Build the first morning routine.

Mornings with an ADHD child can feel like herding a very fast, very distracted cat. The fix isn't more shouting — it's one visible list, broken into tiny wins. That's what a KidsFocus routine is.

The Golden Rule of ADHD routines

Build it in 4 steps

1. Open "Routines" → "Add new" → "Morning". Pick a start time (usually 7:00am). Set an end time (usually 8:30am). This is the window — not a countdown.
2. Add 3 to 5 tasks. That's it. Not 12. Not 8. Three to five. Start simple: "Get dressed", "Eat breakfast", "Brush teeth", "Pack school bag", "Shoes on".
3. Add a picture or emoji to each task. ADHD kids process pictures faster than words. Tap the 🎨 icon next to any task and pick one. Under-8s: use emojis. Over-8s: let them choose their own.
4. Set the "big win" reward for finishing. When all tasks are ticked, the app plays a celebration and gives 1 Focus Star. That's the dopamine hit. We'll build on this in Guide 3.

What a good starter routine looks like

The first-week trap to avoid

Parents often add tasks like "be ready by 8am" or "don't dawdle". These aren't tasks — they're outcomes. KidsFocus tasks must be one physical action a child can do and tick off. If it can't be ticked, it doesn't belong on the list.

Bad tasks ❌

• "Get ready for school" (too big)
• "Don't be slow" (not a task)
• "Be nice to your sister" (not a task, and definitely not measurable)

Good tasks ✅

• "Put on school uniform"
• "Eat 3 spoonfuls of cereal"
• "Put lunchbox in bag"

What happens tomorrow morning

At 7am, KidsFocus opens on your child's device with their first task highlighted. As they tick each one, the next appears — with the earlier ones dimmed. The brain sees progress, not a wall of undone stuff. That's the magic.