ADHD Teen Won't Do Homework? They're Not Stubborn, They're Stuck

If homework has turned into an exhausting nightly standoff, this episode is for you. Teens with ADHD aren't stubborn or unmotivated. They're stuck, thanks to executive functioning challenges like getting started, time blindness, working memory, and overwhelm.

👉 Tired of the nightly homework standoff? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn what to say when their teen is stuck, stay calm instead of pushing harder, and protect the relationship while the homework gets done. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with neurodivergent therapist Holly Blanc Moses. We talk about how shame and the gap between expectations and capacity make starting feel impossible, and we share brain-based, neurodiversity-affirming tools that turn standoffs into small wins, like time timers, body doubling, breaking tasks down, and solving problems together.

You'll walk away with practical scripts and strategies that help your teen start and finish homework with more confidence and less conflict, while protecting your relationship.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why "stubborn" and "lazy" are the wrong story
• 5 neuroscience-backed strategies that end homework battles
• The 2-minute trick that helps ADHD teens get started on anything
• How to tell if your approach is adding stress your teen doesn't need

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Why homework feels impossible: executive functioning 101
• 12:29 The expectation-capacity gap, and how to close it
• 24:37 Motivation vs. task analysis: mapping the first step
• 36:05 From shame to support: words that lower defenses
• 37:01 Co-regulation and trust: teaching when your teen is stressed
• 41:42 Tools that work: time timers, body doubling, and collaboration

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Time Timer
• Flown (body doubling platform)
• The 135 School Accommodations for Autistic & ADHD Students (50% off)

CONNECT WITH HOLLY BLANC MOSES

• Website: HollyBlancMoses.com
• Practice (Raleigh, NC): Crossvine Counseling
• Instagram: @hollyblancmoses
• Facebook: @hollyblancmoses
• Facebook group for parents: Wired Differently
• YouTube: @autismadhdtvwithholly
• LinkedIn: Holly Blanc Moses

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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