The ADHD homework struggle
“Doing the things you do in school is difficult enough,” he says. “Imagine having to lift weights all day. But the child with ADHD has to lift more weights.”
Cindy Ward Sandler, a psychologist who specializes in educational testing and founded Columbia-based Sandler and Associates, agrees.
“They physically or mentally get more fatigued than a lot of kids because they’ve been sitting or working all day, trying to stay focused,” she says. “Even if a child is hyper, it doesn’t mean they are not mentally fatigued. By the time they get home, they’re done.”
After school, Doc comes home, puts his backpack down and grabs a snack. Then, it’s off to the kitchen table for homework.
Despite his best intentions, Doc can get easily frustrated during homework time, his parents say. It takes him longer than children without ADHD to solve problems. He also needs to take frequent breaks to stay focused.
“We tell him to ‘take five,'” says his stepfather, Matt Tobia.
During that break, Doc can walk away from his homework and ride his bike or scooter.
“Something we would almost consider a mindless activity,” Matt Tobia says. “After 10 to 15 minutes, we normally can bring him back around.”
As a result, it can take Doc anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to finish his homework—almost twice as long as it would take most children his age without ADHD, Matt Tobia says.
Sticking to a routine seems to help. When Doc follows the pattern of school, home, snack and then homework, he knows there is order to his activities—and an end in sight, his parents say.
But finding a successful homework strategy can take time, Jeanne Tobia says, adding what works for one child may not work for another.
“You have to go slow,” she says. “You can’t push, and it takes a lot of patience. Parents need to work closely with their child’s teacher and pediatrician to find the right strategy.”
