Many parents feel frustrated when their children struggle to focus. It seems like they can’t concentrate on anything! (At least not on the things we want them to.) They wonder how to improve focus in children with ADHD. This is because whether it’s eating dinner, completing schoolwork, finishing homework, or doing chores, staying on task can be challenging.
Maintaining focus is tough for many kids in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. It’s even more challenging for children with ADHD. However, focus is an essential skill that supports success in many areas of life.
The good news is that we can help. In this guide, we will share over 20 crucial strategies on how to improve focus in children with ADHD.
How to improve focus in children with ADHD can be really challenging. But don’t worry! The strategies we will be sharing with you are fun, simple strategies that deliver great results. With the right techniques, you can boost their focus and confidence.
Let’s explore expert-approved tips to make this process easier and enjoyable on how to improve focus in children with ADHD.
About ADHD
Does your child struggle to stay focused on tasks or act impulsively? When these behaviors are severe and create ongoing challenges in multiple aspects of your child’s life, it might point to a neurobehavioral condition like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is a long-term condition impacting millions of children and often persisting into adulthood. It combines challenges like maintaining focus, excessive activity levels, and impulsive actions.
Children with ADHD may also face low confidence, school-related stress, troubled friendships, and poor academic performance. While symptoms can sometimes improve with age, some individuals never fully outgrow them. However, they can develop skills to manage the condition effectively.
ADHD Subtypes
- Inattentive ADHD
Previously called ADD, this type includes symptoms of inattention but excludes hyperactivity and impulsiveness. - Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD
This form involves impulsivity or hyperactivity but lacks signs of inattention. - Combined ADHD
The combined type includes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity and is the most common subtype.
Gender Differences in ADHD
ADHD is diagnosed more frequently in boys during childhood than in girls. However, studies on adult ADHD suggest a nearly equal prevalence between men and women. Girls are often underdiagnosed in childhood because they tend to show inattentive symptoms, which are less outwardly disruptive compared to hyperactivity.
Over half of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms into adulthood. In some cases, adults only recognize their ADHD after their child is diagnosed, prompting them to notice similar patterns in themselves. Others seek help when life becomes overwhelming—whether financially, professionally, or personally.
20 Strategies on How to Improve Focus in Children with ADHD
1. Teach Kids: They CAN Transform Their Brain!
Children must understand they have control over their brains. They can shape and change how it functions. Every time they practice, learn, or experience something new, their brain adapts and grows.
Think of the brain as a muscle – it can be trained to become stronger in many ways, including focus. Kids just need to realize they have this power!
They also need to know what drains their brain power. While they can strengthen their focus, distractions can weaken it.
Since the brain can’t focus on two things at once, kids should learn to avoid “brain drainers.” Constantly checking text messages while working is a prime example.
Each time they switch tasks, it becomes harder to refocus on the original task. To save energy and build focus, kids should dedicate their attention solely to the task until it’s done.
2. Strengthen Focus Through Practice
As with any skill, mastering focus requires regular practice. To improve attention, children need to work on extending their focus periods gradually. Attention is like a muscle; it requires consistent effort and training to build endurance.
Kids with ADHD often stay in default mode (mind wandering) more frequently than others.
(Quick note: Default mode isn’t bad—it’s where creativity and relaxation thrive. Kids need time for this too!) However, their brains can be trained to remain in attention mode for longer stretches.
Mastering the Art of Practicing Focus
Practicing is essential. But practicing effectively is just as important.
When working on any skill, it’s very important to focus on the specific goal. Take writing, for instance. If the goal is for children to write a story, emphasize their ideas and storyline first.
Don’t worry about perfect punctuation or capitalization right away. Address those later, or they might lose their creative flow.
The same principle applies to focus. If the aim is to improve attention, concentrate solely on that. Completing the worksheet can come later in the process.
3. Clearly Define What Focus Means
Before starting any task, both kids and adults need a clear understanding of what focus entails.
When my oldest began playing ringette, my parents constantly shouted, “Skate!” Similarly, I kept yelling, “Pay attention!” My child’s response was always the same: “I AM paying attention!” This led me to realize the problem wasn’t effort but clarity. What exactly should she focus on?
I explained, “Focus on the ring. Watch it at all times.” Suddenly, her understanding—and her game—improved overnight.
