Parenting is perhaps the greatest challenge of our lives. Here we are doing this thing that can feel more important than anything we have ever done, but no one ever really trained us for it. It has endless parts to it and requires more executive functioning energy than any other single aspect of our life. And yet it also offers greater love, joy, meaning, and laughter than any other aspect of our lives and so we keep on working at it.

With an ADHD brain, the parenting challenges are amplified and it can feel impossible to keep the many plates of parenthood spinning (chores, naps, lunches, trips and homework just to name a few). Technology, while sometimes making all this plate spinning more difficult, can also offer an assist. So- we might as well harness the power to our benefit and utilize it where it helps.

Here is my list of 11 amazing apps uniquely situated to help the ADHD brain rock this parenting thing.

Self Care Apps

I am putting this section first because there really is no one thing that is more important than self-care when you are a parent with ADHD. Your kids, your marriage, your family, and your friends all depend on you. They rely on you being your best self, and they suffer when you are not at your best. Not only that, but the ADHD brain does not take kindly to being ignored. In fact, ADHD symptoms increase exponentially when things like sleep, exercise, nutrition, and social support are not being adequately cared for. And, like all things with ADHD, the cruel irony is that the treatment for the symptoms is made harder by the symptoms themselves. So- why not use technology to help- even just one little push may be enough to get the ball rolling.

Distraction Management Apps:

Our screens offer endless distraction potential- we want to connect with our kids, but the constant alerts, chimes, notifications (and, of course, YouTube) can make it hard to stay present. And resisting that temptation? That is much harder than avoiding it. Resisting temptation requires willpower, which is a limited resource. Avoiding distraction, however, can be front-loaded (i.e., done ahead of time when you have the resources). Apps can help us avoid the distraction by limiting our most tempting and distracting sites during prime kid time (like after school, or during dinner or bedtime). This, in turn, can help us give our kids the face-to-face time they crave.

Screentime/ Parental Control App:

It’s a big world out there, and the internet makes it all so accessible to our kids. But trying to keep an eye on when and what that our kids are consuming on their screens is an impossible task for any parent. Parental controls offer peace of mind by restricting content that you deem unacceptable for your little. Screentime limits allow you to set rules around their screentime and then let the program keep that limit- no bargaining, whining, or acquiescing.

Organization App:

There is a lot to keep track of as a parent: permission slips, after school activities, school projects, doctors' appointments—- and that's just for the kids. You also have all of your deadlines, bills, meetings, and projects, and don't forget about meals, shopping, and vacations. Finding an app that can keep that all in one place, offer reminders, and tell you what you need to remember today and this week?- that is invaluable.

Baby Tracker App:

If you are in the infant stage, you know that you need to reserve every last drop of executive functioning energy you have. Your brain is so depleted from the endless tasks and sleepless nights that you don’t need one more thing to think about. And yet, knowing and understanding how much your baby is eating, sleeping, growing and developing can feel essential. Baby trackers do that all for you so you don’t have to remember how long little’s naps were last week or how many wet diapers she had next time the doctor or babysitter asks.

Chore Tracker Apps:

Sure, you can create elaborate sticker charts, but we all know what happens to them- they get used for a few days and forgotten about. Or they are faithfully utilized, but one change in the chore system means that a whole new one has to be made (noooooooooo you say remembering the 5 hours it took to perfect the last one). And yet, chore trackers are immensely useful and really do work when used. They allow parents and kids a visual reminder to complete the task, they offer an immediate reward, and they allow kids the opportunity to practice working towards a larger goal. So—technology to the rescue!— digital chore charts. I am listing my 2 favorites- one for older kids who are earning an allowance and one for younger kids who are earning stars towards rewards.

Quiet time App:

I can't stress enough the value of quiet time in the middle of the day (once naps are a thing of the past) both for parents and younger children. The ability to unplug from the hectic pace of the day and just rest is priceless for kids. It allows their brains to recharge and consolidate the information that they took in that morning, and it will enable their bodies the chance to rest up for an afternoon of continued play and exploration. For ADHD parents- this time is a lifesaver. Its 2 hours of decreased demands, stimulation, and noise. It allows your nervous system— which let's be honest has just been highly taxed by all the noise and activity of your littles— a chance to settle down, reboot, and recharge for the afternoon ahead. This, often, is just what parents need to extend their patience, their energy, and their executive functioning capacity until bedtime.

Support apps for parenting children with special needs:

Being a parent can be the most wonderful experience of love and connection but it can also feel Intensely isolating and terrifying when those kids have special needs. Linking up with other parents who get it is an essential component to surviving. This is never more true than when you have ADHD yourself- the emotional and practical struggles of ADHD can lead parents to feel a wall of shame that keeps them from that valuable connection. Connecting over an app can sometimes be an easier entry point to be open and honest and start soaking up the benefit of connection.

Did I miss any? What are your favorite apps that make parenting easier for your ADHD brain? Let me know in the comments below!

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