Time Blindness in ADHD 🧠

Does Your Child Struggle with Time Management? It Might Be Time Blindness!

Ever told your child to “Get ready in 5 minutes” only to find them still playing 20 minutes later? 😤 Or does “We have to leave in 10 minutes” seem to mean absolutely nothing to them?

If so, they might be struggling with Time Blindness—a common challenge for kids, especially those with ADHD. ⏰

What Is Time Blindness?

Time blindness isn’t just about losing track of time; it’s about struggling to feel the passage of time at all. Kids with ADHD often live in the now and find it difficult to predict how long things actually take. Their brains are still developing the skills needed for:

✅ Planning ahead
✅ Estimating time accurately
✅ Managing transitions effectively

Why Does This Happen? 🧠

ADHD impacts the brain’s ability to manage executive functions, which include skills like organizing, prioritizing, and time management. Without an internal sense of time, kids rely heavily on external cues to stay on track.

How Can We Help? ⌛

The key is to make time VISIBLE so kids can see how much time is passing. Here are a few simple ways to do this:

🔹 Use Timers – Set a digital timer or a visual countdown timer so they can track time passing.
🔹 Try Visual Countdowns – A dry-erase board or sticky notes showing time left can help.
🔹 Use Hourglasses – A 5-minute or 10-minute sand timer provides a concrete visual of time slipping away.
🔹 Create a Time Awareness Chart – Show how long different tasks usually take (e.g., brushing teeth = 2 minutes, getting dressed = 5 minutes).
🔹 Practice Time Estimation – Ask your child to guess how long a task will take and then time it together to build awareness.
🔹 Use Alarms with Fun Sounds – Set alarms with a unique sound for different transitions to make time management engaging.
🔹 Break Tasks into Steps with Time Goals – Instead of saying, "Clean your room," break it into small steps with time limits (e.g., "Put toys away in 5 minutes").
🔹 Give Verbal Time Warnings – Say, "You have 10 minutes left," then follow up with, "5 minutes left," to help with transitions.

Time management is a learned skill, and with practice, patience, and the right tools, we can help our kids develop a better sense of time—and reduce those last-minute scrambles! ⏲️

Need support with helping your ADHD kid thrive? Schedule a Breakthrough Session with me! 💡