So, defining focus is crucial. In math, this could mean paying attention to each step of the equation. In communication, it might mean repeating a question back to show understanding.
Role-playing and video modeling are excellent tools for teaching focus. Kids can see the difference between being on-task and off-task. Looking around the room? Off-task. Talking about unrelated topics? Off-task. Even daydreaming? Off-task.
Once kids fully grasp what focus looks like, they’re ready to improve.
4. Determine a Starting Point
Begin by assessing how long your child can focus on various tasks.
You can create a chart to track their attention span for different activities.
For instance, your child might concentrate on reading for 10 minutes before losing focus but manage only 2 minutes when asked to write.
says that her daughter, for example, can spend hours drawing but focuses on math for just 7 minutes.
5. Set Realistic Focus Goals
After identifying your child’s typical focus time, establish clear expectations for how long they should stay attentive. The key is to set them up for immediate success.
If they usually focus on math for 5 minutes, start with a 2-minute goal. For daughter: “I’d limit writing to 1 minute and math to 4 minutes initially.”
6. Try Different Techniques to Improve Focus
There are countless ways to help children maintain their focus, but every child is unique. They need to discover what methods work best for them. Remember, strategies that work for you might not work for your child, so avoid insisting on one approach.
Experiment with various ideas, including the ones listed here, and add new suggestions from your child or your creativity. Keep exploring – there’s always another strategy that could be effective.
7. Use Encouraging Phrases
Everyone benefits from self-motivation.
Teach your child a personal mantra to keep themselves on track, such as:
- “I can stay focused for 2 minutes – no problem!”
- “I will concentrate for 10 minutes. Nothing will distract me.”
- “Five minutes is easy! Then I get a whole 30 minutes to play.”
8. Track Distracting Thoughts
When off-topic thoughts arise, have your child mark them on a separate sheet of paper. Sometimes, kids remember things they want to do or feel the urge to share something immediately, which disrupts their focus and makes it harder to get back on track.
This approach allows them to note distractions without losing focus. After the task, they can review the list. If an idea is important, they’ll remember it; if not, they can let it go.
9. Wear a Physical Reminder
Children often benefit from having a wearable item to signal their expected behavior.
It could be a watch, a badge pinned to their shirt, or a lanyard indicating their role (e.g., “focus captain”).
While wearing it, they should stay “on task” as defined by your instructions.
These items can significantly improve focus and later help generalize the behavior, teaching kids that wearing this item means they need to concentrate.
10. Stay Engaged
Engagement doesn’t always mean physical activity. Kids find it easier to focus when they are actively involved. For example, instead of merely reading a textbook chapter, let them actively search for answers to the questions at the end of the chapter.
Encourage purposeful note-taking during class or writing comments in the margins of their books. Discuss newly learned topics, or create mind maps summarizing their knowledge.
Active involvement enhances focus.
11. Use Time Awareness
It’s helpful for kids to observe time passing, so keep an analog clock visible. Watching the clock can teach them how long tasks take and help them manage their time effectively.
12. Offer Rewards
When children work continuously until the allotted time ends without distractions, reward their effort. Add a checkmark to their paper or a star to their chart to track their achievements.
13. Gradually Increase Practice Sessions
Short, consistent practice sessions work best depending on the child’s age. Start with a brief task, like 3 minutes of work, followed by a short break. Add another 3-minute session and repeat the process.
Some kids may thrive with just a few minutes of rest, while others might need longer breaks. Younger children should aim for 3 to 5 cycles of work and rest, while older children can handle 4 to 5 cycles before earning a longer break of 10 to 20 minutes.
Repeat this process to help children with ADHD gradually build focus until the desired goal is achieved.
However, go slow. The aim is for them to feel successful and avoid discouragement. Once they can consistently work for 5 minutes at least 80% of the time, increase the interval to 7 minutes. The key points are:
a) Understanding what 7 minutes (or their focus interval) feels like.
b) Realizing they can stay focused for that time.
c) Feeling motivated to complete the task within that period.
14. Make Breaks Intentional
Define clear expectations for what breaks should include. For instance, it might involve physical activity. Encourage doing 10 jumping jacks or 25 chair push-ups. When kids know what to do, they can take a refreshing break without losing focus.
Breaks can also prepare them for the next task. They could organize materials, tidy up their workspace, or set up a better environment. For example, if distractions were an issue, they might choose a quieter spot, grab noise-canceling headphones, or have some water and nuts handy.
