How to Get the Homework Done and Still Like your Kid (Part 1)

“NOOOOOO” he screams from the top of his lungs while throwing his body to the floor. He gets up and starts to hit me. Not hard but just enough so that I know that he is mad. I take the abuse while giving him several warnings. If he doesn’t stop he will eventually end up in timeout.

What caused this massive meltdown? Nope, I didn’t take away his screen time. I simply said, “It’s time to do homework.” It’s not always this extreme but some version of this meltdown plays out multiple times per week in our house.

The battle lines are drawn around homework in so many homes around the world but I know this is extreme. My son is a sweetheart and a cuddle-bug but homework brings out the worst in him. Why do I put up the abuse? I know we are working on it.

I’ve discussed the issue with his counselor and we are formulating a game plan. My son has battled anxiety and there is a strong history of ADHD in our family. Here are some strategies we are working on:

Creating an environment for studying. There are some good ideas here. Make it fun! He was thrilled when we practiced spelling words by letting him draw the letters in salt that was poured into a cookie sheet. Here’s a resource for more ways to mix it up.. Let go a little. Since he’s my second child I have learned to losen the reigns a bit. Not everything has to be perfect. As long as most of the work is getting done perfection isn’t worth the battle.

That’s all for right now for my little guy. BABY STEPS! I’ve shared an idea here before on how to use visual reminders. Next week I will share some strategies that we use for homework with my older daughter.

What homework headaches do you face with your ADHD kiddo? Please feel free to share in the comments below.