On Timing: Why Your Child with ADHD Can't Stay on Schedule
Feb 4, 2025
Maybe school mornings are a battle, and you never manage to get your child to school on time. You remind them to get ready for bed, but they get distracted halfway through. You give them half an hour to finish their homework, but they spend most of it staring out the window or doodling in the margins. At the table, it often seems the meal will go on forever. No matter how many chore charts, reminders, or timers you use, they still lose track of time.
Many parents of children with ADHD deal with what's known as time blindness. While not an official diagnosis, time blindness is a common ADHD challenge that can impact every part of the day.
What Exactly is Time Blindness and Why It Happens in ADHD?
A good sense of time is an important executive skill. And because kids with ADHD struggle with executive function, they may have difficulty perceiving time and be unaware of time passing. This is known as a lack of time awareness or time blindness. For people with ADHD, it can be challenging to recognize the passage of time or to anticipate how long something will take.
This is why many kids with ADHD get labeled as irresponsible or lazy. But this is not laziness or lack of motivation—it's the nature of the ADHD brain. The ADHD brain is structured differently. In addition to difficulty with executive functioning, research shows that people with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine. This neurotransmitter plays a significant role in motivation, reward, and time estimation.
How Time Blindness Manifests in Everyday Life
The fact that the ADHD brain is wired differently complicates their awareness of time and the ability to track its passage. So, children with ADHD may:
Struggle with estimating how long things take
Become "stuck" in the moment and lose sight of what comes next
Constantly run late
Seem not to see time passing until too late.
Time blindness usually impacts the family routine and dynamics, often in subtle ways. For example, your child might constantly feel tired for school, homework, or after-school activities. They might have trouble getting started on their homework or their chores. Transitions between activities are another challenge, especially for younger children. They may miss deadlines or forget their responsibilities and have meltdowns when rushed or interrupted,
Over time, these challenges can lead to stress, low self-esteem, and family conflict. It is crucial to understand that this is not about your child not listening or trying hard enough. They just need the right support to manage their ADHD. Getting your child diagnosed is the first step. But there are some other things you can do at home, too.
What You Can Do
Here are some tips to help your child manage time more effectively:
Set visual timers or use countdown clocks
Provide step-by-step checklists with estimated times
Establish routines that break tasks into manageable parts
Use lots of external reminders like alarms, sticky notes, or apps
Always have predictable daily schedules
Get Support with ADHD Diagnosis at Josi Health
At Josi Health, we understand how the child's struggles with time can be frustrating and exhausting for the whole family. An ADHD diagnosis can provide clarity and open the door to resources that help your child succeed.
We're here to help. Schedule an ADHD evaluation with Josi Health today, or reach out to learn how we can support you.
References
Tuckman, A. (2025, May 12). How ADHD warps time perception: Strategies to stop wasting and start managing time. ADDitude Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.additudemag.com/wasting-time-adhd-and-time-perception/
Mayo Clinic. (2023, January 25). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889
Rodden, J. (2021, January 14). Executive dysfunction: Signs and symptoms of EFD. ADDitude. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-executive-function-disorder/#:~:text=Executive%20Dysfunction%20Symptoms&text=People%20with%20EF%20difficulties%20may,organizing%20materials%20and%20setting%20schedules
Volkow, N. D., Wang, G.-J., Newcorn, J. H., Kollins, S. H., Wigal, T. L., Telang, F., Fowler, J. S., Goldstein, R. Z., Klein, N., Logan, J., Wong, C., & Swanson, J. M. (2011). Motivation deficit in ADHD is associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway. Molecular Psychiatry, 16(11), 1147–1154. Retrieved May 27, 2025, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46381763_Motivation_Deficit_in_ADHD_is_Associated_with_Dysfunction_of_the_Dopamine_Reward_Pathway