15. Teach Time Awareness and Management
Children with ADHD often struggle with time management and estimating how long tasks take. Help them develop this skill by combining it with focus practice.
For example, ask them to predict how many pages they can read or questions they can solve within a set time. This exercise isn’t about rushing but understanding their pace.
Have them jot down their predictions and compare them to what they actually achieved. You can use a simple chart for tracking. Over time, they’ll gain insight into how long tasks take and how many intervals they’ll need to complete them.
16. Set Clear Expectations
Establish clear time blocks for work and play. Initially, focus on maintaining attention for a specific duration. Once the time is up, allow them to enjoy a break.
Eventually, shift the emphasis from timed intervals to completing tasks. However, always set a clear endpoint for work. Without a defined finish, children may lose motivation and become distracted.
17. Build a Routine
Focus is like a muscle—it strengthens with consistent practice. Just as people create habits to stay motivated for the gym, like packing a bag the night before or curating an energizing playlist, children can establish routines to prepare for focus practice.
Encourage them to gather their materials, organize tasks in sequence, and predict how long each activity will take or how many intervals they’ll need. Help them optimize their environment for success. Playing upbeat music can also help set a motivated mindset.
18. Reward the Right Behavior
When students stay seated and are engaged in their work for the expected duration, it’s their ability to stay focused that should be rewarded, not how many math problems they complete. The goal is to reinforce attention and concentration, not simply math skills.
19. Make Learning Fun
When children are enjoying themselves and fully engaged, focusing becomes much easier. To encourage this, find ways to spark their interest. Get creative in bringing excitement into lessons.
For example, if you’re teaching about gravity, show funny skateboarding fails. Use Harry Potter characters to explore character development. Let them delve into specific topics they can become experts in and feel proud of.
20. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is essentially training the mind to focus. Studies show that, when adapted for kids (e.g., through visual aids or moving meditations), it can enhance attention and help manage hyperactivity.
Encourage moments of stillness, where children focus on their breathing. Set aside time each day, or use everyday moments, like waiting at a red light, to practice taking a deep breath and focusing.
Behavioral Strategies on How to Improve Focus in Children with ADHD
Here are five behavioral strategies to help on how to improve focus in children with ADHD:
Offer praise and rewards for following rules.
Children with ADHD often experience more criticism than their peers, which can impact their self-esteem. On some days, you may need to focus on positive behavior but try to praise good behavior five times more than you criticize negative actions.
Give clear, practical directions.
Make sure to make eye contact or gently touch your child’s arm to get their attention. Provide brief, simple instructions that are direct, rather than lengthy commands or multiple instructions at once.
Establish healthy routines.
If your child is taking ADHD medication, ensure they are following the prescribed dosage. If issues arise, consult their healthcare team. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats balanced meals, and stays hydrated. Also, encourage daily physical activity. These healthy routines will help your child feel better and manage ADHD symptoms more effectively.
Create consistent routines for homework and chores.
Work together with your child to make a list of daily tasks, like chores, bedtime preparations, and school readiness. Encourage them to use a planner to track homework. Set specific times and locations for homework sessions and use a timer to check progress two to four times per hour. Include brain breaks if your child needs to move between tasks or use a fidget tool.
Help your child develop social skills and build friendships.
Model the behavior you want to encourage in your child. Spend quality time together three to five days a week, free from conflicts and screens, to maintain a strong parent-child connection. Help your child form at least one close friendship. For younger children, parents may need to organize playdates or enroll kids in activities with peers. Learn ways to support your child in developing social skills.
ADHD Treatment
Although treatment cannot cure ADHD, it can significantly alleviate its symptoms. Typically, treatment includes medication and behavioral interventions. Early detection and treatment can greatly improve the outcome.
It’s also important to collaborate with a therapist who specializes in ADHD to learn coping strategies. These strategies, in addition to medications, can help manage symptoms and behaviors.
A therapist can improve the effectiveness of medications and offer tools to empower children with ADHD, using various interventions like behavioral, psychological, social, educational, and lifestyle techniques.
A Word of Advice
How to improve focus in children with ADHD doesn’t have to be stressful. Use these strategies daily to see lasting results. Always stay patient and encouraging. With time, these techniques will make a big difference in their life.