This content has not been reviewed within the past year and may not represent webmd's most up to date information. To find the most current information, please enter your topic of interest into our search box. 16, 2010 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd and homework problems often go together. Now, a simple and structured approach to doing homework appears to cut homework problems by more than half, according to a new study.

''the drop in the problems related to homework were very dramatic, says researcher george kapalka, phd, associate professor and interim chair of the department of psychological counseling at monmouth university in west long branch, n.j. He presented his findings this week at the american psychological association annual meeting in san diego. Typically, children with adhd have problems with self control simply not wanting to do the homework or with forgetfulness forgetting to write down assignments and to take home everything they need to complete it, kapalka tells webmd.

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Kapalka evaluated 39 children, ages 6 to 10, and enrolled the help of their 39 teachers. Teachers taught a mainstream or inclusion class that included at least one student with adhd. The most common type, it includes symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsiveness. More than half the students were on medications to treat their adhd, kapalka tells webmd.

If they weren't on medications at the start of the study, they didn't start them during the study. If they were on medications, they didn't change the dose during the study, so that the effect of the program could be evaluated more effectively. The students were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a comparison group with no intervention. Those in the treatment group: showed their teacher their homework journal, in which everything was written down about assignments, before going home.

Were required to start homework within an hour after school dismissal time and to work in a quiet setting. Were not allowed to watch television or play video games until homework was done. Were not allowed to watch tv or use the computer for a day if they didn't bring home the journal or forgot anything for the day's homework assignments.

In this article life with a child with add/adhd can be frustrating and overwhelming, but as a parent there is a lot you can do to help control and reduce the symptoms. You can help your child overcome daily challenges, channel his or her energy into positive arenas, and bring greater calm to your family. The earlier and more consistently you address your child rsquo s problems, the greater chance they have for success in life. The ability to think and plan ahead, organize, control impulses, and complete tasks.

That means you need to take over as the executive, providing extra guidance while your child gradually acquires executive skills of his or her own. Although the symptoms of add/adhd can be nothing short of exasperating, it rsquo s important to remember that the child with add/adhd who is ignoring, annoying, or embarrassing you is not acting willfully. Kids with add/adhd want to sit quietly they want to make their rooms tidy and organized they want to do everything their parent says to do mdash but they don rsquo t know how to make these things happen. If you keep this in mind, it will be a lot easier to respond to you child in positive, supportive ways. With patience, compassion, and plenty of support, you can manage childhood adhd while enjoying a stable, happy home. Before you can successfully parent a child with add/adhd, it rsquo s essential to understand the impact of your child rsquo s symptoms on the family as a whole.

Children with add/adhd exhibit a slew of behaviors that can disrupt family life: they often don rsquo t ldquo hear rdquo parental instructions, so they don rsquo t obey them. They rsquo re disorganized and easily distracted, keeping other family members waiting. They start projects and forget to finish them mdash let alone clean up after them. Children with impulsivity issues often interrupt conversations and demand attention at inappropriate times. Hyperactive children may tear around the house or even do things that put them in physical danger. Because of these behaviors, siblings of children with add/adhd face a number of challenges: their needs often get less attention than those of the child with add/adhd.

They may be rebuked more sharply when they err, and their successes may be less celebrated or taken for granted. They may be enlisted as assistant parents mdash and blamed if the sibling with add/adhd misbehaves under their supervision. As a result, siblings may find their love for a brother or sister with add/adhd mixed with jealousy and resentment. And, of course, having a child with add/adhd affects parents in many ways: the demands of a child with add/adhd can be physically exhausting. The need to monitor the child rsquo s activities and actions can be psychologically exhausting. The child rsquo s behaviors, and your knowledge of their consequences, can make you anxious and stressed. If there rsquo s a basic difference between your personality and that of your child with add/adhd, you may find your child rsquo s behaviors especially difficult to accept.

In order to meet the challenges of raising a child with add/adhd, you must to be able to master a combination of compassion and consistency. Living in a home that provides both love and structure is the best thing for a child or teenager who is learning to manage add/adhd. As a parent, you set the stage for your child rsquo s emotional and physical health. You have control over many of the factors that can positively influence the symptoms of your child rsquo s disorder. Your best assets for helping your child meet the challenges of add/adhd are your positive attitude and common sense.

When you are calm and focused, you are more likely to be able to connect with your child, helping him or her to be calm and focused as well. keep things in perspective. remember that your child rsquo s behavior is related to a disorder. don rsquo t sweat the small stuff and be willing to make some compromises. one chore left undone isn rsquo t a big deal when your child has completed two others plus the day rsquo s homework.

If you are a perfectionist, you will not only be constantly dissatisfied but also create impossible expectations for your add/adhd child. believe in your child. think about or make a written list of everything that is positive, valuable, and unique about your child. Make thinking about this trust a daily task as you brush your teeth or make your coffee. As your child rsquo s role model and most important source of strength, it is vital that you live a healthy life. If you are overtired or have simply run out of patience, you risk losing sight of the structure and support you have so carefully set up for your child with add/adhd. take care of yourself. eat right, exercise, and find ways to reduce stress, whether it means taking a nightly bath or practicing morning meditation. seek support. one of the most important things to remember in rearing a child with add/adhd is that you don rsquo t have to do it alone.