As a student, staying focused and productive when it comes to schoolwork can be challenging. It can be particullary challnging for those pupils who struggle with ADHD. But with the right approach and mindset, you can get your work done with fewer battles, less wasted time, and zero meltdowns. This blog creates five tips to help you stay on track and get the most out of your study time. This blog will also provide actionable tips on how to overcome some of your childs learning challanges.
Create a schedule
Children with ADHD thrive on routine and structure, so create a consistent daily routine for them. This will help them know what to expect and reduce anxiety. One of the most important things to do is create a schedule and stick to it.
Most children do much better if they do their homework relatively early in the day — maybe not immediately
upon coming home from school but certainly before supper. (Everyone deserves a break, and our kids, in
particular, may need a chance for some physical activity before they have to sit down again). Some kids are
notoriously early risers, and that can be a terrific time to get homework done.
Find your childs rhythm and stick to it. You’ll soon see what they prefer.
Have a plan of attack
Sit down and strategise the day’s homework with your child: How much has to be done? What looks easy?
What looks difficult?
Break tasks into smaller chunks: Large tasks can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Break them into smaller, more manageable chunks, and focus on one piece at a time.
If the homework looks manageable, your child will most likely be able to do it. Your child will feel a sense of accomplishment as they complete each piece and motivate them to keep going.
Have a specific place to do the work
How can you minimise distractions? It’s essential to minimize distractions while your child works. Find a quiet space for them to work. This must be a dedicated spot for them to do homework. Turn off their phone notifications, and prevent them from accessing social media or other tempting websites that can sidetrack them. If they have trouble focusing, try letting them listen to instrumental music or white noise.
How available do you, or some other supervising adult, need to be? If your child’s room is the place most full of possible distractions, the best spot might be some boring adult setting: a little desk in the living room or some space at the kitchen table.
Reward accomplishments
We are big believers in small, tangible rewards for small, tangible accomplishments. Finish your worksheet, and
you’ll get a cookie. Finish all your homework, and we’ll go to the playground for 15 minutes before dinner.
With the assignments your child really hates, there’s nothing wrong with offering a grape or a gold star for
every single successfully completed sentence on the worksheet or math problem on the list.
Don’t overschedule
If you fill up every afternoon with activities, then homework will have to wait until later, and that may be hard.
How about moving some of these activities to the weekend? How about getting your child accustomed to
bringing their homework along if you know there’s usually a wait?
If you have a lot of things to do after work and you need your child to come with you. Help them find a quiet place in your office space for them to do homework. If they have a lot of extra mural activities help them quite their mind after these and take an hour before dinner to sit with them and go through the work.
Take necessary breaks
Taking short breaks can help your child recharge and refocus. Try the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and taking a five-minute break. You’ll be surprised at how much your child can accomplish in short, focused bursts.
The pomodoro technique can be particularly helpful for children with ADHD for several reasons:
- Time management: The Pomodoro technique helps children with ADHD manage their time more effectively. It breaks up long tasks into shorter, more manageable chunks, which can be easier for them to focus on.
- Structured breaks: The Pomodoro technique also provides structured breaks, which can help children with ADHD recharge and refocus. It gives them a clear signal that it’s time to take a break, rather than letting them get distracted and lose track of time.
- Increased focus: The Pomodoro technique can also help children with ADHD improve their focus. By setting a timer and working on a task for a set period, they are less likely to become distracted or lose interest in the task at hand.
- Reduced overwhelm: For children with ADHD, large tasks can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Breaking them down into shorter, more manageable chunks can reduce their sense of overwhelm and make the task seem more achievable.
Overall, the Pomodoro technique is a simple and effective time management tool that can be helpful for children with ADHD. It provides structure, breaks, and a clear sense of progress, which can help them stay focused and productive while doing their schoolwork.
Plan for supervision
Think about homework supervision as you make your childcare arrangements. If you have a an adult overseeing
some of these after-school hours, give them clear instructions for helping with homework, and make sure they
understand that, if possible, it needs to be done by dinnertime.
If your child spends time in an after-school programme, is there some provision for homework? Many of these programmes offer a supervised homework room, where kids can work in peace and get help if they need it.
At Japari, we provide an aftercare service where your child can be looked after and supervised while you are at work or have to work overtime.
Japari understands that we live in a busy world and we are here to support and care for your child during this time.
Homework will be arranged each afternoon according to grades and every child will be given lunch as well as a snack in the afternoon. Once your child is done with their homework they will be free to relax and play while supervised.
Organise
For many kids, just keeping track of papers is a big task. When an assignment is given at school, your child
should know exactly where to put the paper so they’ll be sure to bring it home. At home, their study area should be clean and organised where they can find everything they need to do their homework.
After homework is done, they should pack their homework in whatever special folder or backpack is going back to school the next day. The parent who picks up and drops off the child at school may need to double-check to see that assignments or completed homework has been packed. No matter how carefully you plan, every parent has, at
some time or another, driven madly back across town one morning with the forgotten, left-at-home important
assignment in hand. You just don’t want to have to do it every day.
Planning is a great way to make sure these issues don’t arise an dbeing a part of your childs schooling is a good way to prevent this from happening.
Check in with the teacher
If the assignments are not always clearly indicated, or if your child has trouble figuring out exactly what is
expected, you should either check in with the teacher on a regular basis or establish a connection with another
parent who seems relatively clued-in, so that you can, in a pinch, call for advice and instructions.
Teachers are usually available by e-mail so it won’t be so difficult to contact them if you need help. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and teach your child to ask as many questions possible.
Use tools to plan
Help older children plan their time — not just for any one evening’s work but for the bigger, longer-term assignments. Some children are unable to understand how to break these down into manageable steps, so a chart, a checklist, or a calendar, with separate due dates for each task, can be really helpful.
Organising your childs schedule of due dates and deadlines is very important for them to learn valuable plannign skills for the future. You can use a planner or a digital tool like Google Calendar to map out your week and allocate time for each subject.
Remember the power of praise
Try to make homework a period that is associated with a certain amount of praise, with some physical comfort, and even the occasional treat. It won’t make your child love worksheets, but it may start to seem like a familiar, relatively pleasant interlude in the day — or at least, like a doable assignment.
Celebrate your childs accomplishments, no matter how small, and don’t be too hard on them if you have an off day. Remember that every effort you make counts, and they will get better with practice.
To sum up
By implementing these tips, you’ll find that getting your childs schoolwork done is more manageable, less stressful, and more enjoyable. Remember to help them stay focused, organized, and positive, and they will be well on your way to academic success.
Parent involvment is a huge key part to helping your child succeed on their journey.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. See what we can offer you for your childs needs.
