How should I enforce or encourage my high school daughter with ADHD to get to school on time?
I love that—enforce or encourage?
First and foremost, children with ADHD typically go to bed later. They often get a burst of energy at night when the rest of us are winding down. So it’s harder for them to get up in the morning.
The real starting point is not the morning routine—it's actually the bedtime routine. Creating a structured, healthy pattern at night is critical. That helps set up a smoother morning. A consistent bedtime and morning routine gives them more confidence and predictability.
There will still be resistance—maybe they didn’t sleep well or stayed up too late. But even then, we still need to wake them up. Otherwise, missing mornings becomes a pattern. And when ADHD kids are late, it actually triggers a kind of mental intensity. Sometimes they thrive on that intensity, doing everything last-minute—assignments, papers, etc.—and still managing to succeed because they’re usually smart and their brains are very active.
As a parent, it helps to understand that kids with ADHD often do better with movement—especially hand-eye coordination and right-left hemisphere activities. Sitting still in school is hard for them; focusing takes a lot of effort. Fidgeting tools or stress balls can help in class—not because they’re not paying attention, but because they needsomething for their brain to do while they focus.
Another big helper is exercise. Movement-based activities like skateboarding, jiu-jitsu, karate, or yoga are great for kids with ADHD. These activities promote better focus and emotional regulation because they engage both sides of the brain.
While the main question was about getting to school on time, the bigger picture involves daily routines, sleep hygiene, physical activity, and even nutrition. Diet matters—reducing sugar, encouraging balanced meals, and minimizing caffeine (which paradoxically may calm some ADHD brains similarly to medication like Ritalin).
So, it's a holistic approach: structure, movement, nutrition, and understanding how their unique brain works.
