ADHD and Anxiety Tools We Recommend
ADHD and anxiety tools are practical, everyday items that support children with attention, sensory or emotional regulation needs at home and at school. This page lists the specific tools Dr George Efraem, Chartered Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist, regularly recommends to families in Limassol, Cyprus and beyond, drawn from his own clinical practice, timers, sensory tools, planners and reward systems that make daily routines easier for children with ADHD and anxiety.
Affiliate disclosure: Empathic Psychologist is a participant in the Amazon Associates Programme, and most of the Amazon links on this page may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Not every recommendation on this page is an affiliate link, a small number, such as app recommendations, are included because they are genuinely useful, with no commercial relationship involved. Dr George Efraem only lists products he genuinely recommends in practice.
A note on this list: These are products generally recognised through research and shared clinical experience as helpful when used alongside appropriate therapeutic guidance for ADHD and anxiety-related difficulties, though results vary from child to child. This list is not exhaustive, it reflects a selection currently available online, and equivalent items of similar or better quality may be available from other retailers or sourced independently, we encourage families to compare options rather than treat this list as the only route to any given item. Each product should be used in line with any therapeutic recommendation you have received and in accordance with the manufacturer's own safety instructions, particularly regarding age suitability, supervision and choking hazards for younger children. Empathic Psychologist cannot be held responsible for injury, mishandling or misuse of any product listed here.
Many parents ask where to find the everyday tools that make life easier for a child with ADHD or anxiety: timers that actually work, fidgets that help rather than distract, and practical ways to manage screen time without a daily battle. Rather than leaving families to search and compare products alone, this page brings together items Dr George Efraem already recommends during sessions, so finding the right tool takes minutes rather than hours.
The Research Behind This Page
The categories on this page reflect well-documented patterns in ADHD research and clinical guidance, not personal preference. Difficulty sensing and managing time, tracking assignments, and organising materials are consistently reported challenges for children with ADHD, recognised directly within DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for the condition and confirmed in studies published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry linking working memory deficits to organisational impairment.
As clinical psychologist Russell Barkley, one of the most widely cited researchers in the field, has put it,
"ADHD is a disorder of performance of doing what you know rather than knowing what to do."
In practice, this means the aids most likely to help are the ones that make time, tasks and consequences external and visible, rather than relying on a child simply remembering a rule, which is the approach behind the timers, visual schedules and reward systems listed on this page. Structured organisational skills training, the same approach behind the planners, calendars and chore boards listed here, is a behavioural intervention shown through research (including reviews of ADHD treatment evidence published in Neuropediatrics) to have positive effects on children's organisational functioning, homework completion and family relationships. Movement breaks, visual timers, and consequences that are frequent and clearly visible are also recommended in clinical guidance for ADHD and in widely used classroom accommodation guidelines.
Timers and Visual Time Management
Time can feel abstract to a child with ADHD. Making it visible and concrete supports transitions, homework and daily routines.
Best suited for:
Children who need a quiet, portable timer for focused desk work or time away from home, without an audible alarm drawing attention.
Description:
A compact, silent visual timer with a rainbow display and a protective case, well suited to a desk or backpack. The alarm can be switched to mute or to a gentle ring, and a low battery indicator means it will not stop working mid task without warning.
Visual Timer with Pause Function
Best suited for:
Children who need to stop for a break mid-task without losing their place or feeling that the countdown has restarted against them.
Description:
The pause button sets this timer apart, useful for a child who needs to stop for a break without losing progress or restarting the countdown from the beginning. Three volume levels and a light indicator make it flexible enough to double as a Pomodoro timer, an egg timer, or a general daily task timer.
Shower Timer, Suction Cup, Battery-Free
Best suited for: Children who lose track of time in the shower, giving a clear, low-conflict signal that it is time to finish without a parent having to intervene.
Description:
Sticks to the shower tile and starts with a simple twist, needing no batteries. A practical option for a child who finds it hard to judge how long they have been in the shower, without turning the routine into a negotiation.
Best suited for:
Children who move between rooms during the day, since it needs no batteries or charging and is always ready to pick up and use.
Description:
A larger, fully mechanical timer that needs no batteries, so it is always ready to use. Two magnetic panels and foldable legs mean it can sit on a desk, attach to a fridge or whiteboard, or hang on a wall, useful for a family that wants the same timer to move between the kitchen, the homework table and the classroom.
Best suited for:
Building a short, low-pressure routine such as tooth-brushing, where a fixed two-minute block helps a child know when they are finished.
