Time Management and Device Use Boundaries for kids with ADHD (with Mike McLeod)

In this episode, I share the second part of my interview with speech-language pathologist and ADHD specialist Mike McLeod from GrowNow Therapy as we continue our conversation about how to support with kids with ADHD and other conditions that impact executive functioning.

If you’re someone who easily estimates how long things will take so you can plan ahead, it’s often frustrating when you see other people dawdling or not using their time wisely.

But often there are MULTIPLE things going on in their head that are keeping them stuck, and the key to helping them move forward is to be able to “sense time” more consciously and understand the end goal looks and feels like.

That’s why in this conversation, Mike shares:

✅Tips for helping kids with ADHD develop a sense of time so they can reduce overwhelm and procrastination.

✅How incorporating visuals in to your day-to-day routines with your kids can improve their time-management skills and discipline.

✅Why motivation issues in kids with ADHD are skill-based and not behavior based, and what specific skills can help move them through daily tasks more easily.

✅The impact of technology, gaming, and social media on attention span and social-emotional development; and his recommendations for setting healthy boundaries.

If you have a child at home who has a hard time putting their devices down to do non-preferred tasks like homework or chores, you’ll get a ton of value from this interview. The following resources are mentioned in this interview (some are mentioned in episode 008, which is the first half of this conversation, but I’m linking to them again for your convenience):

For information on nonverbal working memory, check out Dr. Russell Barkley’s website here.

For information on Sara Ward and her resources for supporting kids with Executive Functioning skills and time management, visit her website here.

To learn more about Ryan Wexelblatt, the ADHD Dude who coined the term the “Argument Vortex” for kids with ADHD, visit his YouTube Channel here.

To connect with Mike McLeod, you can visit his website here, follow him on Instagram at @grownowtherapy or visit his Facebook page here.

If you’re a parent who wants to set your kids up for success as adults, then then you’re going to love my free parent guide, which I mentioned in this episode. In the guide, I share the set of skills that kids need in order to stay organized, focused, and motivated during their day-to-day tasks like chores and homework. You can sign up for a copy here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/parentguide

The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 

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