Homework Spaces That Actually Work for Kids with ADHD
Post-it note towers. Paperclip necklaces. Tape sculptures. What do all of these things have in common?
Answer: they are all creations that I have watched children with ADHD build in “distraction-free workspaces.”
The truth is that there is no such thing as a distraction-free workspace for children with ADHD, and it’s often counterproductive to try to create one.
Why?
Children with ADHD often shut down completely when they feel bored.
Children with ADHD are generally extremely creative, and may manage to occupy themselves with anything you put in their workspace.
Children with ADHD may do better with some strategic sources of stimulation while they are trying to do a non-preferred task (like homework!)
If any of this sounds like your child, read on for my recommendations about how to set up a study space that will actually work for your child with ADHD. (Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I use Amazon recommendations for simplicity’s sake, but I only recommend products I personally use.)
1. Experiment with the right kind of noise. Some ADHD brains function better with some background noise than they do with silence (Soderlund, 2007). However, some ADHD brains, especially those with more significant sensory issues, work well in silence. Here are a few options to experiment with:
Give your child headphones and use your phone to select studying-friendly music for them. (I don’t recommend letting them choose the songs - this could quickly become a distraction.) I like the Belkin set below because they have a volume limit, but any pair of headphones would work.
Give your child headphones and use your phone to play brown noise for them, or play a white noise machine.
Give your child noise muffling headphones if they prefer quiet.
2. Use timers. I highly recommend having your child with ADHD do homework in cycles of work time and break time. A couple of options:
Visual timers help your child visualize the passing of time - many people with ADHD struggle to correctly measure how quickly time is passing. (There are many cute options out there - rainbows, pizza, tie dye…I like the one below because it fits into my next recommendation)
Bonus - this visual timer + dry erase board combo is SO cool…write your child’s next 1-2 homework tasks and give them a time frame to work in at the same time! It also has a caddy on the back for holding white board markers or other supplies.
Pomodoro timers have built-in chunks of time to alternate between (5 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.)
3. Have a few fidgets on hand. Consider adding some fidgets to your child’s study space. I generally recommend “busy hands, not busy brain” fidgets - keep them simple.
4. Corral school supplies in a desk organizer. Homework may take a lot of brain power from your child - don’t let any of their executive function go to waste on tracking down school supplies. Keep a robust supply stash in an easily accessible desk organizer.
5. Try color overlays. Did you know that the ADHD brain may prefer to read words on colorful paper rather than white paper? Colorful overlays, whether strips or full sheets, are an easy solution for bringing color to sheets of paper. Try it if your child needs to read a book or some math word problems.
6. Use to-do list templates. Your child may need help creating to-do lists for longer than you think, and that’s okay. I recommend a simple option like the one below for younger children, and a daily work planner notepad for older children, so they can learn to start organizing their priorities (metacognition!)
7. Provide sensory supports. Many children with ADHD have some type of sensory issue. Consider a chair band or wiggle cushion or exercise ball if your child is very wiggly, or a weighted lap pad if deep pressure helps your child feel calm. A textured sensory strip under the desk can go a surprisingly long way toward keeping your child in their chair.
8. Anchor the homework routine with essential oils. Try a little peppermint or rosemary oil in a diffuser to promote focus and create an anchor to make the homework routine feel familiar and predictable. (Watch out for allergies, people or pets.)
What to leave OUT of your child’s study space:
SCREENS. Tablets, phones, desktops, and laptops are all recipes for disaster. If your child needs a screen for their assignment, make sure to use parental controls to lock them in to the programs they need.
Excess clutter. While you don’t want to set up a bare, object-free workspace, it is wise to keep the space relatively clutter-free and free of obvious distractions (like toys).
Interested in specific recommendations for your child?
