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ADHD Friendly Prime Days Ideas for 2026!

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Amazon Prime Days are here (June 23 – 26) !! Here are my favorite ADHD friendly or supportive items for this year. Happy Shopping!!

Colorful Mini Notebooks

These 3.5” x 5.5” notebooks are great for popping into your pocket, purse,or backpack, to use as a catch all for all of the thoughts and ideas that pop into your brain while you’re out and about. They also can be used for doodling during meetings or phone calls, which helps to keep you focused. And they are so reasonably priced that there is no need for any guilt when you stop using it, and then start another! https://amzn.to/4oDZxU2

 

Planner/Reminder Keychains and Luggage Tags
The keychain is a great item for ADHD kids or adults who might forget one or two items for their backpacks. There is room on this key chain to list items, tasks…whatever you need. You can then attach it to your purse to use as a checklist, and consult it before leaving the house. When the task is complete, or you’ve included your item, you can click it to a checkmark on the tag (and that click is a nice dopamine booster!).So if remembering to shut off the lights or turn on the cat feeder is tough on busy mornings, this can help you!  https://amzn.to/4vonJfI

For younger kids, or more visual folks, these luggage tags can be given the same job of supporting working memory! Simply put a picture of your kiddo ready to leave the house, or of the inside of their backpack, and the reminder is right there,hanging on the strap! Works for the inside of adult carrier bags too! https://amzn.to/4fYxVqD

 

 

Colorful Rubber Bracelets
Here is an awesome ADHD hack I picked up on the “ADHD Chatter” podcast (highly recommended, BTW)! When there is something that we will need to remember to do later or tomorrow, write it on one of these bracelets, and keep it on until you’ve completed the task. You can write directly on the bracelet or use some medical tape. Wearing something physical is a much more in-your-face reminder than one on your phone. The suggestion that got me was leaving some bracelets that say “empty washing machine” on top of the washer. Pop on the bracelet, and there it will stay until you move the wet clothes to the drier!   https://amzn.to/3QXr46u

NFC Stickers
This is something I learned about through one of my clients, and although it involves a bit of prep work, once it’s set up it’s brilliant. Did you know that you can set up shortcuts on your phone? (I am referring to iPhone, however I would imagine there’s a way to do this on Android). What that allows you to do is to put a few different actions together under one shortcut. For example, you can build a shortcut that will start a particular motivating playlist at the same time a list of kitchen cleaning tasks pops up. How do the NFC stickers come in? You can start the shortcut by programming your phone to recognize the NFC sticker for that shortcut. So I can put my phone next to the sticker in the kitchen, the playlist pops on, and the list of kitchen tasks opens. Again, a bit of work to get going, but once you do it, it’s a great way to automate your daily stuff! https://amzn.to/4ae16SQ

 Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy:  The Special Education Survival Guide 
The Wrightslaw website is THE source of information on special education law for laymen (https://www.wrightslaw.com/). This is where you can find out what qualifies for a Section 504 plan, how the IEP process works, and all things legal relating to advocating for your ADHD kiddo. This book contains so much information that you will find useful. Remember, you are your child’s advocate; it is vital for you to inform yourself about their rights.  https://amzn.to/4w177L1

 

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock

So many parents tell me that their ADHD kiddos cannot be awakened by any alarm clock, and so they must wake their little darlings…multiple times. Or there’s the “I can only be awakened by my phone” line, which of course means you have your phone the night before, for scrolling indefinitely. This alarm clock has a very loud alarm, as well as a vibrator that will cause the bed to shake! I would give this one a try – it seems hard to ignore!  https://amzn.to/4xCdh5P

Skylight Calendar

This is a bit pricier than my usual recommendations, but I have so many clients that swear by it, I would be remiss if I didn’t include it. The Skylight Calendar can link together the calendars of the entire family in one place (regardless of what system they are from), so that when you look at Monday, you can see your wife will be late coming home due to a meeting, one child has soccer practice and the other has tutoring. It enables you to plan better. It also helps with the ADHD issue of being unable to see time. By being able to look at all of the blocks that are filled, you will be able to see where you have room to do what you need or want to do. It can also be used for to-do lists, and there is an app for it as well. https://amzn.to/4gt8PQM

