The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
We generally only cite government and peer-reviewed studies
Scientific claims and data are backed by qualified sources
Content is updated to ensure we are citing the most up-to-date data and information
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Adolescence, coupled with the demanding nature of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can easily overwhelm teens. The disorder complicates everyday tasks by impairing cognitive functions like organization, focus, and emotional regulation. Thankfully, helpful activities such as sports, journaling, visual scheduling, and mindfulness can improve concentration, build self-esteem, and offer positive energy outlets for teens with ADHD.
However, they must be paired with the ADHD manifestation for the best outcomes. At Nexus Teen Academy, we are committed to helping teens with mental health and developmental issues lead normal, flourishing lives. For example, this blog discusses various activities that can be tailored to help teenagers with ADHD. Read on to discover their importance and benefits, or reach out to our team if you are seeking immediate help.
Why the Right Activities Matter for Teens with ADHD
Teenagers struggling with ADHD need targeted interventions and support strategies. They benefit from activities targeting their cognitive functioning, energy, emotional well-being, and confidence. Find out why they need the right activities below:
Executive Function and Energy Regulation
ADHD can impair a teenager’s executive function. It often interferes with one’s ability to plan, pay attention, or complete tasks. Most structured activities have clear goals and routines to help affected teens improve these functions.
Teens with ADHD often benefit from physical activities. Channeling away the extra energy helps manage symptoms like impulsivity or hyperactivity.
Emotional Benefits and Confidence Building
The right activities can benefit teens emotionally and improve their confidence in the following ways:
Completing demanding tasks or activities can foster a sense of accomplishment, making teenagers more confident in their abilities.
Structured group activities enhance social connections. They help minimize feelings of anxiety or isolation.
Teenagers usually feel motivated or less frustrated when participating in enjoyable activities. Such experiences can inspire a more positive self-image.
Physical Activities for ADHD Teens
Teens with mental health or developmental challenges should consider helpful physical activities, which can be team-based or individual. We highly recommend sports, movement breaks, and balanced individual activities for those with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here is why:
Sports and Team Activities
Sports like soccer, martial arts, and basketball have structures and routines that can benefit attention-deficient, hyperactive, or impulsive teens. They can also improve their physical health and inspire teamwork, discipline, and goal-setting.
Individual Activities
In addition to sports and team-based engagements, struggling teenagers should explore individual activities like skateboarding, swimming, and hiking for sensory input and fairly-paced progress. With their calm nature, they minimize overstimulation and help teens balance relaxation and activity.
Movement Breaks at Home
Short movement breaks are essential for sustained concentration and managing restlessness. They can help teens with ADHD reset their focus and energy levels. Help your teenager incorporate short movement breaks like yoga or jumping jacks during study sessions.
Creative Outlets for Teens with ADHD
Besides physical activities, teens with ADHD should explore various creative outlets for better outcomes. Here is how they can benefit from art, music, painting, drawing, rhythm-based activities, journaling, and storytelling:
Art, Drawing, and Painting
Art offers an avenue for emotional expression and encourages attentiveness. Activities like painting and drawing can be therapeutic for teens with ADHD. By creating art, your teenager can process feelings and improve their visual processing skills. In fact,teen art therapy is a proven, effective form of treatment for adolescents struggling with behavioral health conditions.
Music and Rhythm-Based Activities
Music and rhythm-based activities offer a structured and creative outlet for pent-up emotions or excess energy. Drumming, learning to play an instrument, or engaging in rhythm-based exercises can enhance focus, timing, and pattern recognition in teens with ADHD symptoms.
Journaling or Storytelling
Storytelling and journaling are simple yet highly effective outlets for teens with ADHD. By keeping a journal or writing stories, teens reflect on their experiences and emotions. We highly recommend using prompts when journaling. The right ones can make journaling an effective tool for introspection and emotional regulation.
Focus-Building Activities for Academic Support
ADHD often impairs teenagers’ ability to focus, subsequently affecting their academic performance. However, you can help your teen focus better using gamified learning tools, puzzles, strategy games, time-blocking, and visual scheduling. Find out more below.
Gamified Learning Tools
Specific tools can enhance your teenager’s attention span and make studying more interactive. Consider educational apps like Quizlet or Kahoot! When supporting a teenager with ADHD. Most gamified learning resources make learning more engaging by breaking academic tasks into manageable units.
