Motivating Your ADHD Child

Trying to motivate you ADHD child? It may be time to re-think your approach!

When you’re trying to motivate an neurotypical brain, you can use tactics like taking away screen time because neurotypical brains are motivated by importance and consequence. Not true of the ADHD brain. The ADHD brain is motivated by what is urgent, novel and interesting. It’s an interest-based brain. So instead of expecting your ADHD child to do his homework because you will take away his television privileges, instead let him listen to music while he does his homework. Instead of reminding her of how important it is to complete her schoolwork, suggest going outside and sitting in the hammock with her homework. Often the ADHD brain doesn’t do something that isn’t interesting until the very last minute and then the rush to get it complete. Try dividing the task into three or four different pieces to tackle in small increments with a small reward when they complete each piece.

Thinking outside the box can help you let go of policing every piece of homework and becoming your child’s ally.