Silicone Magnetic Fidget Toys

Choosing fidget toys that help ADHDers focus and stay calm is a very individual matter. Some people need roughness; others like smooth objects. What struck me about this particular set is that there is the tactile piece, with each ball having a different texture, but also a magnetic component, so that it can be arranged in lots of different ways. And best of all, it’s SILENT – a huge bonus! Many, many positive reviews for this set, so if you’re looking for a new fidget, you may want to check this one out! https://amzn.to/4uLogXZ

Are there any items that you would like to recommend? I’d love to hear from you!

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, and have an affiliate relationship with Amazon.

 

 

 

My Kids Drive Me Crazy on Snow Days!

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The blizzard of ‘26 is upon us. Dare I say, we in the Northeast are winter weary.

And if I think I have it bad, it is nothing compared to parents who are dealing with bored kids. Kids who are over playing in the snow and sledding, who can’t get to their friends’ houses, and who are downright cranky.

What is a parent to do? How can moms and dads of ADHD kiddos deal with the lack of structure that ultimately is the undoing of their children, and therefore, of themselves?

The answer is: create a structure. A loose one, allowing for the wonder of a snow day (which, despite being tired of snow, kids still will jump up and down for). But a framing of the day is necessary. 

Kids with ADHD often have non-verbal working memory issues. That means that they have difficulty keeping directions and steps in mind; they have challenges when planning their actions. You’ve probably seen this, in the morning or at bedtime, when your kiddo just stops in their tracks, and doesn’t move from one activity to another. Without structure, they feel aimless, and will often find ways to fill that space that are not great. 

On days like today (and tomorrow, and maybe Tuesday), there is no real structure being provided by school, or meetings, or working out. That aimlessness will occur, and your child will find something to do that will, at the very least, annoy you. That’s why it is essential that the ADHDers’ feeling of just wandering through the day can be mitigated by making a plan.

Sitting down with your ADHD child to create a blueprint for the day is a great idea – if YOU have first determined what you would like to see. For example, your child may say “I want to play video games for seven hours tomorrow!” This is an enormous amount of time on a screen, even on a show day. Knowing what you would like to see, and what you find unacceptable, will enable a discussion that is productive, and a plan that is agreeable to both you and your child.

Here is one example of a snow day plan:

Wake up by 10am. No iPad, phone, or TV until the morning routine and breakfast is complete.

Breakfast (or Lunch, depending…) – help with breakfast; this can mean putting out placemats, setting the table, helping with food preparation, loading the dishwasher.

Screens – total of 3 – 4 hours for the day (more than usual, since there isn’t much else to do). Three of the hours can be used consecutively, or spread over the course of the day. The last hour will take place after chores are done.

Chores – complete one daily and one weekly chore.

Other – read, draw, help with shoveling. Can play with your sister as long as there is no fighting. If there is fighting, you will be separated, and will be sent to your rooms to calm down. 

Evening routine – Screens are taken away. The evening routine should include getting ready for tomorrow (when there will most likely be school), including picking out clothes and prepping their backpack.

You do not have to plan a day that mimics a school day. If the snow day is a pajama day, that’s fine. It is up to you and your family. Just make sure there is a mix of fun, relaxation, and work.

The plan can be posted somewhere that everyone can see it (magnet to fridge?). If your child objects during a transition, simply pointing to the plan is all that is necessary (and can keep you from engaging in a fruitless argument).

So somewhere between shoveling the snow and cooking something warm and delicious, sit down with your kid(s) and plan out the day. And stay safe!

Why Won’t My Kid Do Homework??

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Among my clients past and present, one of the biggest issues seems to be homework. Not just for younger kids – this extends from the elementary grades, all the way through college.

It would be difficult to find a kid who LIKES homework (excluding fun projects). But ADHD kiddos in particular seem to have an aversion to assignments that outmatches their neurotypical peers. Why is that?