Puzzle-Based and Strategy Games
Strategy and puzzle-based games can help teens with ADHD improve their memory and attentiveness. The right ones promote strategic thinking while being fun and intellectually stimulating. We highly recommend exciting options like a Rubik’s Cube, chess, and Sudoku.
Time-Blocking and Visual Scheduling
Visual scheduling and time-blocking can help teens with ADHD enhance their organizational skills for academic success. Visualizing their schedules allows your son or daughter to plan better and minimize overwhelming feelings. Appropriate tools include task boards and color-coded calendars.
Social and Emotional Skill-Building Activities
Wholesome development demands addressing multiple aspects of a teenager’s well-being, including social and emotional development. To help a teen with ADHD build essential skills like communication and emotional regulation, consider the following activities:
Role-Playing or Improv Games
During role-playing and improvisation exercises, teens learn effective turn-taking, flexible thinking, and listening skills. They also offer a playful and supportive environment to build or improve social confidence.
Volunteering or Group Projects
Help your teenager find and volunteer in programs aligned with their interests or enroll in exciting group projects. Community service or collaborative peer projects offer them a sense of purpose. They often foster structured collaboration, responsibility, empathy, and teamwork.
Mindfulness and Self-Regulation Exercises
We highly recommend mindfulness and self-regulation exercises for teens suffering from ADHD-related impulsivity or hyperactivity disorder. Activities like guided meditation, grounding exercises, and breathing techniques can enhance emotional control and minimize impulsivity. Incorporating mindfulness into daily routines will improve your teenager’s overall well-being and focus.
How Nexus Teen Academy Empowers Teens with ADHD
At Nexus Teen Academy, we understand how challenging living with ADHD can be for teenagers. However, we also recognize that with the proper support and interventions, teens with ADHD can enjoy quality, enjoyable lives. Our diverse and highly experienced treatment team offers individualized coaching, structured daily routines, and tailored group activities to empower them.
Our teen ADHD programs, at both our teen male treatment center and teen female treatment center, target various aspects of a teenager’s well-being, leading to enhanced emotional, social, and academic development. Contact us for professional ADHD assessment, treatment, and support. We have the necessary tools that teens with ADHD need to manage symptoms and improve their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Keep My Teen Motivated to Stick with an Activity?
To motivate or keep your teenager engaged in an activity, consider options aligned with their interests, set realistic goals, and offer positive reinforcement. You can achieve positive reinforcement by openly acknowledging their efforts or progress and offering deserved rewards.
How Do I Know If an Activity Is Helping My Child?
It's simple: Monitor shifts in their focus, moods, and behavior. Positive changes always signify a beneficial activity.
Can ADHD-Friendly Activities Also Help with Anxiety or Depression?
Yes. ADHD-recommended activities like guided meditation promote overall teen emotional well-being. They can help alleviate anxiety or depressive symptoms.
What if My Teen Refuses Every Activity We Suggest?
Reconsider your selection process if your teenager refuses every suggestion. Instead of forcing activities down their throats, involve them in decision-making, provide choices, and be patient. You can also spark their interest by trying them out with them.
How Can I Tell If an Activity Is Overstimulating for My Teen with ADHD?
An overstimulating activity will leave your teen unsettled instead of calm and focused. Look for signs like restlessness, zoning out, sudden withdrawal, and irritability.
How Often Should My Teenager Switch Activities to Stay Engaged?
For many teens with ADHD, rotating tasks every 20-45 minutes is advisable. Feel free to use visual timers and include diverse activities. However, do not overschedule.
Are Chores a Good Form of Activity for ADHD Teens?
Yes. Chores can be excellent physical activities for ADHD teens if well-structured. They can teach time management and responsibility. For the best results, use visual reminders, break chores into manageable steps, and offer rewards for positive reinforcement.
Are There Specific Activities That Help with ADHD-Related Sleep Problems?
Yes. For ADHD-related sleep problems, consider activities that help wind down the brain. Good examples included guided meditation, listening to music, and evening yoga. Your teenager should avoid high-intensity exercise and screens before bed.
Can Physical Activities Replace ADHD Medication?
