Homework may cause extra stress for the ADHD child as well as parents. By the end of the day, parents are often tired, the child has been dealing with ADHD in school all day, and everyone could use a break. In the long run, however, it’s smart to tackle the homework chore as soon as possible after school so that the family can enjoy a refreshing night’s sleep. Here are some steps parents can take to improve homework time for the ADHD child:

• Encourage the child to write each assignment down in a notebook as soon as the assignment is given by the teacher.
• Provide a quiet study area free of clutter and distractions. Limit outside noise from televisions, phones, etc.
• Make sure the child has clear instructions. Try not to overwhelm the child with excessive instructions, advice, or criticism.
• It’s advisable that parents not allow the child to wait until evening (after dinner) to begin homework.
• Establish a routine—a certain time and place—for homework to be completed. Try not to waiver from the routine.
• Help the child get started on assignments by reading the directions and doing a few items together. Then let the child do the rest alone.
• Allow the child to do as much as possible independently.
• Assist the child in arranging homework so that it arrives to the school without being misplaced (a common problem for the ADHD child). Completed work should be kept safely in a backpack where the child can easily find it.
• Consider hiring a tutor for the child—a student in a higher grade is often perfect for the job. The child also may need a classmate to call for clarification on assignments.
• For long-range assignments (projects, papers, reports), parents should help the child break the task into small parts and get started immediately.
• Try a stopwatch or other timer to help the child concentrate for a certain amount of time.

Finally, as parents monitor the child’s homework completion, they should keep in touch with teachers, too. The child’s teachers are responsible for ADHD classroom management. Teachers should be made aware of how much time the child is investing in homework and whether the homework is causing unnecessary frustration. Schoolwork should encourage the child to learn without overwhelming and disheartening the child. When it comes to school, parents are the child’s best advocate.