Managing ADHD: How to help your child focus

Many children and especially those with ADHD struggle with focus in class and completing homework assignments and tasks at home.  They may start one task, then completely forget about it or the task may never get addressed due to procrastination and lack of follow-through.  The good news is, without medication, there are several key ways to help your child focus both at school and at home.

Tip 1: Make a list of goals

Before your child starts to work through the tasks of the day or from school, it is helpful to make a list of all the goals together. Read through this list together and check off the lists as tasks get completed.  This will help your child recap and remember what is on that list and not get lost in process.  It is also visually satisfying to see what has been done and what is left to help your child figure out the next task to tackle. 

Tip 2: Do one thing at a time

For children who have difficulty with attention and focus, it is best to do one thing at a time so that they have fewer distractions.  Doing this will give them the best opportunity to work on the one task at hand and to delve into that work. This will also allow them time to think about that task, instead of feeling overwhelmed by multiple things all at once.

Tip 3: Break things down

If the tasks seem too complex or complicated at first, suggest ways to break down the task so that it seems more doable.  For instance, writing a book summary, start by having your child summarize the book. IF this is challenging for some, try to have him/her summarize each section or chapter of the book, then piece everything together. As they are able to do this, with practice, they will gain confidence that they can accomplish tasks that seem impossible.

Tip 4: Start with an organized workspace

When all the tools and notes are organized, it is much easier and faster to find what you need to do a task.  Always start with a workspace that allows you to see the things you will need, whether it is a book, pencils, notebooks, post-its. If things are misplaced and your child has to interrupt his or her work to look for something, it can easily derail into other tasks or interests that are not the one at hand.

Tip 5: Be flexible

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. You may have listed everything you want to accomplish in order but discover that it is impossible for many reasons. If your child has given his best to tackle that tasks and feels stuck, take a break, then come back to see if he/she would like to revisit that or start another task.  This helps with the flow of work just as long as it doesn’t become the norm, but an exception.

Tip 6: Set aside protected time for work, study break, and sleep.

Most children and even adults do best with routines. Without intentionally setting protected time for study breaks and work, and even sleep, our daily routines can fall out of shape that make focusing even more challenging.  Sticking to a schedule will help prevent last-minute procrastination and stress, it will also help child your anticipate the day and when it is time to focus, and when it is time to rest.

Tip 7: Practice focus on something that your child likes

Aside from school and home tasks, there are many things we do day to day that require the ability to focus.  This is where it is extremely helpful to monitor and promote focus in something your child likes doing.  For example, if your child likes to play with blocks, allow them a protected stretch of time to play and interact with them to see how they see this playtime through their own eyes. You can then make a correlation between how they think and play with the things they consider “tasks” and “work.”

Tip 7: Non-Stimulant Medications

Non-stimulant medications have been used since 2003 to help treat symptoms of ADHD in children. You can read more about your options for non-stimulant medications such as Atomoxetine, Guanfacine, Clonodine, and Bupropion here.