No. Although physical activities can trigger significant improvements, they should be used as complementary interventions to medications, not substitutes. Always consult your teenager’s medical provider for guidance.
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC and nexus_admin
Helpful Activities for Teens with ADHD
FACT CHECKED
The Nexus Teen Academy editorial and clinical team is dedicated to providing informative and accurate content to help families who are struggling with adolescent behavioral health problems. The editorial team works directly with the clinical team to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date.
To do this, our team uses the following editorial guidelines:
Clinically reviewed by Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Executive Director Hannah Carr, LPC
Hannah graduated from Arizona State University with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona. She began her work as a therapist 12 years ago in South Phoenix with an intensive outpatient program for teens and their families. She joined Nexus in the residential program as the clinical director, eventually being promoted to the executive director, creating and building the clinical program structure and a strong culture focused on redirecting the trajectory of young lives.
Published By Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy
The Nexus Teen Academy Editorial Staff is composed of writers, editors, and clinical reviewers with many years of experience writing about mental health and behavioral health treatment. Our team utilizes peer-reviewed, clinical studies from sources like SAMHSA to ensure we provide the most accurate and current information.
Published On September 22, 2025
Table of Contents
Adolescence, coupled with the demanding nature of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can easily overwhelm teens. The disorder complicates everyday tasks by impairing cognitive functions like organization, focus, and emotional regulation. Thankfully, helpful activities such as sports, journaling, visual scheduling, and mindfulness can improve concentration, build self-esteem, and offer positive energy outlets for teens with ADHD.
However, they must be paired with the ADHD manifestation for the best outcomes. At Nexus Teen Academy, we are committed to helping teens with mental health and developmental issues lead normal, flourishing lives. For example, this blog discusses various activities that can be tailored to help teenagers with ADHD. Read on to discover their importance and benefits, or reach out to our team if you are seeking immediate help.
Why the Right Activities Matter for Teens with ADHD
Teenagers struggling with ADHD need targeted interventions and support strategies. They benefit from activities targeting their cognitive functioning, energy, emotional well-being, and confidence. Find out why they need the right activities below:
Executive Function and Energy Regulation
Emotional Benefits and Confidence Building
The right activities can benefit teens emotionally and improve their confidence in the following ways:
Physical Activities for ADHD Teens
Teens with mental health or developmental challenges should consider helpful physical activities, which can be team-based or individual. We highly recommend sports, movement breaks, and balanced individual activities for those with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here is why:
Sports and Team Activities
Sports like soccer, martial arts, and basketball have structures and routines that can benefit attention-deficient, hyperactive, or impulsive teens. They can also improve their physical health and inspire teamwork, discipline, and goal-setting.
Individual Activities
In addition to sports and team-based engagements, struggling teenagers should explore individual activities like skateboarding, swimming, and hiking for sensory input and fairly-paced progress. With their calm nature, they minimize overstimulation and help teens balance relaxation and activity.
Movement Breaks at Home
Short movement breaks are essential for sustained concentration and managing restlessness. They can help teens with ADHD reset their focus and energy levels. Help your teenager incorporate short movement breaks like yoga or jumping jacks during study sessions.
Creative Outlets for Teens with ADHD
Besides physical activities, teens with ADHD should explore various creative outlets for better outcomes. Here is how they can benefit from art, music, painting, drawing, rhythm-based activities, journaling, and storytelling:
Art, Drawing, and Painting
Art offers an avenue for emotional expression and encourages attentiveness. Activities like painting and drawing can be therapeutic for teens with ADHD. By creating art, your teenager can process feelings and improve their visual processing skills. In fact, teen art therapy is a proven, effective form of treatment for adolescents struggling with behavioral health conditions.
Music and Rhythm-Based Activities
Music and rhythm-based activities offer a structured and creative outlet for pent-up emotions or excess energy. Drumming, learning to play an instrument, or engaging in rhythm-based exercises can enhance focus, timing, and pattern recognition in teens with ADHD symptoms.
Journaling or Storytelling
Storytelling and journaling are simple yet highly effective outlets for teens with ADHD. By keeping a journal or writing stories, teens reflect on their experiences and emotions. We highly recommend using prompts when journaling. The right ones can make journaling an effective tool for introspection and emotional regulation.