  • Lack of dopamine – completing homework generally does not give someone a major dopamine boost. In ADHDers, whose dopamine is already compromised, this makes doing homework less attractive than…well, almost anything. Homework is boring!
  • Reward system differences/time blindness – kids with ADHD don’t respond to negative consequences as a motivator. This means that telling your child “if you don’t do your homework you will fail the class” doesn’t have the impact it would have on a neurotypical child. Furthermore, due to time management executive function challenges, using a future impact to convince an ADHD child to do their work is ineffective. ADHDers tend to have two time periods: now, and some other time. And some other time is vague and not really a factor.
  • Additional work due to incomplete class assignments – ADHD kiddos, whether due to lack of focus, lack of interest, or not attending to/understanding directions, can have difficulty completing classwork during the class period.They may then be tasked with completing the work at home. This is not given instead of homework; it is added to the homework load. So ADHD kids can, on any given night, have double the workload of neurotypical children.
  • Challenges with planning and organization – many kids – and adults – with ADHD lack the ability to plan and organize their assignments. This is due to executive function weaknesses, including non-verbal working memory challenges. So when your child comes home, all they see is this massive mountain called Homework, which they find intimidating. Avoidance is a natural response to this.
  • Not knowing what they need to do – with my clients, I have found that every teacher has their own way of disseminating information. Some use Google Classroom. Some expect students to copy homework assignments from the board, into their planners. Some yell out, at the end of class, “do the problems on page 9 for homework!” This inconsistency is anathema to a child that already has issues with organization. 

So yes, there are real reasons relating to your child’s ADHD for being less than thrilled about homework. But homework exists anyway. What can we do?

Here are some strategies to try with your ADHD kiddo, gleaned from my years as both a teacher, and an ADHD coach:

1 – Speak to the child’s teacher(s) – if your child is struggling with getting their homework done in a reasonable amount of time, or if your family’s wellbeing is being challenged by nightly homework battles, your first stop is the teacher. There is no way for the teacher to know what goes on after school without someone telling them. If your child is older, they can have a conversation with the teacher. Advocating for themselves is a life skill they will need as they get older.

2 – Help your child plan out their homework – Every day, have an adult (you or someone else) sit down with your child to develop a plan for getting their assignments done. This means going through Google Classroom (if being used), notebooks, and planners to see what has been assigned and when it is due. Be sure to ask your child if they have any additional classwork to finish up. If your child is older, it is still important for them to complete this planning stage. Perhaps emailing it to you is a good way to have accountability without your direct participation.


3 – For larger assignments, help your child plan out the steps to completion – This includes determining what actions are necessary (so, rather than putting “book cover” on your list, include a verb like “draw book cover”), and creating deadlines for each step. Again, having your older child do this and emailing it to you works well. This is basically outsourcing non-verbal working memory.

4 – Designate a space for your child to do their homework – This does not have to be a desk in their room; in fact, being away from everyone may lead to turning to other, more dopamine producing activities (aka videogames). Setting up at the kitchen table consistently can work, as long as there isn’t a ton of distractions and activity.

5 – No screens before or during homework – Many of us feel sorry for our kids, and want to let them have a little fun before going back to work. However, once they are on their phones or watching TV we have lost them, and the pull back to homework becomes substantially more painful. Screentime, in whatever form you choose, can be the reward for homework completion; it is not necessary or advisable before or during homework time.

6 – Try body doubling with your kid – Body doubling, an extremely successful ADHD strategy, involves working at the same time, in the same place (in person or virtually) as someone else, but not directly working with them. So, for example, sitting at the kitchen table while your kid does homework, you can be paying bills, doing your own work, or even just reading. It helps to keep both parties on track. You can do this with your college student on Zoom – bonus points for having contact with your kid!

There are many, many more strategies living in my ADHD Homework toolbox – these are just a few to get you started. Please reach out if you need more help!

 

Crossing the Finish Line With ADHD

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Yesterday I went to mile 22-ish to cheer my daughter on at the New York City Marathon (and yes, she did great!!). As I stood on a Manhattan street corner, a sea of runners moved past me. They were all ages, sizes, and all running at different speeds. I saw a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair, and a blind man running with guides. Some people looked like they were out for a relaxed jog, while you could see the pain of every step written on the agonized faces of others.

