Help a child with ADHD settle down, get started and stay focused on homework. 3 short activities, 10 minutes each, over 1 week.
At a glance
- Time: 3 activities, 10 minutes each, over 1 week
- You need: a pencil, a timer, a quiet spot, and the 3 free worksheets below
- Mooki cards: Distraction Busters, Brain Breaks, Get Started (optional)
- By the end: the child will have a ready-to-focus checklist, 2 favourite brain break moves and a plan for starting hard tasks
Why is focus so hard?
Children with ADHD notice everything: a noise outside, a toy on the desk, a phone buzzing. Each one pulls their attention away, and getting back on track takes effort. Starting a task is often the hardest part. This is about brain differences, not laziness.
Before you start
- Print the worksheets. Or the child can draw their own on plain paper.
- One a day. Do each activity on a different day so the child doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
- Find a timer. One the child can see, like a sand timer or a kitchen timer.
- Praise effort. Notice when they try, not just when they finish.
Day 1: Ready to focus?
Helps the child clear away distractions before homework. Uses the Distraction Busters card.
- Ready to focus? Before homework starts, go down the list together. Tick each one.
- What else distracts me? Ask: “What else pulls your attention away?” Write or draw it in the box.
Tip: keep the sheet at their homework space and use it every day. You could also ask school if the child can sit near the teacher and away from doors and windows.
Day 2: Time for a brain break
Gives a wriggly body a safe way to move, so it is easier to settle back to work. Uses the Brain Breaks card.
- Pick 2 moves. Let the child tick 2 moves, like star jumps or frog hops.
- Move for 2 minutes. Set a timer and do the moves together. Write the 2 moves on the sheet.
- Back to my task! Go straight back to the task while their brain is fresh. Tick the box.
Tip: plan breaks before the child gets stuck or upset. A break every 15 to 20 minutes of homework works well for many children.
Day 3: Just get started
Helps the child beat the starting struggle by making the first step tiny. Uses the Get Started card.
- My task is. Pick one task the child often finds hard to start. Write or draw it.
- My tiny first step. Make it really small, like writing their name.
- Set a 5 minute timer. Sit nearby. When they start, they tick “I started!” and write what they can do after.
Tip: praise them for starting, not just for finishing. When the timer beeps, the child can choose to stop or keep going. Many keep going.
After the week: ask yourself
- Which distractions pulled the child away most?
- Which brain break moves did they enjoy?
- Was it easier to get started with a tiny first step and a timer?
Mooki Cards give general information and activities. They are not medical advice. If you are worried about the child, speak to your GP, health visitor or the school SENCo.
Get all 3 activities, plus 53 more
The Distraction Busters, Brain Breaks and Get Started cards give you ready-made steps on the front and a picture activity for the child on the back. Everything is in one place. Each is one of 56 ten-minute activities in the Mooki Cards ADHD deck.
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