Is your daughter on any medication or receiving any specific treatment for her ADHD?

Have you tried taking away a privilege until her homework is completed? Something she enjoys such as talking on the phone, watching TV, playing video games, using the computer?

Prior to medication my son was not good about starting or finishing his homework. Also, if they are on medication but it wears off by the time they are ready to do homework in the afternoon or early evening, they may need to take a short acting medication dosage. My son would use the 4 hour medication in the afternoon if he had a lot of homework or a baseball game.

Elaine

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Yes she is on meds--long acting form. But you may be right that she needs a small dose after school because it may wear off by then. I do give her time to play after school; I might try the earning more privileges if she does her work without complaining, does a good job not a rushed job, etc. When I tried no privileges until it was done, she rushed through it and didn't do a good job at all!.

Thanks.

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I agree the 2nd short acting dose really helps us w/ the homework. Also a snack before she starts even if it is close to dinner works well. Sometimes my daughter comes home and all her lunch is gone but she didn't eat it because she "wasn't hungry". Her body didn't feel hungry but her mind needed the fuel to get started again. Both of these things worked for our family. I hope it helps.

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Thanks BPK. Yes she is usually hungry after school--I usually bring a snack when I pick her up and she finishes it very quickly. Then she has another one when we get home! I have also heard though that some caffeine might be helpful--perhaps a half can of a Diet Coke or Pepsi so she doesn't get sugar but gets some caffeine. I am not sure about giving her soda since I don't like her having soda, but it might be worth it in a small amount. Have you heard anything similar?

CPLG

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Getting started on homework is more difficult than doing it, in my opinion! Can you use a timer? Set the timer for a half hour once she gets home, allow her a snack and to do whatever she wants for that alotted time. When she hears the timer she has to go have a seat at her desk, table whatever. It's the timer telling her it;s time to start, not you. Can she work for an hour and then take a break to do something she likes? Or for me I have to schedule 3 hours of time, and I'll get about two hours of work done. This allows for my "add time" bubut since I know I budget it in I don't beat myself up over it! Reward her for just sitting down to work without a fuss. Can she get a special treat for doing that? Does she like to listen to music while she works? I can't work without music on! I need something to tune out! Can you two sit down together and do work, ie you read a book or do bills and she works for a half hour. When then half hour is up, or the assignment is done you go over it, put it directly in the backpack (so it goes back to school and gets handed in!) and get a reward. Oh 6th grade, so not fun! Would she like it better if she was in charge of planning everything? If she could sit down and make herself a schedule. Have her estimate how long she thinks it will take, then do it, record how long it really took. This would let her see the speed she's working at, and how long she really needs to do her work.

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I have a 6th grade son, his problem was similar so instead of fighting about it he just started lying about even having homework! Now he has a log which every teacher signs everday telling me if he has homework, what it is and when it's due. I made all of his teachers aware this would be presented daily, they thought it was a great ideas and it's actually working because even if he doesn't want to give it to them everday, his teachers ask for it!!! We also noticed his social life was becoming more important than anything else so he would rush or blow things off to go hang with friends....so now he can only hang with friends on Fri, Sat and Sun. It may seem harsh but it has motivated him and he is learning to respect our rules. You may also want to get a dry erase board. We wrote a detailed after school schedule with chores, homework expectations and a time line for it all. Having this detailed schedule makes it easier for him to stay on track.

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My 9th grader has always been this way. First of all, get on the phone or meet with the teacher and see if you can:

1) Get same set of books for home; and 2) Ask teacher for following weeks assignments of homework at the end of each week for your daughter WITH copies of any worksheets teacher is usin, workbook pages and what problems/questions; the majority of us do e-mail today, do we not? Teacher can send on that way. Most teachers have to have weekly curriculumns turned in so excuses as I don't have a weekly curriculumn is wasted time and unacceptable excuse; 3) Almost most important for ADHD children of both genders: Try to remember your daughter just got out of school and sitting for how many hours. She needs some time to 'come down' from school as many of us do from work and if on most meds, is famished. Do you walk in the door from work and just start making dinner or doing laundry? I know I like at least a couple of minutes to take off my coat, put my things away and maybe just say Hi for the change from workmode to home mode. 4) Make a brightly colored folder (let her pick it out) and mark it as Homework folder and put in her backpack and ask teacher to take a minute at end of day to make sure she has all necessary homework assignments written down and the necessary worksheets/books with her when she walks out door to go home.

Even if teacher says she should be responsible and homework is listed on board and that daughter is responsible for making note of it, ask if teacher would be willing to assist in making sure your daughter has all her assignments. Many teachers are willing to help, even without 504 or IEPs because they really do care about their students and how well they do or do not do in class.

This is an organization factor and too many schools put too much responsibility on too many children (yes, children) to be grown up and know to do everything without assistance or guidance. I think sometimes teachers need to be reminded, out children are just that, children and not little grown-ups. We are not born with responsibility written on our foreheads. It just takes longer for some to learn that responsibility than others.

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