Distraction
Learn why people get distracted, and the connection to ADHD and learning disabilities. Find out how to improve focus, working memory, and executive function at work and in school.
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Tips and strategies
- Quick tipRemove distractions.
Turn off the TV or go to a quiet area away from other people who are talking. Get rid of clutter in a work space. Or have kids sit away from the window when they work.
- Quick tipTry using a fidget.
Having something to fidget with, like a stress ball, can actually help some kids focus. For others, though, it’s a distraction. So keep an eye on whether it’s helpful or making it harder to focus.
Podcast
ADHD and distraction in the military and at home (Justen’s story)
Justen Scott has had trouble focusing since high school. When others in the military started to notice, he knew it was time to get evaluated for ADHD.
Downloads
5-4-3-2-1 mindfulness methodPDF
Download: Sample fidget contractPDF
Cell phone contract for younger kidsPDF
Cell phone contract for older kidsPDF
More resources
All articles
- 8 common ways people struggle at work — and why
- A day in the life of a child with ADHD
- Moving past the guilt of “giving” my son ADHD
- Is there an ADHD spectrum?
- ADHD: Ways to help your child at home
- ADHD symptoms at different ages
- Now I get what it’s like to have ADHD
- My bilingual son has an IEP, and I still don’t know how it will work remotely
- Do “brain games” really help with ADHD?
- What’s the difference between inattention and distractibility?
- Do boys and girls show the same signs of ADHD?
- Why do some kids daydream so much during class?
- Why kids can’t seem to turn off their screens
- Understanding ADHD in your child
- The difference between ADD and ADHD
- When do kids learn to focus?
- Math class… the perfect time to write a novel
- 5 oddly specific ADHD strategies that help me work
- How to help kids with ADHD manage screen time
- How attention works
- ADHD in girls
- ADHD in boys
- Is my preschooler overly distractible? How can I tell?
- 7 reasons kids with ADHD often rush through homework
- 7 ways to help kids who struggle with focus battle spring fever
- Brown, white, and pink noise: What they are and how they can help with ADHD
- How I feel when I write a paper
- Understanding why kids struggle with organization
- Find the common denominator in your life