Focus-Building Activities for Academic Support
ADHD often impairs teenagers’ ability to focus, subsequently affecting their academic performance. However, you can help your teen focus better using gamified learning tools, puzzles, strategy games, time-blocking, and visual scheduling. Find out more below.
Gamified Learning Tools
Specific tools can enhance your teenager’s attention span and make studying more interactive. Consider educational apps like Quizlet or Kahoot! When supporting a teenager with ADHD. Most gamified learning resources make learning more engaging by breaking academic tasks into manageable units.
Puzzle-Based and Strategy Games
Strategy and puzzle-based games can help teens with ADHD improve their memory and attentiveness. The right ones promote strategic thinking while being fun and intellectually stimulating. We highly recommend exciting options like a Rubik’s Cube, chess, and Sudoku.
Time-Blocking and Visual Scheduling
Visual scheduling and time-blocking can help teens with ADHD enhance their organizational skills for academic success. Visualizing their schedules allows your son or daughter to plan better and minimize overwhelming feelings. Appropriate tools include task boards and color-coded calendars.
Social and Emotional Skill-Building Activities
Wholesome development demands addressing multiple aspects of a teenager’s well-being, including social and emotional development. To help a teen with ADHD build essential skills like communication and emotional regulation, consider the following activities:
Role-Playing or Improv Games
During role-playing and improvisation exercises, teens learn effective turn-taking, flexible thinking, and listening skills. They also offer a playful and supportive environment to build or improve social confidence.
Volunteering or Group Projects
Help your teenager find and volunteer in programs aligned with their interests or enroll in exciting group projects. Community service or collaborative peer projects offer them a sense of purpose. They often foster structured collaboration, responsibility, empathy, and teamwork.
Mindfulness and Self-Regulation Exercises
We highly recommend mindfulness and self-regulation exercises for teens suffering from ADHD-related impulsivity or hyperactivity disorder. Activities like guided meditation, grounding exercises, and breathing techniques can enhance emotional control and minimize impulsivity. Incorporating mindfulness into daily routines will improve your teenager’s overall well-being and focus.
How Nexus Teen Academy Empowers Teens with ADHD
At Nexus Teen Academy, we understand how challenging living with ADHD can be for teenagers. However, we also recognize that with the proper support and interventions, teens with ADHD can enjoy quality, enjoyable lives. Our diverse and highly experienced treatment team offers individualized coaching, structured daily routines, and tailored group activities to empower them.
Our teen ADHD programs, at both our teen male treatment center and teen female treatment center, target various aspects of a teenager’s well-being, leading to enhanced emotional, social, and academic development. Contact us for professional ADHD assessment, treatment, and support. We have the necessary tools that teens with ADHD need to manage symptoms and improve their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To motivate or keep your teenager engaged in an activity, consider options aligned with their interests, set realistic goals, and offer positive reinforcement. You can achieve positive reinforcement by openly acknowledging their efforts or progress and offering deserved rewards.
It's simple: Monitor shifts in their focus, moods, and behavior. Positive changes always signify a beneficial activity.
Yes. ADHD-recommended activities like guided meditation promote overall teen emotional well-being. They can help alleviate anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Reconsider your selection process if your teenager refuses every suggestion. Instead of forcing activities down their throats, involve them in decision-making, provide choices, and be patient. You can also spark their interest by trying them out with them.
An overstimulating activity will leave your teen unsettled instead of calm and focused. Look for signs like restlessness, zoning out, sudden withdrawal, and irritability.
For many teens with ADHD, rotating tasks every 20-45 minutes is advisable. Feel free to use visual timers and include diverse activities. However, do not overschedule.
Yes. Chores can be excellent physical activities for ADHD teens if well-structured. They can teach time management and responsibility. For the best results, use visual reminders, break chores into manageable steps, and offer rewards for positive reinforcement.
Yes. For ADHD-related sleep problems, consider activities that help wind down the brain. Good examples included guided meditation, listening to music, and evening yoga. Your teenager should avoid high-intensity exercise and screens before bed.
No. Although physical activities can trigger significant improvements, they should be used as complementary interventions to medications, not substitutes. Always consult your teenager’s medical provider for guidance.