Now your kids are not dogs, but they both have a (seemingly) infinite amount of energy. Whenever I have guests over and want to make sure that my dog is calm and not jumping all over the place I always make sure to head over to the dog park to tire him out. Your ADHD kids are no different! Getting even an hour of run-around time can do wonders for your kids, rather than them getting home and being forced to start doing their homework, bring them to a playground, or sign them up for a sports team and send them off to practice. For ADHD kids getting all of your energy out prior to having to focus will make the hour or two they have to spend doing work far more productive and manageable.
Table of Contents
Tip 1: Tire Them Out
Read More: 5 Homework Tips for Parents of Children with ADHD
Our suggestions of good “tiring out” activities that involve little movement on your end.
Head to the Playground
Got a kiddo with ADHD? A playground trip is like a double win—it amps up their focus and lets you snag a breather. They burn off that restless energy while having a ball, and voila, focusing becomes easier. Plus, you get to unwind on a nearby bench. So if you’re scratching your head about getting kids with ADHD to focus, consider the playground your go-to. It’s all about active, outdoor fun for better ADHD and focus.
Dance Party
If you have multiple kids, this activity is perfect! If your kids enjoy dancing, it can be a great way to have fun, burn some energy, and not require a lot of effort on your end (if you play your cards right). You can have each child choose their favorite song and create their own dance routine. Your role is simple – be the judge of the dance competition! After a couple of rounds, your kids will be tired out and ready to settle down.
Read More: Reward Ideas for Kids
Sports Practice
A really great way to tire your sports-interested kids out is to sign them up for a local rec league. It doesn’t have to be super organized but getting your kiddo to play basketball or soccer for an hour or two will have them coming home wiped and ready to focus. An additional bonus about this one is that they are building new skills for the future.
Read More: ADHD and Homework: How to Get Kids to Focus
Tip 2: Use Visual Schedules and Token Boards
Developing a routine and attaching rewards is a stellar strategy for boosting ADHD and focus. Visual scheduler and token board can be powerful tools used separately or together. Design a practical, everyday schedule for your kiddo and reward them when they nail it.
Want to make it easier? Goally’s you covered with their visual scheduler and token board app that syncs perfectly. Outline an ‘After School Routine’ and let your child rack up points for completion. They can then swap these points for unique rewards you’ve curated. It’s an engaging roadmap of their day and a fun journey with a prize at the end.
| Example of an ADHD-Focused After School Routine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Playtime | 60 min | |
| Snack Time | 30 min | |
| Homework | 45 min | |
| Break | 15 min | |
| Homework | 45 min | |
| Play a game with mom | 45 min | |
Read More: The Power of Token Boards
Tip 3: Use Timers and Breaks
That above schedule? It’s a shining example of the “breaks and timers” strategy. Any parent knows getting kids to do their homework in one go is tough. But divide it up, add breaks and countdowns, and you’ve got a game-changer.
Your child sees how much time is left for a task—making it less daunting and easing transitions. This not only aids with ADHD and focus but also builds superb habits of time management and workload distribution. These skills aren’t just for now; they’re stepping stones that’ll help them navigate college and beyond. Employing such a schedule sets your kid up for long-term success, making studying a breeze rather than a chore.
Customize visual schedules that teach kids independence. No more nagging, no more stress.
Here are just a couple of benefits that breaking up and quantifying your work have:
Increased Productivity
This may seem counterintuitive but there are tons of studies that back up the claim that taking breaks and spacing out your work increases your focus when you are working, and leads to higher productivity. In addition to increasing productivity taking breaks will raise the quality of work as well. When we are engaged, focused, and not burnt out, we are able to produce better work. Taking breaks helps prevent that burnout
Creativity Boost
Do you know what’s a neat trick for boosting ADHD and focus? Take a breather from that math problem or science project and reevaluate. Breaking up tasks and pacing the workload allows your child to brew fresh ideas and view things with fresh eyes.
This strategy works wonders for certain subjects more than others, but generally, it’s a winner across the board. When they’re stuck, a new viewpoint can be the key to unlock their potential. So, next time your child is in a rut, remind them—to step back, relax, and return. The answers might surprise them!
Less Stress
Last but not least, stepping away and giving yourselves breaks will improve your child’s mental health and lower their level of stress in doing homework. While the level of stress may not be incredibly high in second or third grade it will only pick up in middle school and high school, and really ramp up in college. Creating habits early can be incredibly important down the road.
Try Goally For Your Child With ADHD
Goally is an excellent option for many families that have a child with ADHD. Use game play as a points-based motivator for your kiddo with ADHD, help them learn emotional regulation skills, and watch them grow! It’s simple to set up and has an expert-informed design.
Wrapping Up
Bringing it all together, enhancing ADHD and focus in your child is all about harnessing the power of multiple strategies that cater to their specific needs and personality. From tiring them out with fun, energy-burning activities like sports and dance parties to creating engaging schedules with Goally’s visual scheduler and token board app. Remember the genius of interspersing breaks with homework time and encouraging a fresh perspective. All these tactics will make studying more manageable and lay the foundation for habits that’ll benefit them in the long run. So, parents, you’ve got this! Start applying these tips today, and see the magic of focused attention unfold in your little ones.
FAQs About Getting Kids With ADHD To Focus
What are visual schedules, and how do they help kids with ADHD focus? Visual schedules are tools that use images to represent daily activities or tasks. They can significantly help kids with ADHD by providing structure and predictability, improving their focus and task completion abilities.
How can emotional regulation apps benefit kids with ADHD? Emotional regulation apps teach coping mechanisms and mindfulness techniques that help children with ADHD manage their emotions better, leading to improved focus and decreased impulsivity.
How do rewards enhance focus in kids with ADHD? Rewards offer positive reinforcement, motivating kids with ADHD to concentrate better on tasks. When they see a tangible outcome for their efforts, their focus and commitment to the task can significantly increase.
How can parents integrate these tools into a child's daily routine with ADHD? Parents can utilize visual schedules to structure the day, use emotional regulation apps during downtime or stressful periods, and implement a reward system for task completion to gradually enhance a child's focus.
Can these strategies be used in a classroom setting to assist children with ADHD? Teachers can use visual schedules for daily class routines, incorporate emotional regulation techniques during class activities, and apply a reward system for task accomplishment, greatly assisting students with ADHD.
This post was originally published on 04/02/2021. It was updated on 09/17/2023.
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