ADHD not handing in completed work

[Anonymous]

This is driving me insane. The work is done but he doesn't hand it in. He's 14. I have tried texting him reminders, but it does not help. He is supposed to get a reminder as part of his 504 but generally does not. So he is constantly unwinding Fs and NHIs. I literally do not understand what would compel someone to do an assignment, get a text reminder to submit from their parent, and just not turn it in. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do?

[Anonymous]

Consequences.
When work wasn't' handed in my son had consequences, like losing phone, video game, tv, or friend time. Things were cancelled and he was sent to to his "boring room".


We also set up helpful practices using the methods in the book "That Crumpled Paper was Due Last Week".

[Anonymous]

Does he need an IEP? Can you speak with the teachers?

GIve him points for everytime he turns it in and he can get an award

[Anonymous]

NP with 14 yr old as well. Honestly feel like banging my head against the wall. I have taken everything away- phone, ipad, video games. Still no progress. We are right back where we were last quarter. Ours is a mix of completed but not turned in and just not completed at all. 😯

[Anonymous]

Can he turn it in electronically? Or tape a note to the Chromebook or notebook. Or think of some other reminders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he need an IEP? Can you speak with the teachers?

GIve him points for everytime he turns it in and he can get an award

DP. DC has an IEP and we are still struggling with incomplete assignments!

[Anonymous]

Wondering whether ADHD is experiencing some anxiety about the quality of the work? I.e., worry about whether it will be "good enough", something like that.

[Anonymous]

My kid, a few years younger, does this too, and it's so confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid, a few years younger, does this too, and it's so confusing.

It’s actually a very common issue with kids who have ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consequences.
When work wasn't' handed in my son had consequences, like losing phone, video game, tv, or friend time. Things were cancelled and he was sent to to his "boring room".


We also set up helpful practices using the methods in the book "That Crumpled Paper was Due Last Week".

I don't understand how those punishments are consequences. They don't seem connected to the issue at hand?

The consequence is a failing grade, right? So let him experience THAT consequence?

I mean, taking away a phone or video games or friend time because work isn't turned in? What is the connection?

[Anonymous]

Is it only in certain classes? If so, ask the teacher what their process is for handing in work. I know I am old, but teacher’s used to announce, “Everyone hand in their homework and put it in the homework bin.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it only in certain classes? If so, ask the teacher what their process is for handing in work. I know I am old, but teacher’s used to announce, “Everyone hand in their homework and put it in the homework bin.”

some of them will have students turn in the hw in the "bin" others will post it on Canvas and some others will just walk by and check off if they did it or not.

[Anonymous]

Wondering whether ADHD is experiencing some anxiety about the quality of the work? I.e., worry about whether it will be "good enough", something like that.

This is possible and had not occurred to me. I noticed that in one class, an assignment would be due electronically, was generally done slightly early, and I kept asking him to submit it and he just wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

When our ds was at the public school assignments had a due date but absolutely no consequence for not turning it in on time. Teachers would accept any and all assignments up until the last week of the grading period and give full credit. DS just wouldn't turn things in. When reminded he would recite the policy. Usually, he did turn everything in by the end of the grading period but that meant he had no concept of how he was doing in the class. We switched him to a private school and everything has a firm due date. No late work is accepted. A few teachers will give bonus points if big assignments are turned in early. Since the day he started he has turned in every, single assignment on time. If bonus points are available for turning things in early he has followed that due date. He is a rule follower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consequences.
When work wasn't' handed in my son had consequences, like losing phone, video game, tv, or friend time. Things were cancelled and he was sent to to his "boring room".


We also set up helpful practices using the methods in the book "That Crumpled Paper was Due Last Week".

I don't understand how those punishments are consequences. They don't seem connected to the issue at hand?

The consequence is a failing grade, right? So let him experience THAT consequence?

I mean, taking away a phone or video games or friend time because work isn't turned in? What is the connection?

The advice for "consequences" is very ignorant, revealing a basic lack of understanding of ADHD. Kids with ADHD know the consequences but typically can't pull themselves together enough to avoid the consequences. Would you give consequences to a kid in a wheelchair who can't get up the steps? No, you would show him the ramps and elevators in the building and teach and support him how to use.

Kids with ADHD need executive function support - help at home and school creating systems of organization that make it easy to turn in work, and reminders - that's why it's in the 504 plan.

OP, our only solution to this was to have a clear plastic binder pocket system into which all papers went - one for stuff collected during the day and one for stuff to be turned in. Every night we check what's done and what's turned in electronically. Every afternoon we ask to see binder - what hasn't been turned physically in the classroom is attached to an email and sent electronically to teacher with a short note apologizing, wanting teacher to know it is done and try to turn in physical copy next day.

It's very time consuming but only by creating habits will DC become automated enough to do himself.

This is a better "natural consequence" in the sense that it's extending homework time at home when if DC had just turned it in in class he would have more free time at home.