21 Jul The ADHD-Boredom Connection: Why Kids Zone Out
Cornerstone Protection
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
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We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us! -
As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem. -
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!! -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them! -
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives. -
The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul. -
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THE ADHD-BOREDOM CONNECTION: WHY KIDS ZONE OUT
The ADHD-Boredom Connection
Ever wonder why your kid seems to drift off into space when doing homework or chores? If your child has ADHD, their tendency toward boredom and zoning out probably isn’t due to laziness or lack of interest.
For kids with ADHD, boredom can be hard to avoid and may be directly connected to their symptoms. The part of the brain involved in motivation and reward processing works differently in people with ADHD. This means activities or tasks that seem boring or tedious to them can be extra challenging to focus on. The good news is there are strategies to help reduce boredom and improve focus so your child can better engage in schoolwork and daily responsibilities. Keep reading to learn more about the ADHD-boredom connection and tips to help your child stay on task.
ADHD and Problems With Attention: Why Kids Struggle to Focus
If your child has ADHD, staying focused in school can be challenging. Their restless mind and need for stimulation mean boredom sets in quickly. This often leads to zoning out or disruptive behavior.
ADHD makes it hard to pay attention, especially to mundane tasks. As information flows into their brain, it’s processed differently, making it difficult to filter out distractions. Their restless mind craves excitement and new stimuli. So, sitting still and listening to a teacher explain a concept at a pace that suits most of the class can feel unbearable.
To cope, their mind may wander or search for diversions to stimulate them. They may fidget, doodle, tap their pencil, or stare out the window. While this helps them self-regulate their restlessness, they miss important information.
Providing Accommodations
Teachers can help by:
- Giving clear and concise instructions
- Providing structured routines and schedules
- Using visual aids like charts, graphs, and diagrams
- Allowing short breaks to re-focus
- Offering opportunities for movement (e.g., handing out materials, running errands)
- Checking frequently for understanding and summarizing key points
With support and strategies tailored to their needs, kids with ADHD can thrive in school. The connection between ADHD and boredom is very real, but with understanding and the right tools, your child will be set up for success.
The Link Between Boredom and Inattention
Their boredom and inattention may be linked if your child zones out or daydreams frequently. For kids with ADHD, boredom can be torturous, and their mind searches for stimulation. This often leads to distracted thinking and difficulty focusing.
Boredom happens when the environment isn’t engaging enough for a child. School tasks like worksheets, lectures, and repetitive practice problems don’t provide the level of stimulation and challenge many children with ADHD need. Their mind wanders as a coping mechanism.
Some signs your child may be bored or inattentive due to a lack of stimulation include:
- Staring off into space or out the window
- Fidgeting or restlessness
- Difficulty sitting still
- Irritability or frustration
- Lack of motivation
To help reduce boredom and improve focus:
- Provide interactive, hands-on activities. Experiments, crafts, puzzles, and games are ideal.
- Set clear rules and schedules. Having structure and routine helps combat aimlessness.
- Offer choices when possible. Giving some autonomy and control helps motivation.
- Check in regularly. Make eye contact, call their name, or gently redirect them back to the task at hand. Your guidance and interaction provide mental stimulation.
- Praise their efforts and focus. Positive reinforcement of good attention goes a long way.
With the right support and interventions at home and school, you can help strengthen your child’s ability to focus and minimize boredom and distraction. The connection between boredom and inattention may always exist, but you can build skills to cope together.
Tips for Engaging Students With ADHD
Engage Their Interests
Tap into your student’s interests and passions to capture their attention. For kids with ADHD, interests can be intense and all-consuming. Find ways to incorporate those interests into lessons and activities. If a student loves animals, give them opportunities to read books about animals or do projects on habitats and ecosystems. Connecting schoolwork to their interests will make learning feel more engaging and relevant.
Provide Choices
Giving students choices and options can motivate them. For assignments or projects, provide a selection of topics or ways to complete the work. Even simple choices, like choosing partners or which questions to answer, give students a sense of control and boost engagement. Choices also allow students to gravitate toward subjects and activities that interest them.
Use Interactive Strategies
Hands-on, interactive learning is ideal for students with ADHD. Look for ways to involve students, such as: actively
- Doing science experiments or demonstrations
- Putting on skits or plays
- Building models or dioramas
- Playing educational games
- Conducting interviews or surveys
- Solving puzzles or brain teasers
Interactive strategies provide mental and physical stimulation to combat boredom and hold attention. They also tap into multiple learning styles, which benefits students with ADHD.
Provide Frequent Feedback
Students with ADHD thrive on regular feedback and interaction. Give encouragement and praise for their efforts and achievements, no matter how small. Provide constructive feedback and ways they can improve. Check-in with students frequently to make sure they understand directions and are on the right track. Your ongoing guidance and support will help keep them engaged.
With the right strategies and accommodations, you can capture and maintain the attention of students with ADHD. Keep things interesting, give them opportunities to follow their passions, and provide the feedback and interaction they need. By reducing boredom and engaging their minds, you’ll set them up for success.
People with ADHD can be more prone to perfectionism. Dealing with hyperfocus, impulsivity, fear of failure, and overwhelming emotions is common for individuals with ADHD. Discover the top 6 ways to decrease impulsivity at home.
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