If you have a kid with ADHD and you have ever tried to sit down for a phonics lesson, you probably already know how that goes. Squirming. Staring at the ceiling. Suddenly needing a glass of water.
My son has ADHD and mild dyslexia. For a long time I thought the problem was that he just was not trying hard enough. It took me a while to understand that his brain was wired to need more engagement, movement, and variety than a standard worksheet could offer.
Keep Sessions Short
Seriously, 10 minutes is enough. Fighting through a 30-minute session with a kid who has already checked out is not teaching phonics. It is just burning both of you out. We aim for 10 focused minutes. You will get more done in 8 focused minutes than in 25 miserable ones. Plus, if you are doing this as a supplement to what they’re already doing in school, keep that in mind. You can’t get them caught up overnight. Repetition is what matters. Start with the basics and hammer them. Moving quickly because they seem to get a concept does you no favors.
Make It Hands-On
Worksheets are the enemy for kids with ADHD. We swapped most paper practice for hands-on materials. Letter tiles let your kid physically move sounds around. Dry erase pockets mean you can reuse any sheet. The more their hands are involved, the longer their brain stays engaged. Play-doh is pretty consistently a hit and I picked up some small packages of floam (remember that stuff, 80s babies?) at Target and it’s been heavy in the rotation.
Use a Game Format Whenever Possible
My son will practice the same phonics skill for 20 minutes without complaint if it is wrapped in a game. He will refuse to do five minutes of the same practice on a worksheet. That is not a character flaw. Games create stakes, movement, and novelty. All of those things are rocket fuel for an ADHD brain.
Build In Movement
Let them stand. Let them jump when they get an answer right. Some of our best phonics sessions have happened when I taped word cards to the floor and had him hop to the right ones. Another thing that worked with letters and sounds was having him “race” to find an item that began with the target letter. Each time he tried to beat his score.
Build in wiggle breaks. Keep them to 15 seconds. Stomp like an elephant, hop like a kangaroo, leap like a frog…you get the picture.
Be Consistent But Flexible
Routine helps kids with ADHD know what to expect, but it has to be gentle, not rigid. If it is clearly a bad brain day, scale back or skip. One skipped session is not going to undo your progress. Powering through a meltdown will set you back more than a day off ever could.
You are not failing if phonics practice is hard. Teaching a kid with ADHD to read requires creativity, patience, and a lot of trial and error. The fact that you are researching and trying things means you are doing it right.
This post may contain affiliate links. That means I earn a small commission if you buy something through my links, at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.