Back to School Guide

Back-to-school season can be exciting (and overwhelming), especially for kids with ADHD. Here are some practical tips and tools to set your child up for a smoother, more focused school year.

Scheduling & Routines Tips

Tip 1: Create a consistent morning and evening routine with visual checklists. Use a whiteboard, corkboard, or printed sheet, like this one, with pictures and short words for younger kids.

Tip 2: Use a large family calendar to track school events, assignments, and activities. Place it in a central location, like the kitchen fridge or the child's bedroom wall. Check it together each morning to preview the day and again in the evening to celebrate progress.

For a digital option, check out the Skylight Calendar or Cozyla Calendar.

Attention & Focus Tips

Tip 3: A single task can feel enormous to a child with ADHD. Break homework into short, timed chunks with movement breaks in between. Try a visual breakdown guide, like this one, to create a plan for each homework task.

Tip 4: Create a quiet workspace that is dedicated to homework. Make it theirs by allowing your child to pick out special school supplies for the space. Keep the desk or homework area free from toys, gadgets, and non-essential items.

Tip 5: Teach your child to use timers to stay on track. Try this easy, visual timer or use a pomodoro timer to break tasks up into manageable 25-minute segments with 5-minute breaks.

School Supplies Tips

Tip 6: Keep backpacks and supplies organized with color-coded folders for each subject. Consider creating a “launch pad” as a dedicated spot where the backpack, homework, lunchbox, and any special items are placed each evening, ready for the next day.

Tip 7: Use labeled pencil pouches or bins for frequently used materials. Make sure these are easily accessible to avoid distractions while trying to find supplies during homework time.

Tip 8: Consider fidgets or noise-canceling headphones (if allowed) for focus. Consider these materials: 

• Chair bands

• Cushion for seat

• Stickers for desk or water bottle

• Pencil grips

• Pencil fidgets

• Noise-cancelling headphones 

Parent/Teacher Communication Tips

Tip 9: Reflect on strategies that work well for your child and schedule a meeting early with the teacher to discuss these strategies.

Tip 10: Keep communication consistent between home and school. Try a communication log like this one. Celebrate small wins with your child, like a whole day of staying in their seat!