ADHD exercise: finishing what you start

Half-coloured drawings, abandoned jigsaw puzzles, homework started but never finished: many children with ADHD find it hard to finish what they start. They begin with enthusiasm, then their interest fades and they move on to something else. Here are exercises and strategies to help them see things through and feel the satisfaction of having completed a task.

When interest fades

The child with ADHD is often drawn to novelty. They throw themselves energetically into an activity that interests them. But as soon as the task becomes repetitive or difficult, their attention fades. They are drawn to something else. They give up along the way.

This difficulty in persevering can deprive them of the satisfaction of having succeeded. It can also cause problems at school, with unfinished exercises. We can help them see things through by adapting tasks and celebrating completion. We proceed gradually. The situation is described on the page my child never finishes what they start.

Tasks suited to their level

So that they get into the habit of finishing, we first offer them very short tasks that they can complete easily. A small colouring sheet, a ten-piece puzzle, a single line of writing. They start. They finish. They feel the satisfaction.

We then gradually lengthen the tasks as they succeed. A slightly larger colouring sheet, a twenty-piece puzzle. They stay on task for longer and longer. They keep the habit of finishing. They are proud of it. Lengthening concentration is worked on in the page on staying focused for longer.

Breaking it into small pieces

A big task can discourage the child before they even start. We break it into small pieces. Instead of tidying the whole bedroom, we first tidy the books. Then the toys. Then the clothes. Each piece is easy to finish.

The steps can be written on a list and each one ticked off. The child sees that they are making progress. They are not overwhelmed by the task. They go all the way through. They discover that a big task is just a series of small ones. The use of lists is presented on the page on getting organised with a list.

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One thing at a time

The child with ADHD tends to start several things at once. They move from one to another without finishing any of them. We can introduce a simple rule: finish one activity before starting another. Put away the first game before getting out the second. Help them with this at first.

A box or a tray can be used for the activity in progress. Until it is finished, it stays on the tray. The child can see what they have started. They return to it. They finish. They build the habit.

Making the end visible

To help them persevere, it is useful to make the end visible. A timer shows when the task will be finished. A drawn progress bar shows how much is left. A number of exercises noted at the top of the page. The child sees that they are nearing the goal. They hold on.

We can also show them in advance what the result will look like. The finished puzzle on the box, the model for the craft project. They know what they are aiming for. They are motivated. They go all the way to see the result.

Celebrating the finish

Completing a task deserves to be celebrated. We praise them. We look at the result together. We can display it and show it to the family. The child feels the pride of having finished. The next task seems less daunting.

A reward system can also help: a sticker for each completed task, and a small reward after several stickers. They are motivated to finish. Their efforts become visible to everyone. We choose simple rewards, such as a playtime with a parent. Step-by-step setup is explained on ADHD and reward systems.

Support for persevering

If the child finds it very hard to finish what they start, at school as well as at home, support can help. A psychologist trained in behavioural therapies can suggest suitable strategies. Parent guidance helps parents put tools in place day to day. Progress is built together. We stay patient.

To find a psychologist or a parent guidance professional, the directory ProfessionnelsDys allows searching by town. You can find those who run structured programmes for parents there. The Barkley programme is presented on the page Barkley programme.