Homework at Home

Getting homework done effectively and efficiently can be a battle for any student, but even more so for an ADD Student.

Having ADHD means we get distracted easily, especially when we’re doing something as exciting as homework. Even when you’re genuinely trying to study, outside distractions that no one else would notice can bother us.

There are a few things you can do that might help.

Homework has a time, a place, and rules. Homework should be done in a dedicated area of the house, whether it’s at the kitchen table or a desk. Trying to study here, there and all around the house doesn’t cut it. Sitting down at the homework spot signals your brain that studying is why you’re there.

You need to establish some rules about when homework gets done, even if that means a series of rules depending on what day it is or what else is going on. ADDers need that structure and predictability.

Other rules for homework are probably something you’ve got covered. No phone calls or texting, no tv. You might say no music, too, but I disagree somewhat. Music can actually help an ADDer study more effectively by engaging the restless right brain that’s just looking for some fun. Strike a compromise between hip hop (or what your kid likes) and opera – both are distracting. Baroque music has been shown to be effective, but I think it’s a matter of taste.

Create the right environment. ADDers are sensitive to things that others may not notice. The hum of florescent lights or even the sound of the heat or air conditioning kicking on can be distracting. (Another reason that music might help.) An uncomfortable glare from a light, an unpleasant smell, even the texture of the seat they’re sitting on can be irritating at times. And yes, the same seat that they’ve sat on with no complaint for months can just not feel right one day. The same is true for clothing and much more.

Also think about the room that is used for homework. Even the decor can be distracting if there’s too much going on. Think about the way a typical early elementary school classroom looks. There are posters, drawings, and colorful things everywhere. That’s too much going on for an ADDer, at home or school – too much to look at.

So if your ADD Student is studying in their room with posters and pictures all over the walls, maybe it’s time to change. Take a look at how homework is getting done; if it’s a problem, maybe the locale needs changing. If, on the other hand, they’re doing well on their homework, then it’s not an issue.

Give them the right tools in one spot. When you do your job, or make dinner, or repair something around the house, you work better in an environment that has what you need where you need it. ADD Students need the same – as does any student.

Think beyond books, paper and pencils. Think about dictionaries, calculators, calendars, rulers, pencil sharpeners, index cards, highlighters, poster board and markers. Think extra pens and pencils – the kind they like to use. Yes, another ADD thing. They can write more easily with a pen that feels comfortable. I’ve got 2 lefties at home and the right pen for them makes a huge difference.

Some water to drink and maybe a snack might help too. And don’t forget they need a short break every 15-20 minutes.

Put homework away. The only books, papers and notebooks that should be visible are the ones currently being used. Stacking up all the materials that will be needed throughout the evening is both distracting and discouraging. Put it away until it’s needed.

Oh, and putting it away when you’re done goes without saying. After all of that hard work, you want your ADD Student to get credit for it, so make sure there’s a place for it to go when it’s done.