Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If you’re always in the car honking while your child is still looking for their shoes and running late for school, you are not alone. What looks like “they don’t care” is often time blindness, a brain-based struggle that is very common in kids with ADHD and executive functioning issues.
In this episode, I break down what time blindness is, how it connects to the prefrontal cortex, and why your child isn’t doing this on purpose. We’ll talk about real-world problems like missed buses, late homework, and endless arguments—and the practical tools that fit with Regulation First Parenting™ so you can calm the brain first and then teach skills.
How do I stop yelling when my child is always late, no matter what I do?
First, I want you to hear this: you aren’t a bad parent and your child isn’t lazy. Your child’s frontal lobe and working memory make it hard to feel the passing of time, so five minutes can feel like thirty seconds.
- Name the problem: “This is time blindness, not disrespect.”
- Have one “hustle” tone of voice you save for truly time-sensitive moments.
- Use external supports like timers, visual schedules, and alarms instead of relying on your child’s internal clock.
- Debrief later, when everyone is calm, instead of lecturing in the car.
🗣️ “You can’t shame a dysregulated, time-blind brain into behaving—you have to regulate it and then teach it.” — Dr. Roseann
Why can my child hyperfocus on games for hours but can’t finish a 20-minute assignment?
That’s classic ADHD and time blindness. When the brain is deeply engaged, your child can lose all sense of time. When a task is boring or hard, time feels extra confusing and uncomfortable.
- Talk about brain, not blame: “Your brain loses track of time when you’re super focused.”
- Use time blocks: 10–15 minute work periods, then a short break.
- Estimate together: Ask, “How long do you think this will take?” then time it and compare.
- Celebrate accurate guesses, not just completion, to build that internal sense of time.
What can I do when school consequences aren’t fixing the lateness or missing work?
Consequences don’t build skills. Kids with time blindness need structure, collaboration, and repetition, not more shame.
- Create after-school rituals: snack, movement, then homework at a set time.
- Loop in teachers to use consistent tools like posted schedules or chunked assignments.
- Use simple routines to free up working memory so more “brain space” is left for time awareness and task completion.
When your child is dysregulated, it’s easy to feel helpless. The Regulation Rescue Kit gives you the scripts and strategies you need to stay grounded and in control. Become a Dysregulation Insider VIP at www.drroseann.com/newsletter and get your free kit today.
Takeaway & What’s Next
Time blindness is a real, brain-based challenge—especially for kids with ADHD—and it shows up in school, relationships, and family routines. When we calm the nervous system, add structure, and teach time estimation step by step, kids can build real skills and confidence. For more support with school-day struggles, listen next to the 5 Best Strategies for Managing ADHD in the Classroom.
FAQs
How do I know if my child’s time blindness is part of ADHD?
If your child has ongoing trouble judging time, is often late, loses track of steps, and also struggles with focus, planning, or impulsivity, ADHD and executive functioning issues may be involved. A qualified professional can help you sort out ADHD, emotional dysregulation, and other factors.
Can time blindness improve or is this “just who they are”?
Time blindness is a real challenge, but it’s also a teachable skill. With practice, tools, and Regulation First Parenting™, kids and teens can get better at estimating, planning, and showing up on time—and you can feel more hopeful and less stuck.
What if I struggle with time blindness too?
You and your child are actually great teammates here. Share your own strategies, practice time estimates together, and remember that growing these skills is a family project, not a character test.
Feel like you’ve tried everything and still don’t have answers?
The Solution Matcher helps you find the best starting point based on your child’s symptoms, behaviors, and history. It’s fast, free, and based on decades of clinical expertise.
Get your personalized plan now at www.drroseann.com/help
