21 Expert Strategies to Help Children with ADHD Manage Classroom Work and Succeed

Anna Kaminsky | Updated on October 22, 2023

Do you remember sitting through 3-hour long lecture classes in college and thinking about everything other than whatever topic the professor was covering? Can you think of a time that you had an hour-long conversation with your best friend, where she carried on and on about something that you can’t remember because you weren’t really paying attention to her? Let’s admit it, adults have difficulty focusing at times, whether it’s listening to a wife complaining  that the trash isn’t taken out or paying attention to your child’s story about the latest video game. Now, imagine a child suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) trying to learn in school or complete homework at night.

There is a significant amount of distractions in a classroom environment for any young student. Students are distracted by each other, by what’s going on in the hallway or even outside their classroom window. In addition, sitting still, remaining quiet and having to focus on one task at a time can be very challenging for any student let alone a child with ADHD.

For many parents, the first hurdle in dealing with an ADHD child is coping with the diagnosis. No parents want to see their child struggle in any way, but it is imperative that parents accept the reality. It is important to accept that your child has ADHD; you will need to provide the help your child requires in order to succeed academically and personally. Many still believe in common societal misconceptions that ADHD is just a convenient label for a child, who is lazy and not very smart. Unfortunately, when the child’s struggles are left unrecognized, this is exactly what they will eventually believe.

21 Effective ADHD Learning Techniques: Key Ways to Support Your Child

The key to helping children with ADHD thrive academically and socially lies in evidence-based strategies tailored to their needs. The following techniques derive from scientific research and the collective experience of educators, psychologists, and parents navigating ADHD. These targeted approaches aim to cultivate executive function, self-regulation, and a supportive environment that unlocks each child’s potential. Applied consistently and catered to the individual, they provide a pathway to confidence and achievement in and out of the classroom.

1. Distraction-Free Zone

Seat your child away from possible distractions. Have your child complete homework in a space that isn’t near a window, door or in the vicinity of a television or his/her siblings. If you have a pet, make sure that pet is in the company of other family members and in another room. Having your child sit in a quiet area will enable them to concentrate without the distraction of loud or attention-grabbing noises.

2. Incorporate Active Learning 

Balance active and inactive tasks to help your child learn. For example, your child may have to sit and complete a math worksheet. After this assignment is completed, have your child complete work that requires them to move around, whether it’s creating a collage, a poster or a science experiment. After a child has been required to sit and concentrate for a period of time, it is best to complete a task that allows them to expend some energy. Even if the work requires them to go to different places in the home to obtain materials to complete the assignment, it will give your child the chance to move around and increase your child’s ability to refocus on the task at hand when given a small break.

3. Breaks are Essential

Allow your child to take frequent breaks. Do not force your child to complete one assignment right after the next. If you push your child to complete his/her work without breaks, your child may act out, have an increasingly difficult time concentrating or even refuse to do the work at all. To prevent this, incorporate frequent breaks for your child. Once your child completes one task, give them ten minutes to play (granting the opportunity to release more energy). If possible, it would be best to not allow a child to watch television for multiple reasons; a TV program runs at least 30 minutes and once one show is over, it is very likely a child will wish to watch another episode or two and lose the desire as well as the ability to return to the work area to complete the rest of the work. Additionally, make sure that your child utilizes breaks to hydrate, go to the bathroom or eat (depending on the family schedule).

4. Homework Segmentation Help

Dividing a big task into smaller ones is another learning strategy that you can employ with a child with ADHD. For anyone, there are times when a big task can be overwhelming and seem incredibly difficult. Thus, it’s essential for parents to make something big into something smaller. For example, if your child has a week-long project, write down clear and smaller objectives for your child to complete each day. Make these goals clear, concise and keep them right where your child can see them. Have your child check off a goal once it has been accomplished; this will increase your child’s confidence and enable your child to succeed in achieving the end result. Not only will this work with big projects, but daily assignments as well. When you create a specific aim for your child, you are encouraging him/her to focus on one thing. Once your child has completed the first aim, create the next goal for your child to focus on finishing. When you break up an assignment, you are giving your child the chance to focus on separate tasks rather than blending it all into one.

5. Tactile Engagement for Hyperactivity

Provide your child with a stress ball, a block or a small bean bag that they can keep in hand. This strategy will help with the hyperactivity. Holding  something in hand will allow your child to release excessive energy and tension. Squeezing a stress ball may calm your child and allow them to concentrate on what’s important.

6. Engage Through Questions

Guide your child through the process. Do not point out that the child is not paying attention. In order to encourage your child to focus, lead with directive questions, such as “Can you show me how you would do the next problem? How would you solve…? Can you tell me how you did that?” Engaging your child in the activity is a great way to keep them interested and focused. Additionally, it is a wonderful way for parents to connect with their child. Not only are you getting your child to focus, but you are getting to learn their cognitive process as well as how they are doing in a particular subject area. Redirection is an extremely beneficial strategy to assist your child with ADHD to learn. However, do not assist your child with homework if you get easily frustrated and end up fighting with your child.

