Neurodivergent Homeschool Life

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Homeschool Routine Boredom

Some weeks I’m convinced we’ve finally found the perfect ADHD homeschool routine. Everyone knows what to expect, lessons are getting done, and life feels calm. Then suddenly I find myself researching new curriculum, reorganizing our schedule, and wondering what to change next. If you have ADHD, you might recognize this feeling. Sometimes the routine isn’t the problem—our brains are simply craving novelty.

Seeking Excitement

How do we manage ADHD driven homeschool ruts when our brains are seeking novelty and added excitement? It’s taken practice (and plenty of self-control), but I’ve learned to pause before making big changes. I start by reviewing our homeschool schedule to determine whether it truly isn’t working or if I’m simply feeling bored. Most of the time, it’s just boredom. I’ve learned to implement a few changes to see if that satisfies my desire for novelty.

Change Up the Location

Changing locations gives my ADHD brain enough novelty to make the same lessons feel fresh again, without throwing out a routine that’s already working. One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that learning isn’t confined to one location.

Indoors, we’ve held lessons at my daughter’s desk, the dining room table, the kitchen counter, and on our bellies on the floor.

One of our favorite places to hold homeschool is on our back porch. We get our favorite blanket (paid link), fill up our snack container (paid link), and spend the morning (or afternoon) outdoors. My daughter is pretty sensitive to bright lights, so if it’s sunny we make sure we have her sunglasses (paid link) and that our patio umbrella is open.

When it’s rainy and we’re in a rut, our favorite thing to do is to make a tent and hold homeschool inside of the tent. You don’t need much to do this, but I’ve found our beach blanket (paid link), our Swiffer pole, and chip clips are all that we need. It also turns into a fun engineering challenge as my daughter decides what kind of tent she wants to build and figures out how to make it work.

Field Trips

When we need a different venue other than around the house, we pack up and take a field trip. Most people think of field trips being limited to the zoo, aquarium, science center, or a museum. These are great options if you have them near you, but there are also a few free field trips that can be just as rewarding.

We love going to nature centers. We are grateful to have some fantastic nature centers around us with live animals, hiking trails, creeks and playgrounds. My daughter never passes up the chance to spend the morning at a nature center.

Your public library can be another great free field trip. There’s no better place to discover new books together. My daughter loves sitting in the aisles and reading books, and is always disappointed when it’s time to head home.

Another option is to pack up your curriculum, a picnic lunch, some outdoor toys, and head to a local park for the morning. Our picnic blanket (paid link) is great for days like this. We’ve had this blanket since my daughter was 1, and it’s still in fantastic shape. Spending the morning at a park is a great way to get some fresh air, some exercise, and make learning more exciting.

Change Up the Media

Another trick I pull out when I’m bored with curriculum is I change up the media. We put away the books and lean on both digital and hands-on learning. We love using free YouTube videos to tie learning into whatever we’re currently interested in. My daughter went through a dinosaur obsession, and at one point she was obsessed with watching this YouTube dinosaur video with sight words.

Some of our favorite products to change up the media are our Yoto cards (paid link), adventure globe (paid link), and science kits (paid link). My daughter loves the science kits, and I actually have to keep my stash hidden from her so she won’t ask to do them constantly. We also incorporate movement into our learning for added novelty.

Take A Break

If none of these tricks are working for you, it’s okay to take a break. In our house, we follow our homeschool schedule year round. This gives us the freedom to take a week or two off multiple times a year. Sometimes a short break is all you need to come back with fresh eyes and appreciate the routine you already have.

Boredom Doesn’t Mean Broken

One of the biggest lessons ADHD has taught me is that boredom doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong. Sometimes my brain simply needs a little novelty—not a brand-new curriculum or a complete schedule overhaul. Before changing everything, I try changing one small thing first. More often than not, that’s enough to help us enjoy our homeschool routine again. After making some changes, if you still feel like something’s missing, give yourself permission to change the plan, or even make a new homeschool schedule.