6 “Must Have” School Supplies for ADHD Kids
Heading back to school can be an exciting time, and also one filled with anxiety and dread – especially for kids with ADHD who might not have lots of positive feelings about school.
Having the right supplies to go back to school can help make this often tough transition, much easier for your child – and you!
As a mom to two – now teens – boys with ADHD, we have tried so many different ways to be successful at school. These supplies have been the most influential for us and I love to share what works!
Must Have Supplies for Back to School With ADHD
Here are a few things that you will use on a daily basis throughout the school year .
The Case-It Binder
We had to buy a new Case-It Binder this year…my son’s old one finally got a bit too raggedy after 4 years!
This helps kids who struggle to be organized in check – it’s been a life saver for my son as soon as he started changing classes in middle school. It pretty much fits everything in it – even his chrome book fits in and can be zipped up.
This is like a travelling locker….kids can keep special supplies in here, like colored pencils for science class and their calculator for math, etc.
Best Case-it for Middle School:
This Case-it has two binders with room for lots of folders and worked best for middle school.
Best Binder for High School:
Our favorite Case-it for High School is currently unavailable!! This one we found on Amazon is similar.
The accordian files are so easy for impulsive kids to use! I know it sounds silly, but it worked for my kids. Make sure whatever binder you get, it has accordian files.
New addition!!!! This Five Star Binder is sleek and has the accordian file.
My posts contain affiliate links. Read my full policy here. I only reccommed products I have purchased and used with my own family.
The Planner for Kids who Hate Planners
My son really struggled to find the right planner during middle school. This year for his second year of high school, we’re getting this planner again!! It worked well last year and it has tons of 5 star reviews.
It’s from Order Out of Chaos and has some simple features which help kids stay organized.
I think this worked really well for my teen with ADHD because:
- The layout is simple, with plenty of room to write.
- The pages are organized by class, not just be the date.
- There is space to check off when the day’s assignments are done.
- After school activities have their own section each day.
- There is a nice monthly calendar, as well as pages for each day.
An important note on planners
Your kiddo most likely needs support to use a planner. This is not a skill that comes easily because kids have to have the skill of knowing what to write in a planner, first.
Before expecting your kiddo to use a planner, try to get a teacher or counselor who will help them know what to write in them. We made sure this help was part of both of my kids’ 504 plans.
I did the best I could to ask them when they got home from school what should be written in their planner. But, back tracking like this is not helpful to help build the skill.
Time Timer
We use these timers ALL THE TIME!! Timers can be used at many points during the day to keep kids on task, get them out the door, and start building their sense of time.
This year they will be used for homework, screen time or reminders to get out of the shower!
Each kid can use a timer for so many things:
- Remind themselves when they have to get ready to leave for school
- Setting work time and break time
- Self-timing for tests and quizzes
- Set for reading break
- Math facts practice
- Instrument practice
- Video game time
Timers are so great because they help kids be more independent and in charge of their own learning…a goal we can all be working towards.
Side note about timers and ADHD: ADHD kids usually have “time blindness”, that is they have no idea how to estimate the passage of time and usually grossly under or over estimate how long a task will take.
Timers have been a helpful part of getting my two boys with ADHD to understand how long 10 minutes or half an hour is. The visual red swath helps them to see how fast time is passing! These things are brilliant!
My kids use this one and this one.
***Update on The Time Timer****
It’s like my two favorite things had a baby!! The Time Timer has a dry erase board version that is so awesome!! My younger son took one of these to school with him last year and it was a hit.
These are so great for helping kids stay on track, whether they are at school or at home.
Dry Erase Boards
Small, dry erase boards are a “Must Have” Back to School Supply – especially for kids who struggle to remember tasks or need help with longer, multi-step assignments. They truly have so many uses. Some of them include:
- Writing down what’s needed for school
- Doing a math problem along with your child
- Making checklists for yourself or your kids
- Writing fun, inspirational notes for your kids
- Taking dictation from your kids for them to write in their own time
- Writing steps to completing a larger assignment
- And many, many more!
You’ll want a few dry erase boards because they will be in constant use! I use them for chore lists and reminders and notes to my husband and to myself.
Seriously, you won’t know what you ever did without one( or three)!
I bought mine on Amazon(small, medium and large), but this is something to look for at Goodwill, too!
Post-it Notes
Like the dry erase board, post-it notes will prove to be an invaluable school supply for everyone in the family – and they can be stuck anywhere. Stick a post-it in/on:
- On the front door to remind to bring sports equipment, lunches, homework, important papers, etc
- In lunch boxes with a sweet note or reminder about afterschool activities.
- On the calendar with a new thing to remember.
- Anywhere kids look to help them memorize vocab, math facts, etc.
- The wall to help organize thoughts for a big paper.
- On the kitchen table with an important reminder for the day.
- On the bathroom mirror……
You get the idea. The standard size is awesome and we LOVE these big ones for lists.
Clipboards
Having a clipboard for each of your kids allows them to work, easily in different places around your home. Having a hard surface to write on, means they can be sitting on a sofa, int the car or outside, if needed.
Clipboards can be great organizers – for kids who have a hard time keeping things neat and tidy! There is less crinkly and ripping of paper. Several sheets can be kept on at one time.
And maybe best of all — it’s hard to lose a sheet of homework when it’s attached to a clipboard.
Each family member can have a clipboard with their to-do’s!
Hang them on 3M hooks where all can see! See how much you are going to love them?
I bought mine at Goodwill, but these are really inexpensive, too.
Need More Help With ADHD?
My all time most read post on breakfasts is HERE.
Read about our ADHD Story HERE.
How I get my ADHD Teen to sleep like a baby, HERE.