Description:
A pair of two-minute timers with a suction cup base that sticks to a mirror or tile, designed specifically for tooth-brushing. The unbreakable acrylic casing and small size make it easy to build into a bathroom routine without supervision.
Manual Mechanical Tomato Timer
Best suited for:
Structuring reading or homework into short, manageable blocks with a clear break in between, without needing a phone or screen nearby.
Description:
A simple wind-up timer with no batteries needed, well suited to structuring reading sessions in short blocks, for example twenty-five minutes of reading followed by a five-minute break to stand up and move. The clear mechanical alarm marks the end of each block, and winding it back to the next session becomes part of the routine itself.
Digital Countdown and Stopwatch Timer
Best suited for:
Children who need longer, uninterrupted work blocks, or who find it helpful to see exactly how long a task actually took them.
Description:
This one goes beyond a standard hour, with a digital display offering both a countdown and a stopwatch mode. It is designed with calming corners and quieter study spaces in mind, a good option for a child who needs a longer working block or benefits from timing how long a task actually takes.
Best suited for:
Matching the timer to the length of the task itself, useful for a child who needs a consistent visual cue across many different daily routines.
Description:
A set of six timers covering one, two, five, ten, fifteen and thirty minutes, useful for matching the timer to the length of the task rather than using the same duration for everything. The range works well across homework, chores, turn-taking games and tidy-up routines.
Best suited for:
Children who find it hard to interpret numbers on a clock quickly, since the colour change gives an immediate, easy-to-read signal of how much time is left.
Description:
Uses green, yellow and red lights alongside a digital countdown, so a child can read how much time is left through colour rather than needing to interpret numbers. Includes a child safety lock to prevent the timer being changed mid-task, adjustable volume and alert tones, and a memory function that saves the last countdown so it does not need resetting each time.
Focus and On-Task Support
For a child who finds it hard to notice when their attention has drifted, these tools provide a gentle, private prompt rather than a public reminder from an adult.
Best suited for:
Children who need a private, non-disruptive prompt to check back in with a task, without a spoken reminder from an adult drawing attention to them.
Description:
A silent, vibration-only wristband that can be set to repeat at chosen intervals throughout the day, for example every thirty or sixty minutes, functioning as a private, non-disruptive check-in prompt rather than a spoken reminder. It also supports up to fifteen individually scheduled alarms, useful for building a full daily routine around it rather than relying on a single reminder.
Task sequencing app: Brili
Best suited for:
A child who needs a morning, homework or bedtime routine broken into clear visual steps they can follow independently, without repeated verbal prompting from a parent.
Description:
A routine app built specifically for ADHD and neurodivergent families, turning a routine into a series of timed visual steps with built-in flexibility for days that do not go to plan. Available for iOS and Android, search "Brili" on the App Store or Google Play, or visit brili.com to compare the family and adult versions before downloading.
Location-Based Reminders
Best suited for:
A child who forgets things at a fixed point in their routine, such as packing a book bag on arriving home from school, since the reminder appears exactly when and where it is needed rather than at a set time.
Description:
Both iPhone and Android include this feature built in at no extra cost, no separate app download needed. On iPhone, use the Reminders app and choose "when I arrive" or "when I leave" a chosen location. On Android, the same is available through Google Assistant or Google Keep. For more advanced options, search "location reminder" on the App Store or Google Play.
Calendars, Planners and To-Do Lists
Consistent structure and visible progress help a child build routines and stay motivated.
Weekly and Daily Visual Schedule
Best suited for:
A family wanting one comprehensive schedule covering the whole week, reducing the number of verbal reminders needed for daily transitions.
Description:
A wall planner with 188 magnets covering morning, daily and evening routines, from brushing teeth to homework and free time. Each icon can be personalised with a child's name, and the set includes a carry bag, useful for a family wanting one comprehensive schedule that covers the whole week at a glance
Best suited for:
Tracking multiple children's chores on one shared board with a simple, visible points system.
Description:
A large dry-erase board for tracking daily and weekly chores with a simple points system, written directly onto the board and wiped clean when the week resets. Twelve colourful markers are included, useful for a family tracking multiple children's chores on one shared board.
Smart Touchscreen Family Calendar
Best suited for:
A family already managing routines digitally, wanting one shared view of chores, meals and appointments across everyone's devices.
