ADHD Tips, Tricks, and Ideas

Research shows that children in foster care are significantly more likely to have ADHD. Studies estimate that 17% to over 25% of children in foster care have an ADHD diagnosis, compared to about 3–7% of children in the general population. In other words, roughly 1 in 4 children in foster care may have ADHD.

That doesn’t mean every foster child has ADHD—but it does mean many of our kids struggle with executive functioning skills, things like:

  • Staying focused

  • Following multi-step instructions

  • Organizing tasks or materials

  • Controlling impulses

  • Regulating emotions

Two color-coded charts titled "Focus & Routine: ADHD Task Chart for Foster Families." The charts list daily tasks for children and calming phrases/tips, organized by times of day: Before School, After School, Weekend Afternoon, Weekend Evening/Wind-down, and Chores/Evening. The charts include tasks like making bed, brushing teeth, packing backpack, washing hands, and putting away laundry, along with encouraging phrases such as "One step at a time" and "Let's finish this together."

ADHD Task Chart

A full routine chart with tasks and calming phrases to help your child move through their day with less stress — and more success.

A chart titled "ADHD & Foster Kids: Quick Environment Adjustments" with color-coded sections listing behaviors and corresponding environmental adjustment tips, including reducing distractions, breaking tasks into smaller steps, using labeled bins, keeping routines, offering calm presence, managing chores, celebrating wins, assigning spots, building movement breaks, and demonstrating steps. The chart features a logo with a tree and the words "FOSTERING A CHORD" and a website URL "FOSTERINGACHORD.ORG." at the bottom.

ADHD Behavior Adjustment Guide

A quick-reference guide pairing common ADHD behaviors with simple, practical environment tweaks that set kids up to thrive.

If you've ever stood in the kitchen at 7am wondering how to get through the next ten minutes — these are for you.