Tips for the next few weeks will be centered on that ever-challenging family stressor, Homework.  This can be a challenge for any family, but especially for families with an ADD or LD child.  And of course an ADHD child often means at least one ADD/ADHD parent. 

Assuming that you, the reader, may struggle with ADD yourself, my homework tips will be offered in ones and twos so that you have a chance to focus on introducing just one or two new things instead of being overwhelmed by a long list of ideas at one time.

Time and Place are pretty fundamental.  When should your child do her homework and where?

TIME:  Consider your child’s natural rhythms.  Most kids need some unstructured time after being at school all day.  Whenever possible, encourage an outdoor activity and a healthy snack before expecting your child to settle into homework.   A restless, hungry kid and homework don’t mix well. 

Allowing for your son or daughter’s natural rhythms, it is usually best if homework is done shortly after school and before supper.  As the time for homework becomes more routine, your child will balk less and begin to reap the intangible reward of having a less stressful evening.  Also keep in mind that if your child is taking a time-released ADHD medication, the amount still on board will have declined considerably by evening, making it much more difficult for him to concentrate.   

PLACE:  Just as the time for homework should not vary much, the place for studying should remain as stable as possible.  Learning theorists tell us that we begin to associate a particular place with study and learning if we go to that place to study on a regular basis. 

ADD kids frequently study better if the “homework place” is near a parent or other supervising adult.  A kitchen table or desk in the family room is typically better than the isolation and distractions of the child’s bedroom.  And, contrary to what parents often assume, some ADD kids actually focus better when there is a bit of noise or hubbub around.  (Similarly, many adults with ADHD study better at a coffee shop rather than a library that is “too quiet”.) 
 
So, if you have been lost where to begin with your child and her homework start with the two basics of Time and Place.  The next tip will have some ideas on how to make time and place more routine in a household that may not “do routines” very well.