7. Parent Modeling for Behavioral Reinforcement

Modeling behavior will help your child with ADHD to learn. If you want your child to sit down at the table to begin his/her work, have a seat first and get settled as well . Invite your child to join you; this will increase the likelihood that your child will imitate your behavior. If you are working with your child and need to look something up, do it and make sure your child is watching you. When your child sees you do something and it is helpful, it will encourage your child to mimic your actions in the future. If you are working on a word problem, model how to break the problem down into steps to make it easier to successfully complete. Be consistent with the behaviors you model to increase the chances of your child adopting them and repeating them on his/her own.

8. Positive Reinforcement in ADHD Treatment

Positive reinforcement is another strategy to use to help your child learn. When you see your child demonstrating behavior that will aid in his/her learning success, praise your child. Children are eager to please and will repeat behaviors that are rewarding for them as well as make their parents happy. If you see your child doing work quietly or really concentrating, complement him/her. You can say, “I love the way you are working so quietly” or “I think it’s great that you took the time to show all your work on that division problem”. Specifying your positive feedback allows children to identify what behavior(s) are being admired and encourages those same behaviors to be repeated in the future.

9. Visual Learning Boost

Children with ADHD often benefit from visual learning techniques. Visual aids like charts, diagrams, and mind maps can help them organize thoughts and break down complex topics. Try using visual schedules and calendars to provide structure. Create graphic organizers to illustrate relationships between concepts. Display key information as visual reminders. Apps and games that incorporate visuals can boost engagement. Catering to their visual preference reduces distractions and keeps focus on key information.

10. Time Management Tools

Timers provide structure and motivation for children with ADHD. Set a timer for focused work sessions, then let them take a short break when it goes off. Timers also aid with transitions between activities. The beeping signals it’s time to switch gears. Alarms prompt important events like taking medication or starting routines. Post a schedule with alarm times highlighted so they know what to expect. Time management tools alleviate struggles with time and keep kids on track.

11. Interactive Homework Help

Passive learning can be challenging for children with ADHD. Interactive activities provide more engaging homework help.

Incorporate hands-on experiments, field trips, or educational games and apps. Doing a science experiment together or visiting an educational destination brings lessons to life. Apps and games add interaction and instant feedback. Guide them through the process by asking questions. Make learning collaborative instead of independent. Allow movement and interaction within reason during study sessions. Leverage your child’s interests to make learning more fun. Interactive, experiential learning caters to their need for engagement and activity.

12. Routine Consistency

Children with ADHD benefit from structure and consistency in their daily routines. A predictable schedule helps reduce anxiety since they know what to expect.

Try to keep consistent times for waking up, meals, homework, playtime, and bedtime. Post the routine where they can see it. Use visual schedules to provide a timeline of the day’s activities. Follow the routine on weekends and days off from school as well. Consistency across days of the week is important. Set alarms to reinforce key times. Routines should be predictable but also flexible enough to prevent frustration if the schedule gets thrown off. The combination of visual schedules and consistent timing provides security and stability.

13. Information Chunking Technique

Lengthy, complex text is difficult for children with ADHD to process. Breaking information down into smaller chunks can aid comprehension and retention.

Instead of presenting long passages all at once, try dividing the content into shorter segments. Provide one to two sentences or bullet points at a time, allowing for comprehension before moving to the next chunk. Use paragraph breaks, bullets, and highlights to separate bites of information. Chunking prevents overloading your child’s working memory. The short spurts with pauses in between give their brain sufficient processing time when reading new material. Focusing on digestible bits of information ensures clarity and understanding.

14. Tech-Assisted Learning

Educational apps and software can assist children with ADHD. Time management tools and applications like TimeTimer, Alarm Clock Xtreme, and MyHomework help provide structure. Note-taking apps like Evernote and audio transcribers like Otter.ai boost focus. Interactive games like Quizlet and Epic! build engagement, while audiobook apps like Learning Ally improve comprehension. Browser extensions like OneTab reduce digital distractions, while text readers like Texthelp provide audio support. Educational software like Fast ForWord also caters to ADHD learning needs. Ensure reasonable limits and supervision to prevent overuse. When used appropriately, technology is an invaluable learning aid for ADHD students.

15. Physical Activity Treatment

Regular physical activity provides cognitive and behavioral benefits for children with ADHD. Incorporating movement into their routine can improve focus, impulse control, and hyperactivity.

During study sessions, allow scheduled breaks that involve physical activity. A short walk or active play time helps refresh the mind and body. You can make a game of exercises like jumping jacks or push-ups. Classroom teachers could also integrate movement through brain breaks. Activities that require crossing the midline of the body can be particularly helpful. Ensure children get daily vigorous exercise through sports, dance, or other aerobic activities. The stimulation and dopamine release from physical activity are valuable non-pharmaceutical ADHD interventions.

