How to Keep a Child with ADHD Engaged During Reading Time

by Skuli | Available on AppStore + GooglePlay

01 Jun 2025 • 4 min read

Understanding the ADHD Mind During Reading

If you're reading this, chances are you're watching your child squirm in their seat, flip pages without really reading, or zone out entirely during reading sessions. You're not alone—and you're not doing anything wrong. For many children aged 6 to 12 with ADHD, reading isn't just another subject; it's a battle of attention, focus, and, sometimes, self-esteem. Understanding why reading poses such a challenge for these curious, energetic minds is the first step toward shifting struggle into engagement.

Children with ADHD often process information differently. They may have difficulty sitting still, maintaining sustained attention, or filtering out distractions—all ingredients commonly required for traditional reading. But that doesn’t mean they can't enjoy books or grow into lifelong readers. It just means we need to meet them where they are.

Start with Movement, Not Silence

We often picture reading as a quiet, still activity. But for many kids with ADHD, the very thought of staying still for twenty minutes is anxiety-inducing. Consider reversing the script: start reading time with movement. Have your child jump 20 times on the trampoline, do stretches, or walk in circles around the living room while you read aloud. Movement increases blood flow and primes the brain for focus. It’s not a distraction—it’s a strategy.

One mom I spoke with incorporated silly dance breaks between each chapter. “It sounds chaotic,” she said, “but those two minutes of wiggling helped him take in the story better.”

Make It Personal (and Interactive)

Sitting and listening quietly to a chapter book can feel like a Herculean task for some kids. But what if the story were about them? Personalized stories can bring reading to life. When your child is the ‘hero’ of the adventure, suddenly, reading becomes a game they don’t want to stop playing.

Some innovative tools can help on this front. For example, turning written lessons or stories into personalized audio adventures—where your child is the main character and their name is used throughout—can transform how they experience text. Many parents have found success with the Skuli App, which allows you to turn a reading passage into an audio adventure tailored to your child’s interests and name. Listening to a story where they’re the star? It’s a lot more engaging than just following lines on a page.

The Right Environment Matters More Than You Think

Let’s be honest—most of us aren't reading in ideal settings. The television might be on, siblings are playing loudly, and dinner is bubbling on the stove. For a child with ADHD, all these factors can pull their already vulnerable focus in ten directions.

Try creating a special reading corner: some cushions, noise-canceling headphones, a small tent, or even just reading under a blanket with a flashlight. Think of it like building a fort—not just to play in, but to focus in. When your child feels safe and less distracted, they can dive into the story more fully.

Also, don’t be afraid to change reading venues. Some children concentrate better in the car, in a hammock, or even upside-down on the couch. You’re not doing it wrong—you’re doing it differently. And sometimes, differently is exactly what’s needed.

Permission to Read Differently

This may be the most important thing I can tell you today: it’s okay to read differently. Audiobooks, graphic novels, e-books with interactive features—they all count. If your child prefers listening to stories instead of reading print, embrace that. You can even convert short lessons or chapters into audio format, which is particularly helpful on car rides or during bedtime wind-down routines.

The key is to foster a positive relationship with stories, however they come. That joy of narrative—of getting lost in another world—is what's foundational. If your child feels ashamed because they can't sit still or follow along line by line, they’ll associate reading with failure. But when they’re allowed to approach it in a way that suits their brain, reading becomes a safe haven.

Take Breaks... and Know When Enough is Enough

Not every reading session needs to last 30 minutes. In fact, for a child with ADHD, shorter, more frequent bursts often work better. Consider reading in five- or ten-minute chunks, with brain breaks in between.

Let your child do something active for a minute before returning to the book. Or use small incentives—not bribes, but structured motivators. For example: “Let’s finish reading one page, then we’ll jump on the trampoline for two minutes!” Gradually, they’ll build stamina.

When Frustration Creeps In

You’ve tried everything. Some days, it still feels like a tug-of-war. That’s okay. On those days, remind yourself—and them—that learning doesn’t always look linear. Building focus and literacy skills is a marathon, not a sprint.

It’s in those moments that your patience, empathy, and small adjustments matter most. You’re showing your child that they are not broken, that they're simply wired a little differently. And in doing so, you're teaching them to love learning on their own terms.