Why kids with ADHD rush through school homework

There is nothing out of the ordinary about children who rush through their homework once in a while. However, for kids with ADHD, completing homework can be an ongoing challenge and they might find themselves rushing through it. This results in sloppy, incorrect or incomplete work.

More often than not, problems with executive function may be responsible. It can affect everything from how long a child can hold on to information, to how well he can monitor his own work. Here are some of the most common reasons why kids with ADHD hurry through their homework:

1. Fatigue

When kids with ADHD go to school, they often pour all of their energy into concentrating and trying to meet multiple demands. By the time they get home, they feel physically and mentally tired. In such a case, homework after school can cause them to rush through it as they don’t have the energy to focus.

2. Medication Effect

Children with ADHD who take medication can feel tired after they come home from school. They may experience medication rebound – which means, if their medication is working at school, it may not work at home. If this happens often, adjusting the child’s medication can offer the right solution.

3. Trouble Keeping Information

Kids with executive functioning problems or ADHD may find that their thoughts move more quickly than their ability to capture them in words. They may not be able to hold on to their thoughts long enough to organize and expand on them. Instead, they might try to write down the answers as soon as possible before they forget. This may result in incomplete or incorrect responses.

4. Time Management Skills

When kids with ADHD have multiple assignments, they may have trouble understanding how much time to spend on each one. They may hyperfocus on one task and have difficulty moving on to the next one. This may result in them trying to complete their assignments too quickly.

5. Losing Interest

Children with ADHD tend to tune out quickly when their tasks involve doing the same thing over and over again. According to research, those with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine in their brains, which can make it hard for them to deal with tedious work. Therefore, a tedious worksheet can cause a child to try and finish it quickly because he may be bored with it.

6. Learning Challenges

Kids with ADHD often have learning issues as well, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. Apart from the regular challenges of ADHD, they may struggle with the school homework itself and may rush through to finish it.

For kids with ADHD, doing homework may seem like an endless task. The idea of sitting for long hours to complete their work may be too much for them to bear. In their hurry to finish it, they may not even check their work if it has been done properly. If you have a child with ADHD who is rushing through their homework, you can try strategies that can help him slow down. You may also try to work together to create a homework station that fits your child’s specific need to ensure timely and proper completion of work.