WHEN MY CHILD CAN'T GET STARTED
ADHD Parent Support Series - Part 2
Your child knows what they need to do. You've reminded them. They may even want to do it - but somehow they still cannot begin.
For children with ADHD, getting started can be an executive-function challenge in its own right. What looks like laziness, avoidance or defiance may actually involve task initiation, working memory, time awareness, difficulty shifting attention, overwhelm or simply not knowing where to begin.
This parent-support resource looks beyond “just get on with it” and explores practical ways to help a child create momentum without turning every task into a battle.
Inside, parents can explore why starting can be so difficult, how to make the first step smaller, ways to move reminders out of the parent's voice and into the environment, transition support, body-doubling or supportive presence, and a practical planning exercise for one recurring task.
The aim is not to do everything for a child. It is to provide enough scaffolding for skills to develop - and then gradually help the child take ownership of the strategies that work for them.
Sometimes the problem isn't the whole task. It is simply finding a doorway into it.
Space to Breathe Therapy
ADHD Parent Support Series - Part 2
