L. Elizabeth Forry
Table of contents
Children and teens with ADHD often struggle with routine, daily tasks. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s impulse control, ability to focus, stay on task, remember important details, and problem-solving skills.
Someone with ADHD does not lack intelligence or the ability to complete daily tasks or succeed in school or life, but they may need additional tools or accommodations to reach their goals.
Related: The 25 Best Fidget Toys for Kids with ADHD
One of those tools parents and schools are utilizing is apps designed specifically for children and teens with ADHD. These apps help kids stay focused and improve executive function, critical thinking, and working memory.
Common Symptoms of ADHD
- Often makes careless mistakes.
- Inattention to details
- Struggles to focus on activities or play
- Seems not to listen when directly spoken to
- Fails to follow through on instructions, schoolwork, or chores
- Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
- Typically avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to participate in tasks
- requiring sustained mental effort
- Often loses or misplaces things
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful in daily activities
- May easily feel overwhelmed
- Behind in social skills compared to peers
- Frequently interrupts or blurts things out
For more information, check out this CDC fact sheet for parents on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Although too much screen time isn’t beneficial for children, especially children with ADHD, many helpful apps, when used in moderation, can benefit kids with ADHD and aid them in completing tasks and promoting positive skills.
Which Apps are Good for Kids with ADHD?
There are a lot of apps on the market claiming to help children and teens with ADHD. Many apps are available on iPhone and Android. Here are our top picks for the best overall ADHD apps including ADHD memory games, to-do lists and other helpful learning tools.
-
NuerNaation: Best App for Teens & Tweens to Improve Memory
Recommended for ages 10+
NueroNation is an excellent app for older kids and tweens. It includes games and exercises to improve memory and brain processing speed which could help your teen remember daily tasks.
It is bright and colorful, so it appeals to tweens and teens, but unlike other apps geared toward younger kids, it doesn’t have cute little characters and animals.
You can download NeuroNation on the App Store or Google Play Store.
-
Joon: Best App for Younger Kids
Recommended for ages 6 to 12
Joon is the perfect app for younger children who need help completing daily tasks. Joon uses gamification and quests to help young children reach their goals and complete their to-do lists.
Parents can set the tasks they need their children to complete: brushing their teeth, getting dressed, putting their shoes on, etc., making it customizable to their children.
The child gets to choose a virtual pet to take care of, and when daily tasks are completed and parent-approved, they earn coins to take care of their pet and play with them!
You can download on the App Store or Google Play Store.
-
Bugs and Buttons: Best App for Preschoolers
Recommended for ages 4+
Bugs and Buttons is an app designed for kids ages three to five. Most children this young have not been diagnosed with ADHD, but this kid-friendly app is designed to help build cognitive skills like memory, problem-solving, patterns, colors, and more.
The typical ADHD child is sometimes behind in cognitive skills, so even though the recommended for preschool-aged kids, the app may also be helpful for older kids who are still working on some of these skills.
The app costs $2.99 and includes 18 different games and activities. Bugs and Buttons is only available for Apple iPads or iPhones on the App Store.
-
Headspace: Best App to Help with Emotion Regulation
Recommended for ages 6+
Headspace is a guided meditation app that helps people learn emotional regulation. Meditation is highly effective for children and can help calm and focus the ADHD brain.
Headspace offers unique videos, activities, and meditations for kids, parents, and caregivers, and you can set reminder notifications for daily practice. Its calming colors, characters, and graphics appeal to kids and adults both.
You can try a 7-day or 14-day free trial of Headspace before deciding to purchase either a monthly or annual subscription.
Headspace is available in the App Store and Google Play.
-
Khan Academy: Best Educational App
Recommended for ages 4+
Khan Academy is not an ADHD-specific app, but its unique teaching and learning style that allows learners to go at their individualized pace makes it perfect for helping kids with ADHD and other learning disabilities.
Khan Academy is aimed at helping children fill learning gaps or focus on trouble areas they need extra help mastering. It has courses for pre-K through college in math, science, language arts, and life skills.
Users can access the lessons on a computer or via a mobile device on the Kahn Academy app in the App Store and Google Play.
-
EndeavorRX: Only FDA-Approved App for ADHD
Recommended for ages 8 to 12
EndeavorRX is the only FDA-approved video game and app for children with ADHD. The game is designed to help children with focus and attention, and mental agility.
EndeavorRX is a prescription digital therapeutic and may be covered by your child’s insurance. It is a monthly prescription of $99 and is available on iOS or Android.
Best Games for Kids with ADHD
Gamification is an excellent way to engage children and build cognitive skills. Kids love screen time, so using educational apps and games is the perfect way to give them the electronic time they’re craving while developing necessary mental skills.
-
Mental Up
Recommended for all ages
Mental Up has won numerous parenting awards and is designed for children of all ages. There are no ads, and it has a low monthly cost of $5.99 if you sign up for an annual plan which covers three users.
The app allows you to tailor the games and activities specific to the needs and age of your child. It has over 150 games and over 200 fun fitness activities for kids.
Mental Up is available on the App Store and Google Play.
-
AR Dragon
Recommended for ages 4 to 12
AR Dragon is guaranteed to delight younger kids and may entice older kids as they hatch, raise, and care for their dragon. The game teaches responsibility in a fun, unique way.
The app is free, but there are some in-app purchases within the game available for additional costs.
You can get the AR Dragon app on the App Store. .