Description:
A digital alternative to a paper planner, syncing with Google Calendar, iCloud and Outlook so the whole family sees the same updates in real time. It combines a shared calendar, chore chart, meal planner and to-do list in one screen, a good fit for a family that already manages routines digitally rather than on paper
Best suited for:
A child who benefits from a physical action, sliding a marker, to mark a task as done, rather than writing or erasing.
Description:
A set of four boards, each with a sliding marker rather than a marker pen, so a child physically moves a task from to-do to done. Reusable with blank paper inserts for writing custom tasks, useful for giving each child in the family their own board rather than sharing one.
Magnetic Visual Schedule and Reward Chart
Best suited for:
A family wanting both a daily schedule and a reward chart in one portable, foldable board, useful for children with ADHD or additional needs.
Description:
A folding, reversible board with 189 magnets, one side laid out as a morning, afternoon and evening schedule, the other as a star reward chart. The set includes additional icons for behavioural support and autism-specific routines, and folds flat for storage or travel.
Reward and Token Systems
A reward system does not need to be complicated to work well, what matters is that expectations are clear and progress can actually be seen.
Best suited for:
Introducing the idea of earning and spending rewards through a simple starter kit, useful for a first attempt at a token economy at home.
Description:
A play money system where a child earns notes for completing tasks and spends them on agreed rewards, pre-filled with an example chart to start with straight away. Introduces the idea of earning, saving and spending alongside the behavioural goal.
Star Reward Jars with Wooden Tokens
Best suited for:
A younger child who benefits from a tactile, visual sense of progress building up over the day.
Description:
A tactile alternative to a paper chart, a child physically drops a wooden star into a jar for each positive behaviour and can see the jar fill up over time. Includes name tags, useful for tracking more than one child's progress side by side.
Best suited for:
Running the same reward system across a whole family long term, without needing to print or replace notes as the system continues.
Description:
A larger version of the same play money concept, with a wallet included and enough pieces to run the system across a whole family rather than one child. Better suited to a household wanting to keep the system running long term without needing to print more notes.
Best suited for:
A child who responds best to working towards one clear, single goal at a time rather than a full weekly system.
Description:
A simple, single-focus dry-erase chart with five stars leading to one customisable goal, better suited to a child who responds best to working towards one clear target at a time rather than a full weekly system. Magnetic and easy to reset for the next goal.
Study Aids
A quiet, visually contained workspace can make a real difference for a child who is easily distracted by movement or activity nearby.
Best suited for:
Reducing visual distractions during homework at a shared table or desk, useful for a child who is easily drawn off task by nearby movement.
Description:
A tri-fold screen that stands on a desk to block visual distractions during homework or focused tasks, folding flat for storage when not in use. Waterproof and easy to wipe clean, useful for a shared table or a sibling's desk nearby.
Best suited for:
Children who fidget and struggle to sit still during homework or classroom seating, needing constant gentle movement without leaving the seat.
Description:
An inflatable seat cushion that adds constant, gentle movement while a child sits, helping with the fidgeting and restlessness that can make homework or classroom seating difficult. Comes with its own pump, and doubles as a simple balance or core exercise tool outside of seated tasks.
Waterproof Privacy Board Desk Divider
Best suited for:
A classroom or family needing enough privacy boards for more than one child at once, each working at their own station.
Description:
A larger set of privacy dividers in a range of playful patterns, useful for a classroom setting or a family wanting enough boards for more than one child at once. Sturdy construction that stands securely on its own and folds flat when not needed.
Trampolines and Movement Breaks
A short burst of physical movement can help reset a child's attention and release built-up energy between tasks, whether that is a homework break at the desk or a longer reset after school.
Best suited for:
A short movement break for a younger child in a smaller space, to reset attention between tasks.
Description:
A compact, enclosed trampoline with a foam safety handle, sized for younger children and smaller spaces. Comes with a set of soft play balls, useful as a short movement break built into a games corner.
Best suited for:
A family wanting a quieter, sturdier option that suits an older or bigger child, or lasts longer as a child grows.
Description:
Uses a quiet bungee cord system instead of metal springs, reducing noise and pinch risk, with a padded safety cover and an adjustable foam handle. Two size options and a higher weight capacity than most compact trampolines mean it can suit an older or bigger child, or last longer as a child grows.
Best suited for:
Outdoor movement breaks for a younger child, given the waterproof mat and simple foldable design.
Description:
A simple, foldable trampoline with a foam handle and a non-slip, waterproof mat, suited to indoor or outdoor use for children aged two to six. A practical option for a garden or balcony as well as indoors.
