If you teach a child with ADHD, you know the frustration of setting goals or intentions only to find them slipping away, despite your best efforts.
Whether it’s keeping the class routine, following instructions, or completing assignments, changing behavior with ADHD can feel like climbing a steep mountain. So why does behavior change feel especially challenging with ADHD, and what can you do to make it easier? Let’s explore.
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, impacts executive functions—the mental skills that help us plan, focus, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks. Executive functioning is like the brain’s management system.
When these skills are compromised, it becomes much harder to:
Set goals and create a plan.
Stay motivated over time.
Remember to follow through.
Manage impulses that could lead you off course.
For someone with ADHD, the usual “recipe” for behavior change doesn’t work the same way. In fact, relying on willpower or motivation alone can often lead to frustration. ADHD can make it harder to get started, stay organized, and keep going, which are all crucial parts of making change happen.
⚡️ Teacher Tip ⚡️
🧠 Focus on Dopamine!
Dopamine, a brain chemical associated with motivation and reward, plays a major role in behavior change. People with ADHD tend to have lower levels of dopamine, which means they often need more stimulation or novelty to stay engaged.
🏆 Find Rewards that Work
Because of lower dopamine levels, it’s helpful to set up frequent rewards or positive reinforcement.
Celebrate each small success in a way that feels meaningful—whether your student enjoys building or drawing or telling jokes, create multiple opportunities to access activities that release one of our favorite feel - good hormones!
😊
