%20(1).jpg)
If you’re raising a child with a ADHD, mornings can leave you feeling like you’ve done 12 rounds with Tyson Fury, before 8am.
There was a time when just getting my son dressed and out the door felt like running a gauntlet of resistance, distraction, shouting and guilt.
I’d arrive at work feeling like I’d already done a full shift, and that was on a good day.
But over time, we’ve found small tweaks that made a big difference.
Not miracle fixes or “one weird trick” nonsense, just little shifts that took the edge off and helped us start the day without total emotional carnage.
Here are five ADHD hacks that have actually worked for our mornings. Maybe one of them helps you shave 5% off your chaos too.
This one might sound strict, but it’s my best tip.
As soon as my son gets out of bed, he puts on his school uniform. Before going downstairs, before breakfast, before anything else.
Why? Because once he's downstairs, the distractions kick in. Drawing, LEGO, toast, playing with his brother, looking out the window.
Getting dressed becomes a full-blown negotiation or just doesn't happen at all.
By moving this task to before the distractions start, we avoid the usual arguments.
He’s not fully awake yet. That actually helps. There's less resistance.
It’s part of the rhythm now.
Bonus tip: Lay the uniform out the night before in the same spot. No decisions needed, just action.
This one’s more about me than him, but it might be the most important one on the list.
I wake up at least 30 minutes before my son.
If he’s the one waking me up at 7am, I’m instantly on the back foot. No time to think, no mental buffer, no patience. Straight into noise, demands, resistance.
But if I get up at 6:30am, I’ve got time to have a coffee, lay out his breakfast, and mentally prepare for the morning sprint. That quiet time is priceless.
It's not always easy. Some mornings I hit snooze. But on the days I manage it, everything runs better. I’m calmer. He senses it. The whole tone of the house shifts.
Brushing teeth has always been a battleground for us.
Some mornings it just wasn’t worth the fight. That made me feel like I was failing the basics.
Then we found a weird little win: kids’ strawberry mouthwash.
It tastes good, makes him feel grown up, and he actually wants to use it.
So now brushing isn’t this dreaded chore. It’s part of a little “clean teeth routine” that starts with the mouthwash as a kind of reward.
It’s not perfect. It doesn’t work every day. He still skips brushing if left alone.
But now, instead of nagging, I can say, “Let’s do the mouthwash challenge,” and he’s (usually) up for it.
Find the small hook that turns resistance into ritual. That’s the key.
We’re lucky, school is walking distance. So we bought a scooter.
It’s now part of our morning routine. He scoots, I walk, and we talk on the way.
No arguments about leaving the house, no last-minute chasing around. The scooter gives us momentum, literally.
Now, I get that this one won’t work for everyone. If you drive to school, maybe it’s their own Spotify playlist, or a small treat for being in the car on time.
The point isn’t the scooter. The point is: what’s the carrot that gets them moving?
Not every morning needs to feel like a forced march. Sometimes a bit of fun is the strategy.
We tried sticker charts before and they flopped. Too many steps, too many rules, too much pressure.
But we brought them back slightly differently.
Now it’s simple, immediate and visual.
He gets a sticker for each key win: teeth, dressed, shoes on, out the door.
No stars, no weekly points tally, no prize.
The sticker is the reward.
He sticks it to his uniform and is proud to show his teacher.
It’s not bribery. It’s positive reinforcement that actually lands. It gives the routine a shape, and helps keep us focused on what is going right.
I used to think the goal was efficiency. Everyone dressed, fed, and out the door with no yelling. That was the win.
But now I know the real goal is connection.
If we get to school without tears, and I manage not to raise my voice, that’s a good morning.
If he leaves the house feeling supported, even if his shirt's on backwards, that’s a great morning.
You don’t need a perfect system. You just need something that works well enough for your family, more often than not.
These five hacks helped us. Maybe one helps you too.
ADHD mornings aren’t broken. They just need different wiring.
If one part of your morning feels harder than it should, change the environment.
Move the task. Add a hook. Cut the clutter.
Start small. Celebrate any win.
You’re doing better than you think, and you’re still in it.
Exclusive 'Survival Tools' downloadable guide, honest stories, sanity-saving tips, and weekly content emails from me, a dad who’s still in it, just like you.
Can't see the email?
Check spam or promotions & drag it to your main inbox to stay in the loop.
.jpg)
.jpg)