-
Monster Physics
Recommended for ages 4 to 12
Monster Physics is the perfect game for your budding engineer. Children with ADHD that are STEM-minded will love creating cars, plans, rocket ships, and more.
The app teaches physics and problem-solving and encourages creativity and imagination.
The game only costs $1.99 for full access and can be played on the iPhone or iPad. You can download Monster Physics in the App Store.
-
Roblox
Recommended for ages 8+
Yes, Roblox – the game your child is probably already playing.
Roblox has numerous educational games that promote fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and mathematics. In addition, it is a fun, safe way for your child to engage in social media. Children cam be creative as they design their avatars and create their own worlds.
Parents can maintain control of what types of games their child can access by setting the age limit to 9+, 13+, or all ages. Roblox also give parents the ability to set a parent pin so that no changes can be made to the account without using the pin.
Roblox is available on the Roblox website, the App Store, and Google Play.
-
Hay Day
Recommended for ages 6+
Hay Day is a free app where you can build a farm and raise animals. Children must harvest seeds, know when to plant them, set prices for their roadside stand, and more.
It is not an ADHD-specific app, but it does teach some basic skills like problem-solving, money management, and organization.
You can download Hay Day on Google Play.
Time Management Apps for Kids
Children and teens with ADHD typically need a lot of help managing their time. They are easily distracted from tasks at hand and may also need time limits when it comes to gaming due to a lack of self-control.
It is very easy for those with ADHD to develop screen addiction, so time management is essential.
-
RescueTime
Recommended for ages 13+
RescueTime is a valuable tool for teens and college students with ADHD. It reminds you of important tasks like meetings, classes, taking your medication, etc.
It tracks which websites pull your focus more so you can learn how to deal with distractions and tracks your focused work time so you can see how productive you’ve been.
RescueTime is available in the App Store.
-
Todoist
Recommended for ages 13+
Todoist is another task and time management app that will benefit teens and young adults the most.
Users can rank tasks by priority, create regular reminders for recurring events, and track productivity.
Todoist is available in the App Store and Google Play.
-
Happy Kids Timer
Recommended for ages 4+
This cute app is the perfect time management tool for children with special needs like ADHD, autism, or dyslexia. It uses visualization, which is perfect for younger kids or children who can’t read fluently.
The app is designed to be used by children as they follow the routine and work on refining their time management skills. There is a free option of the app as well as a paid version that offers more customizable features.
Happy Kids Timer is available on Amazon, the Apple App Store, Google Play, and AppGallery.
-
OFFTIME
Recommended for ages 13+
We all spend too much time on smartphones and electronic devices. OFFTIME is designed to help people put down their phones and focus on other tasks.
OFFTIME is available for Android and iOS, but the Android app includes additional more features.
Apps to Help with ADHD Symptoms
16. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street
Recommended for ages 4 to 8
Children with ADHD often struggle to regulate their emotions more than their peers. If you have a younger child with ADHD, Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street is a helpful tool that uses visualization and calming techniques.
Breath, Think, Do with Sesame Street works on problem-solving, decision-making, and planning.
Breath, Think, Do with Sesame Street is available on the App Store.
-
Asana
Recommended for ages 13+
You may already be familiar with Asana from your workplace, but this organizational app is not just for the office. Asana is a productivity tool that can help those with ADHD manage their time and tasks.
If you’re the parent to multiple children with ADHD or who struggle with tasks and time, management-Asana allows you to manage your family’s tasks all from one space.
Asana is available as a desktop version and for iOS and Android.
-
Audible
Recommended for ages 6+
Children and teens with ADHD often struggle to read because of the level of focus it takes. In addition, many children with ADHD also have dyslexia making reading even more challenging.
Audible allows your child to listen to the books they need to read for school, which may help them with comprehension and retention. In addition, they can use the app to highlight important passages and take notes.
Check out Audible on Amazon, the Apple App Store, and Google Play.
-
Evernote
Recommended for ages 13+
Evernote is a productivity app that teens and adults can use for home life, work, or school. It has a free level with many advantages, such as note-taking, the ability to attach files and PDFs, and sync two devices.
Evernote is a great tool for teens and college students with ADHD who need help staying organized and on top of tasks.
Evernote is available to use on desktop as well as in the App Store and Google Play.
-
Remember the Milk
Recommended for ages 10+
The name of this app tickles us, and the ease of using this app is also appealing. The app uses customizable reminders, which can be set to repeat or single-use to keep you or your child on top of their routine.
You can send reminders to Twitter, email, text, and pop-up notifications, and the app works on all types of smartphones, including the BlackBerry 10.
You can download Remember the Milk in the App Store or Google Play.
-
MindNode
Recommended for ages 13+
MindNode is the ultimate mind-mapping tool. People with ADHD often struggle to organize their thoughts, so mind-mapping or brain-mapping is an excellent tool when great ideas pop up!
MindNode allows you to input your idea, so you don’t forget it, and then you can re-focus on the task at hand. In addition, MindNode allows users to customize their theme and the look of their mind map with fun colors, patterns, and stickers.
MindNode is available on the App Store.
-
GoHenry
Recommended for ages 6+
GoHenry is a financial app designed specifically for kids. It teaches them about saving, budgeting, and earning. Parents can set tasks that, once completed, automatically deposit money into their child’s account.
GoHenry is available on the App Store and Google Play.
And if you’re in the UK, check out the app Rooster Money, a highly acclaimed budgeting app that unfortunately only accepts UK users.
For more information on helping kids manage their ADHD check out our useful Self-Regulation Techniques for Kids with ADHD.
