268: What to Do When Importance Doesn’t Create Motivation, with Penny Williams
Jun 6, 2024
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Penny Williams, ADHD expert, discusses motivating neurodivergent kids with actionable strategies like using external rewards, setting specific goals, and leveraging interests. Break tasks into smaller chunks to spark intrinsic motivation. Personalized learning boosts success. Celebrate small victories and share feedback to navigate the beautifully complex journey of raising neurodivergent kids.
Kids with ADHD are motivated by interest and urgency rather than importance, emphasizing the need to focus on building executive function skills.
Using interests to spark motivation for important tasks can engage kids with ADHD better than relying solely on urgency or importance.
Deep dives
Understanding ADHD Brain Wiring of Kids
Kids with ADHD are motivated by interest and urgency rather than importance, highlighting a difference in their brain wiring. This distinction is crucial, especially for those with ADHD and autism together. Lack of motivation by importance alone can make taking action challenging, emphasizing the need to focus on building executive function skills to overcome internal motivation difficulties.
Strategies to Motivate Kids with ADHD
External rewards or incentives can motivate kids by setting up a reward system tied to completing tasks they enjoy. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks helps alleviate overwhelm, maintain momentum, and provide a sense of achievement with clear goals and deadlines. Creating a supportive environment that minimizes distractions and promotes focus tailored to each child's preferences enhances their ability to stay on track and motivated.
Promoting Intrinsic Motivation for Important Tasks
Using interests to spark motivation for important tasks can engage kids with ADHD better than relying solely on urgency or importance. Tying their interests to tasks, such as incorporating Harry Potter terms in instructions or turning homework into a quest, can make tasks more engaging. Leveraging visual aids, reminders, and creative strategies that align with their interests can empower kids to stay motivated and engaged in tasks they find challenging.
In this episode of Beautifully Complex, we’re examining a topic that really hits close to home for many of us — what to do when importance doesn’t create motivation, especially for our neurodivergent kids. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get our kids started and keep them going on tasks that matter, but don’t necessarily excite them.
I break down why the ADHD brain is motivated by interest and urgency, rather than importance, and share actionable strategies to help bridge that gap. We discuss everything from providing external rewards to setting specific goals and creating a supportive environment. You’ll learn the importance of making tasks manageable by breaking them into smaller chunks and leveraging your child's interests to spark intrinsic motivation.
Join me as I guide you through these practical tips and insights to help your child thrive, even when their brain just isn’t wired to find motivation in the same way. Remember, you’re not alone, and together, we can navigate the beautifully complex journey of raising neurodivergent kids.