ADHD Resources
Websites about ADHD
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Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
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Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA): Information about Adult ADHD.
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Totally ADD: A blog about ADHD.
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Understood: Information about learning and attention issues.
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Drugwatch: a reviewed free online health resource to learn about medication and ADHD
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Books for Children, Teens, and Adults with ADHD
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Planners & Accessories
Planners are a helpful tool for nearly everyone, especially people with ADHD and executive function weaknesses. In addition to facilitating the effectiveness of using your planner, accessories may make the experience more enjoyable.
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Planners
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1. Academic Planner: Order Out of Chaos: This is the planner I often recommend for children and teenagers. It is available in two sizes. The company offers tips and helpful videos. Click here to order.
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2. Panda Planner: It includes a daily planner with an hourly scheduling section, along with a weekly planner, monthly calendar, and gratitude journal. I generally only recommend this planner for adults.
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3. Essential Planner: It includes weekly planning sections, which are broken into daily columns with hourly scheduling. It also includes monthly planning sections. It is available dated and in three sizes. This planner is great for teenagers and adults.
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4. Clever Fox Ultimate Achiever’s Goal Planner: This planner begins with a goal setting section and helps guide users through breaking down goals into achievable milestones. It includes monthly, weekly, and daily planning sections.
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5. Law of Attraction Life Planner: This is recommended for adults who want a planner that includes a vision board, reflection pages, habit trackers, and gratitude journal.
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Accessories & Other Helpful Products
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1. Sticker Sheets: Use colorful stickers to help you remember important deadlines and highlight upcoming fun activities. There are a variety of sticker packs, including ones for teachers, baby's first year, health and fitness, wedding planning, and daily gratitude.
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2. Post-it Tabs: You can write your own messages on them. They can help you further organize your planner and label different sections.
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3. Sticky Notes: Use the small sticky notes to leave messages for your child in their planner. For example, give labelled praise, positive encouragement, and friendly reminders without writing directly in your child's planner. Sticky notes can serve as visual reminders to use your planner. The large sticky notes are great for planning sessions, breaking down a large project into smaller steps, and for charting behaviors.
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4. BIC 4-Color Ballpoint Pen: I recommend this pen to children, teens, and adults. Each pen has four different ink colors, which are helpful when organizing your planner. You can order the pen in pink, purple, turquoise, and lime green or blue, green, black, and red.
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5. Colorful Pens: Especially when working with children, color makes a huge difference. Add in everyone's birthdays in one color and upcoming fun activities in another color. Help your child write colorful coping statements throughout their planner.
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6. Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones: These headphones create a quieter environment and help minimize distractions. They may help you be more mindful and effective during your daily planning sessions and listed tasks.
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7. White Noise Machine: A white noise machine may help block out distractions and create a more productive work environment. It may also help block out distracting environmental noises that may disrupt sleep or relaxation.
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8. Magnetic Dry Erase Calendar for Fridge: This is an excellent way for families to coordinate schedules and plan pleasant activities. Please note that this is not a substitute for a daily planner. I recommend writing on it 'Check Planner,' along with the designated time for your family planning sessions.
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9. WatchMinder: This vibrating watch was created by a clinical psychologist. After organizing your planner, remind yourself to complete listed tasks by using this watch. With the capacity to store up to 30 different alarms, you can include reminders for daily tasks (brushing teeth, homework, take medication, use bathroom, exercise) and upcoming obligations.
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10. Countdown Clock or Hourglass Sand Timer: Once you've started a task listed in your planner, use a countdown clock or sand timer to help you manage your time more effectively. These clocks and sand timers provide a visual countdown of time that often helps children and adults focus and stay on task. Set them before working on a task to help you transition on time to your next listed commitment. They can also help families more effectively manage screen time and breaks.
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11. Stand Up Desk: Adjustable Sit to Stand Up Computer Desk: This desk allows you the option to sit or stand while completing your work. In addition to learning to use a planner effectively, it is important to create a productive homework or work 'zone.' Do you find it difficult to sit for hours? Standing for periods of time during the day may help improve your focus and productivity.
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12. Anti-Fatigue Mat: To help maximize the benefits of standing while working or studying, it is important to stand on an anti-fatigue mat. I recommend a mat that also encourages movement and stretching in addition to providing comfort and reducing fatigue.
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13. Fidgets: Fidgeting may increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine helping you focus during less engaging activities. Here are a few links to recommended fidgets: friendly swede fidget ball, monkey noodle string fidget, Minilopa fidget cube, and LakiKid Marble Maze.
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14. Desktop File Box with Colorful Hanging File Folders: Now that your children are using their planners, they'll need a place to put all the homework assignments and projects they complete. Are you still trying to figure out your own system for organizing important paperwork? Get yourself and everyone in your family their own file box. This will give you the opportunity to model for your children how to effectively organize papers.