Anxiety Tools
Anxiety in children often responds well to a simple, concrete ritual, something physical to do with a worry, rather than being asked to simply stop thinking about it. Read more about how we support children with anxiety.
Best suited for:
A child who benefits from a concrete, physical ritual for handing over a worry at bedtime, rather than being asked to simply stop thinking about it.
Description: Handmade in Guatemala, six small dolls come with their own pouch and the traditional worry doll story, where a child tells a doll their worry and places it under their pillow overnight. A simple, low-pressure way to externalise a worry into a physical object and hand it over for the night.
Organisation and Daily Routine Aids
Difficulty managing materials, such as packing bags, tracking papers and keeping a tidy workspace, is one of the most consistently reported challenges for children with ADHD. Small changes to how a home is organised can reduce daily friction and build independence.
Best suited for:
Children who need a simple, obvious system for putting things away, since each bin is clear and can be seen through, removing the guesswork of where something belongs.
Description:
Six clear, seven-quart storage boxes with buckle lids and carry handles, designed to stack neatly on a shelf or in a cupboard. Being able to see what is inside without opening each one reduces the number of steps between a child finishing an activity and tidying it away.
Visual Routine Chart with Recordable Speech Buttons
Best suited for:
A child who benefits from combining a visual step-by-step routine with a consistent spoken prompt, reducing how often an adult needs to repeat the same instruction.
Description:
A set of five visual routine charts covering everyday tasks such as toileting, brushing teeth and handwashing, paired with four buttons that can be recorded with a personalised verbal prompt for each step. Useful for a child who benefits from combining a visual step-by-step chart with a consistent spoken cue, reducing how often an adult needs to repeat the same instruction.
Best suited for:
Keeping small, easily lost items such as hair accessories, small toys or stationery in a fixed, visible place rather than loose in a drawer.
Description:
A set of clear plastic trays in four sizes, designed to fit inside a drawer and divide it into smaller sections. Useful anywhere small items tend to go missing, a bedroom, bathroom or desk drawer, since everything has one obvious spot rather than being tipped in together.
Best suited for:
Removing the daily negotiation over screen time, since the device is physically locked away for a set period rather than relying on a rule being followed.
Description:
A programmable locking container that keeps a phone, tablet or games controller inaccessible for a chosen period of time, with no way to open it early once the timer has started. Useful for a family that finds screen time endings turn into an argument, since the limit is enforced by the container itself rather than by a parent repeating themselves.
Sensory (Fidjets) and Movement Tools
Movement and sensory input can help a child stay regulated and focused rather than distracted. A good fidget keeps a child alert, works quietly in the background of their attention, and does not disturb the people around them.
Best suited for:
Children who fidget with their hands during seated work, giving them something textured and quiet to touch without needing to hold it constantly.
Description:
Textured silicone strips with a suction cup on the back, so they can stick to a desk, tablet or car window rather than needing to be held constantly. Quiet and reusable, useful for a classroom desk or a car journey.
Best suited for:
Working out which type of fidget actually helps a particular child, since it includes several different styles in one set to try.
Description:
A bundle of worry stones, spinner rings and fidget spinners in one storage box, useful for finding out which type of fidget actually works for a particular child before committing to just one. Also a practical option for stocking a therapy room or classroom with variety.
Realistic Butter Stick Squishy Fidget
Best suited for:
Children who respond to squeeze-and-release pressure, offering deep sensory input rather than texture or spinning.
Description:
A soft, slow-rising foam toy that gradually returns to shape after being squeezed, offering a different kind of sensory feedback to the strips and rings above, more about deep pressure and watching the slow rebound than texture or spinning. Lightweight and pocket-sized, easy to keep in a bag for use away from home.
Best suited for:
Stocking a classroom or waiting area with a simple, low-cost fidget several children can use at once without explanation.
Description:
Flat, ridged silicone strips shaped like a ruler, simple enough to pass between children without explanation. A good low-cost option for stocking a classroom or waiting area with several at once.
Sun Moon Star Fidget Spinner Ring
Best suited for:
Older children and teenagers who want a fidget that stays on their hand, so it is never missing or left behind when needed.
Description:
A stainless steel ring with a smoothly spinning outer band, worn like jewellery so it is always available without needing to be found or held onto. Sized for older children and teenagers rather than young children.
Best suited for:
Quiet classroom settings, since it makes no noise and fits easily into a pocket between uses.
