Top 5 Homework Frustrations — and Fixes for Each
Kids with ADHD often struggle with homework, but each one struggles in a unique way. Is your child a Disorganized Danny? Procrastinating Penny? Distractible Daria? Whatever his specific homework challenges, here are equally specific solutions that really work for kids with ADHD.
5 Comments: Top 5 Homework Frustrations — and Fixes for Each
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I’m a bit surprised that someone with a Master of Education degree would think it’s OK to link names with a negative activity. Disorganized Danny? This is a type of name calling. I can’t imagine calling a little boy a Negative Nancy or something along those lines. In an age where women named Karen can’t use their name in public without ridicule, I think calling names in this fashion towards children is not a good idea.
The homework battles are wearing me down. At what point do I let my child figure it out independently? I have other children in school who also need schoolwork help and my time and attention.
When I got to the part about providing fidgeters with something to fidget with, I looked at my desk at the office. I have a Tangle Junior, 2 fidget spinners, 3 Koosh balls, a ton of UV reactive putty and a UV light (gotta remember my magnetic putty), something that i’m Not sure what it is, and a metal disentanglement puzzle a former supervisor gave me.
I might just be a fidgeter…and a distracted, procrastinating, messy daydreamer…but definitely a fidgeter.
My question is what to do if your child is all of these? My ADHD child does everyone of these. I’ve done some of the steps but still find homework time is very difficult!! I’m really frustrated and have had a long 2 weeks of homework battles every day and/or night.
It sounds like you will need to use a combination of all of the techniques listed. Unfortunately, due to the inconsistent nature of ADHD, the exact combination will vary from night to night. If your child starts homework as soon as they get home, a short break, say 15-30 minutes to get a snack, move around a bit (especially if your child rides the bus), or just talk about whatever, may prove helpful. For my primarily Inattentive type child with dyslexia and dysgraphia, a 30 minute break was vital. She needed that time to recharge. Especially since her meds start wearing off during her last class of the day, so the bus ride home is a barrage of noise and activity that left her frazzled. (She’s in high school now, and walks to a coffee shop, were the steady hum of background noise is easier for her to deal with, and does her homework there. I pick her up on the way home.)
If your child is on meds, maybe talking to the doctor about a evening dose of something short acting would help. On rough ADD days, I take an extra dose in the evenings. I can do this because I periodically miss a dose, usually on weekends, but sometimes during the week.