I found myself studying the runners, looking for clues to connect a runner’s demeanor with…something. Of course, the major factor for all competitive runners is training, which I could not see. But there are other more observable differences. Some runners were running, others were doing a combination of running and walking. There were runners who had doused themselves with water, and were dripping wet, trying to stay cool on a sunny day. Shorts were worn by some; pants by others, with jackets and hats. In other words, each runner had adjusted their pace, and their environment, to their own particular needs.

In my coaching practice, I often come across clients who seem stunned when I suggest making some changes that could make life easier-reminders, alarms, a text from me as their coach-and say “I should be able to do this on my own!” Says who? Your unique brain might need something different from the brain of the guy in the cubicle next door. That doesn’t make you wrong or weak-just different. Being neurodivergent means recognizing this, and honoring it.

Let’s be clear here. The marathon is 26.2 miles, and it is not made shorter for anyone. There might be ways to mitigate those miles – taping your knees, having a great podcast cued up-but you must run each and every mile.

Work and home projects work the same way. Filing your paperwork, or cleaning out your closet, cannot be shortened if you are to bring them to completion. But listening to music, or making a game of cleaning, or body doubling with a friend, can help to support your efforts. Which isn’t cheating-it’s smart.

In the end, I have never heard of someone being disqualified from the marathon because they wore compression socks. As long as they have crossed the finish line, they are marathoners. And no one will say you didn’t send out thank you notes because you rewarded yourself with ice cream when you were done. They’ll probably say “that’s brilliant!”

How To Stop Sending Hidden Negative Messages To Your Kid

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Let’s start with the basic premise that you love your kid. Let’s also recognize that if you are raising a kid (or kids!) with ADHD and other challenges, parenting is hard. The frustrations and worries one has as a parent of a neurotypical kid is multiplied by 1000.

As loving parents, we try our best. We not only make sure that our kids have what they physically need, but we also work hard to nourish their self esteem. We praise them. We spend time with them. Some of us even volunteer on teams and in classes, to show them how much we care.

But…somehow, our kiddo still thinks they stink. And still has a completely messy room, and flips out when we ask them to start their homework, or get ready for hockey practice.

Why?? Why are they not getting the message that we are sending, that they are just the greatest?

I am going to quote one of my mentors, and the founder of the Chaos Free Family program (for which I am an affiliate), Mary Smith, and talk about “leaking negativity.” 

When we think about negative reinforcement, we tend to go to punishment, yelling, or even physical consequences. And so if we aren’t employing those tactics, we think we are not engaging in negative reinforcement, right?

Guess again.

There are other more subtle disciplinary tactics many parents employ that are pounding our kids with negative messages that impact your child’s self esteem, and, as you’ve probably seen, aren’t effective in changing your child’s behavior.

Here’s an example of “leaking negativity.” Your child played in their softball game. They had a decent game, although if they had practiced their skills with you between games, as you’d suggested, they might not have missed that ground ball in the second inning. So you tell them how great they played, praise them about all of their highlights-and then, in an effort to help them improve their level of play, you mention that if they’d only practiced more, they could’ve played even better.

“What’s wrong with that?” you say. “I just want to help my kiddo be the best they can be!”

Here’s the issue. Your positive message is followed by “this is what you did wrong.” Your child will come to expect that, so that the impact of the positive message is completely wiped out; in fact, when they hear praise, they are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. No matter how well you tell them that they performed, they will only hear what they did wrong, from you-not their coach, but the person who is supposed to be their biggest supporter.

It’s no wonder they dawdle when it’s time to get ready to go to the ballpark.

It’s important to recognize that many of the ways in which we discipline our kids are negative reinforcers. And that emphasis on negativity can snuff out the ability of the brain to recognize positive reinforcement, causing the reward circuit to weaken, and motivation to decrease.

And your kid’s self esteem to plummet.

So let’s watch out for “leaking negativity.” It’s a sneaky little devil-and our kids deserve to have it removed from their lives.


For more information on leaking negativity, positive reinforcement, and ways to help you have a Chaos Free Family, reach out to me here for a Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/constellationadhdcoach/30min