Description:
A bead moves through a clear gel-filled channel when pressed or slid between the fingers, with a textured surface on the reverse for additional tactile input. Silent and pocket-sized, marketed specifically for quiet classroom use, useful where noise needs to stay to a minimum.
Best suited for:
Children who fidget through movement rather than texture alone, needing something to twist, bend or pull.
Description:
Coiled, textured sticks that twist, bend and stretch, offering more active movement than a flat strip. Suited to a child who fidgets through motion rather than texture alone.
Best suited for:
The same need as the ring above, a teenager who wants a fidget that stays worn rather than carried, with a colour-changing design.
Description:
The same spinning ring design with a colour-changing finish, available across a wider size range. Like the option above, its main advantage is that it stays worn, so it never gets left behind or lost.
Best suited for: A child who needs a longer, open-ended sensory activity rather than a quick single-purpose fidget, useful during a calming break, and also used as part of OCD-related anxiety work.
Description:
Pliable, non-toxic beeswax sheets that soften with warmth from the hands, offering an open-ended tactile activity rather than a single-purpose fidget. Sculpting and shaping gives restless hands something absorbing to do, and unlike modelling clay, the wax stays workable and can be reused rather than drying out.
Books and Guided Workbooks
Therapeutic Exercises for Children: Guided Self-Discovery Using Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques, by Robert D. Friedberg, Barbara A. Friedberg and Rebecca J. Friedberg
Best suited for:
A child already in therapy for anxiety or low mood, as a way of continuing structured cognitive behavioural exercises between sessions.
Description:
A workbook of eighteen structured exercises for children aged around eight to eleven experiencing anxiety or low mood, built around cognitive behavioural therapy. It is designed to be used alongside a therapist rather than worked through independently, making it most useful once a child has already started therapy, as a way of continuing the work between sessions.
Looking for Further Support?
A product can make daily life easier, but it works best alongside the right professional support. If you would like guidance on which aids might suit your child, or wish to discuss an ADHD assessment, contact us to arrange a free 15-minute introductory call.
Book a free 15-minute call · Learn about our ADHD assessment and therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools help children with ADHD stay focused?
Tools that make time, tasks and routines more visible, such as visual timers, movement breaks, planners and structured reward systems, are commonly used alongside therapy and school support. This page groups the specific tools Dr George Efraem recommends in practice by category, so parents can find the right type for their child's situation.
Do sensory toys and fidgets actually help children with ADHD?
Sensory tools are widely used alongside behavioural and therapeutic support, though how well a particular item works varies from child to child. The fidgets, movement tools and sensory items on this page are ones Dr George Efraem recommends based on research evidence and what has worked well for families in his own practice, intended to sit alongside professional guidance rather than replace it.
Why does Empathic Psychologist recommend these products?
Every item on this page is one that Dr George Efraem already recommends to families during clinical sessions. The aim is to save parents time, not to promote products the practice has not used in practice.
Is there research behind these recommendations?
Yes. Difficulty managing time, tracking tasks and organising materials is a well documented feature of ADHD, reflected in DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and in peer-reviewed research on working memory and organisational skills. The categories on this page are grounded in this research and in established clinical guidance, not personal preference alone.
Does Empathic Psychologist earn a commission from these links?
Most of the Amazon links on this page may earn Empathic Psychologist a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. A small number of recommendations, such as app suggestions, involve no commercial relationship at all. Commission never influences which products are listed.
Is this the complete list of helpful products, or are there other options?
No. This page reflects a selection of products currently available online that Dr George Efraem recommends in practice, not every suitable product on the market. Equivalent items of similar or better quality may be available from other retailers, and families are welcome to compare options rather than treat this list as the only route to any particular item.
Are these products safe to use, and who is responsible if something goes wrong?
Each product should be used in line with any therapeutic recommendation you have received and in accordance with the manufacturer's own safety instructions, particularly around age suitability and supervision for younger children. Empathic Psychologist cannot be held responsible for injury, mishandling or misuse of any product listed here.
Are these products a substitute for a diagnosis or therapy?
No. These are practical aids to support daily life alongside professional support, not a replacement for assessment or therapy. If you are concerned about your child, please get in touch to discuss an assessment.
Will more resources be added to this page?
Yes. This page will expand over time to include resources for anxiety and other areas, along with recommended books for parents and children.
Content is grounded in peer-reviewed research and evidence-based clinical guidelines. Sources available on request.