dementia. But many other things - including normal aging - can cause memory loss. Other causes can...

  14. Homework Tips for Kids with ADD, ADHD, and 504 Plans

    High school age kids with ADHD certainly can do an hour of homework at a time without a break, while first graders may only be able to go for 10 to 15 minutes without a break. You need to determine what you feel is a reasonable amount of study time for your child, and then help him or her to manage their time appropriately.

  15. ADHD Freeze: Understanding Task Paralysis

    ADHD mental paralysis. A state of overwhelm from too many converging thoughts and emotions. It may make it challenging to speak, move, or convey what's going on in your mind at the moment. ADHD ...

  16. 10 Homework & Study Tips for Students with ADHD/ADD

    Children with ADD and ADHD can be hasty, rushing through their homework and making mistakes. They may lose homework, struggle to organize thoughts and tasks, and fail to plan ahead. The challenges your child faces can be overcome with practiced habits and proper study skills for ADD/ADHD students.

  17. A Child with ADHD Can Be Frustrated by Homework

    Children with ADHD may have thoughts that race much more quickly than they can voice them. Meaning that they may have assignments that ask them to explain concepts, historic events, etc. While they may very well understand the task, it may be hard to organize and articulate their thoughts on the subject. Their responses may be incomplete or ...

  18. Why Is My Child Having Trouble in School?—ADHD Toolkit

    Many children with ADHD have trouble managing homework challenges such as. Not writing down assignments. Not completing classroom assignments. Forgetting homework at home. Not handing in homework. Poor persistence at tasks (follow-through) Needing constant supervision or help with classwork and homework. Taking hours to do minutes of work

  19. How to Focus on Homework with ADHD

    For students with ADHD, consistency is key when it comes to handing in homework on time. Here, solutions for succeeding at home and in the classroom. By Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, M.S. Verified Updated on September 7, 2022 Click to Add Comments

  20. Homework strategies for kids with ADHD, autism

    Homework time is a disaster every single night and weekend in my home. My 7th grade son with ADHD/anxiety routinely spends 2-4 hours on homework. He has a 504 plan but his school is adamant that they will not give any reduction of homework. He is very bright but just shuts down when overwhelmed by homework.

  21. is it common for kids with ADHD to always forget their homework?

    The way most people interpret what ADHD "should" look like tend to ignore the inattentive behaviours while shining a bright light to the hyperactive behaviours, which results in ADHD going under the radar, especially if you're more inattentive than hyperactive. RealMermaid04 ADHD with ADHD child/ren • 1 yr. ago. Yes 😑.

  22. ADHD Homework Strategies: Study Smarter, Not Harder!

    2 of 12 2. How Should We Begin Homework? When you first sit down to do homework, take two minutes to put loose papers into the proper folders. Use the next eight minutes to reread notes and/or handouts from school. These 10 minutes will save you hours of searching and studying.

  23. Effective Solutions for Parents of Kids with ADHD

    I'm Ryan and I created ADHD Dude because I realized that most families of kids with ADHD were getting ineffective help, losing valuable time and spending a lot of money with little result. ADHD Dude provides families with the training they need to help their child build skills, improve behavior, and most importantly — feel better about ...