Four Basic Steps:
Step one in combating Homework Wars is to explain to your child that he/she can earn prizes, rewards, special privileges for completing homework. Explain the reward system and make a list of rewards, activities, privileges that the chips can be traded in for each day. It is recommended that in the beginning of the system, the chips should be traded in each day, after the homework is completed. A new behavior, like doing homework, needs to be richly rewarded initially, until it becomes a habit.
Step two is to allow your child some brief down-time once they come home from school. Most ADHD children need to physically move. Your child has been sitting all day just transferring seats from school bus to classroom to lunchroom. Give your child an opportunity to expend some pent-up energy or engage in any preferred activity for at least half an hour. Then introduce the need to start homework.
Step three requires that you need to be present during homework time. You’ll need to deliver chips and offer praise: “You slowed down and wrote that sentence more neatly.” Deliver a few chips. The sound of the chips dropping into a plastic cup has its own reward value (almost like a slot machine). Keep repeating praise and chip delivery at different intervals of time or right after special efforts, like erasing and correcting a mistake. Praise statements sound something like, “You’re still working hard. Keep it up.” You are taking the role of a homework coach.
Finally, when the homework is complete, count the chips. The number of chips will vary day to day but there should always be enough to earn at least one reward. I am not going to ask you to make an earnings chart and figure out various reward amounts because it’s just another tiresome chore. Simply tell your child he or she has earned a sufficient amount for whatever reward or rewards you think are suitable. As days pass, you will be able to step away and then return after longer periods of time to deliver the chips. Eventually have a trade-in every few days. The goal is to phase out chips completely and simply allow preferred activities, treats etc. to follow immediately after homework is complete. Praise and monitoring homework is constant.