16. Mindful Moments for Kids

Mindfulness and meditation techniques teach critical focus skills to children with ADHD. Taking mindful moments throughout the day can improve attention regulation.

Try introducing simple breathing exercises, visualization, or guided meditation. Have them focus on the sensations of breathing. Use calm imagery to picture a peaceful place. Apps provide kid-friendly guided meditations. Start with sessions as short as 2-5 minutes and slowly increase over time. Set reminders to pause for mindful moments, especially when feeling stressed or distracted. The practice of tuning out distractions and focusing inward cultivates moment-to-moment awareness. Mindful techniques reduce impulsivity and teach vital focus and self-regulation skills.

17. Maintain a Feedback Loop

When implementing new strategies for a child with ADHD, maintain an open feedback loop. Check in regularly to understand which techniques are effective and which need adjustment.

Create time to discuss what is and isn’t working. Ask about their preferences and challenges. Observe them in the classroom and during study sessions. Note when they appear engaged versus frustrated. Adjust strategies based on their input and your observations. What works today may need modification tomorrow as their needs change. Maintaining a collaborative feedback loop empowers children in managing their ADHD. Together you can find the right balance of techniques tailored to their learning style. Consistent communication about progress ensures strategies evolve with the child.

18. Collaborate with Teachers

Ongoing collaboration with your child’s teachers provides invaluable insights into which strategies are effective in the classroom. Regular communication allows techniques to be reinforced both at school and home.

Discuss challenges teachers observe and strategies that help your child overcome them. Share techniques that work well at home to get teacher feedback. Ensure you and the teachers take a consistent approach for maximum benefit. When possible, use the same cues or visual aids at home. Collaborative efforts ensure learning techniques carry over into the classroom. Update teachers on new strategies you’re implementing so they can validate progress. Working as a team with your child’s teachers fosters an environment for academic success.

19. Classroom and Homework Organizational Aids

Organization is often a major challenge for children with ADHD. Simple tools provide much-needed structure and order.

Use binders, folders, and notebooks to categorize classwork and homework. Color code each subject for easy visual identification. Have separate folders for finished and unfinished work. Use a planner for tracking assignments and due dates. Designate bins and shelves to keep school supplies organized. Before leaving school, have them check folders and take home needed materials. Keep extra supplies on hand at home to aid completion. Implementing consistent organization systems reduces frustration and helps children develop crucial structure.

20. Single-Task Focus

Multitasking can overwhelm and distract children with ADHD. Encouraging a single-task focus cultivates attention and completion.

During homework and study sessions, have them concentrate on one assignment at a time without switching between multiple tasks. If they become distracted, gently guide them back to the current activity. Use timers to help them devote undivided attention for a set period before taking a break. Celebrate when they persevere through an activity as intended. For long-term projects, break the work into steps and have them complete one component completely before moving to the next. Single-tasking prevents scattering their concentration across too many demands. Focusing on one task prevents frustration and promotes follow-through.

21. Calming Background Tunes

Playing soothing music in the background during study time can improve focus for some children with ADHD. However, finding the right balance is essential.

Look for calm, instrumental tunes without lyrics at moderate volume. Nature sounds like ocean waves or ambient tones also work. Allow the child to select music they find calming. Observe if the music aids or hinders their concentration. If they become distracted by the music, turn it off. Music with a repetitive or rhythmic quality can channel excess energy. Creating a sensory environment free from agitating noises removes stimuli competing for their attention. While not universally effective, calming tunes can reduce restlessness and hyperactivity for some children. Monitor closely and adjust as needed.

Final Thoughts

Helping your child with ADHD will not always be easy, but it will be worth it. With the right support and understanding children with ADHD can achieve academic and personal success despite their challenges. Take the time to discover the way your child learns best. The most successful strategies that you will find adhere to your child’s individual learning style and needs. Every child is different, so what may work for one child may not work for another. In order for your child with ADHD to learn, you must always be patient, compassionate and sensitive.

References:

    1. Pol Arch Intern Med. Treatment strategies for ADHD: an evidence-based guide to select optimal treatment. 2018 Jun 28;128(6):352-360.
    2. Curr Psychiatry Rep. Delivering evidence-based treatments for child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the context of parental ADHD. 2014 Oct;16(10):474.
    3. Sage Journals. Family Functioning, Psychological Distress, and Well-Being in Parents with a Child Having ADHD - Øyfrid Larsen Moen, Birgitta Hedelin, Marie Louise Hall-Lord. 2016.

 

This is an update to the original post " Learning Strategies for ADHD Children" published on Dec 5, 2013.

 

Image Credit: Paul Scott @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulscott56/5120781511

 

About Anna Kaminsky

Anna Kaminsky earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Toronto and completed a post-doc internship at our centre. She also worked at The Hospital for Sick Children and at The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. Anna currently works as a medical services manager at the CAMH. "Kaminsky" is Anna's pen name. You can follow her on Twitter at @AnnaKaminsky1.

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