16 fun learning aids for kids with ADHD, as recommended by psychologists

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• Children with ADHD may struggle to focus on tasks and complete games or activities that their peers do with ease.
• It can be difficult for caregivers to determine which games, toys, and learning tools are best for kids with ADHD, so we spoke with several psychologists to learn what to look for.
• Based on the experts' recommendations, we compiled a list of 16 learning aids for kids with ADHD that are both educational and fun.

For parents and guardians, choosing activities for their kids with ADHD can feel challenging.

Inattention and hyperactivity associated with ADHD can lead to difficulty focusing on tasks, impulsivity, and frustration. Children with the diagnosis may struggle to complete games and use educational tools that seem straightforward to their peers.

However, it's not that kids with ADHD need separate learning tools or that they can't participate in standard learning. In fact, it's critical to empower kids with ADHD to do regular tasks while working at their level.

"Parents don't have to go for something that's specifically marketed for [kids with ADHD]," said psychologist Ronald T. Brown, dean of the School of Integrated Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "It's about getting something that, for younger children, the parent and kid can do together that involves strategy and reinforcement."

It's important for parents to choose activities with forethought, intention, and participation in mind, according to experts. They also need to know their kids really well and embrace who they are.

We spoke to psychologists to compile these tips for choosing learning tools for elementary-age kids with ADHD, and we include expert-vetted product suggestions as well.

Like all children, kids with ADHD have unique interests. They also have unique challenges, according to child psychologist Nekeshia Hammond, who specializes in ADHD and learning disabilities through her Florida firm Hammond Psychology & Associates, P.A.

"Some kids are very impulsive and have problems with hyperactivity or inattention. Not all of them have hyperactivity, however, so it's important to recognize what the struggle is first," Hammond said. Some children may experience hyperactivity only, inattention only, or a combination of these ADHD symptoms.

Developmental level is another major variable, according to Brown. What doesn't work for a 7-year-old may work perfectly for a 10-year-old, for example.

"Generally you want something that's not going to insult their intellectual level, yet at the same time, it must be manageable. You can't say that one size fits all."

Because of the variation in learning styles, Brown suggests that parents test out the products before giving them to their child.

Many children with ADHD have difficulty completing a task. Avoid very long-term tasks or divide them into smaller increments to allow a child to have an achievable goal.

"If you've got a chapter book, read it one chapter at a time, or set a time goal," said Brown. "You want to emphasize completion of a task."

Children with ADHD can become easily frustrated, and high levels of frustration can get in the way of their learning process. Many children with ADHD need clear rules with limited steps. Brown recommends avoiding activities with abstract rules. This is especially necessary in group activities, where children with ADHD may have trouble taking turns or collaborating with their peers.

Learning tools don't always come in the form of games or books. For a child with ADHD who struggles to keep their belongings straight, simple organizational tools can be educational.

Hammond recommends age-appropriate products that emphasize routine and organization, such as calendars, to-do lists, color-coded storage bins, or backpacks with simple compartments for sorting.

Many kids with ADHD struggle with their working memory, which is a type of short-term memory. Luckily, many products provide fun, effective ways to enhance this skill. Hammond likes games similar to the classic matching game Concentration, which can be played solo, in groups, with regular playing cards or with specialty matching cards.

Parents should plan to participate in educational activities with their child. Even the best games may not hold a child's attention, or they may need help understanding the rules. Brown recommends forming a strategy with your child to tackle each task, like dividing a "Where's Waldo" page into sections in order to help a child focus.

When children with ADHD are engaging in learning activities, parents should provide regular positive reinforcement. A study from the University of Buffalo found that performance-based reinforcement increased sustained attention in children with ADHD.

Products themselves might have built-in positive reinforcement. Hammond recommends looking at items with inspirational quotes and congratulatory elements when kids do a good job.

"The child can earn stickers or even something non-physical, like staying up a little bit later or extra video game time," said Hammond.