PRESENTS
THE ADHD
ADVENTURE
ADVENTURE
LUKE
⚓
MISTY
Join treasure hunters Luke and Misty as they discover clues about ADHD and how amazing their brains really are!
Join treasure hunters Luke and Misty as they discover clues about ADHD and how amazing their brains really are!
Navigator, map-reader, and expert at spotting things others miss. Has ADHD.
Bold explorer, fearless problem-solver, and fast thinker. Has ADHD.
Dear Reader,
We are treasure hunters Luke and Misty, and we both have ADHD. Our mission is to dig up everything we can find out about ADHD and how it affects children like you.
But every great treasure hunter needs a crew — and we want you to join ours! Our one rule? You've got to have ADHD too. Are you in?
Some people don't really understand what ADHD is. When you learn about it, you might say "that sounds exactly like me!" or "I do that all the time!" It can help you see that some of the things you do are connected to your ADHD.
This adventure is also about learning about you — what you're brilliant at and what you might find tricky. Remember, nobody is perfect — we can all improve at something. The important thing is to be willing to try.
ADHD can make some things harder and other things much easier. The brilliant news is that once you understand it, you can work out what to do about it.
We've put together a treasure chest full of clues. Follow them, solve the puzzles, and you'll discover everything you need to know about ADHD — and about your incredible self.
Let's go! ⚓
Collect all 12 clues as you go!
Your brain is a brilliant machine inside your head. It helps you pay attention, remember things, and manage your feelings. It can even do several things at the same time — brains are incredibly complicated!
Our brains can also help us solve problems and work out how we're feeling. This is called 'managing your emotions'.
Our brains can feel busy sometimes, because we can feel BIG emotions.... like happy, angry, scared, silly, and everything in between!
But with ADHD, some of those things can take a little longer. You can pay attention and manage your emotions — it might just take you a bit more time than others. Think of it like a treasure map with a longer route to the X. You still find the treasure — it just takes a different path!
Look around you. Some people are tall, some short. Some wear glasses, some don't. Being different is completely normal. ADHD is just another kind of difference.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — but those words don't define you. You are made up of so many amazing qualities!
Having ADHD doesn't make you less clever or less talented than your friends. 1 in 20 children have ADHD, so there's likely someone in every class just like you.
Plus, superstars like Ryan Reynolds (actor), Billie Eilish (Singer), Serena Williams (Tennis superstar), Mr Beast and KSI all have ADHD!
ADHD isn't a bad thing or a good thing — it's just a different thing. And you're different from every other person with ADHD too, because everyone is their own unique self.
For example: Amazing, Daring, Helpful, Determined — try your own!
Now try it with your own name — write each letter and find a brilliant word for each one!
Every great treasure hunter knows their own strengths. Do you know what you're good at? Understanding yourself — your brilliance AND the things you find tricky — is a superpower in itself.
1 I'm still learning this 2 I'm okay at this 3 I'm amazing at this!
Have we missed anything? Add your own:
Ask a family member, friend, or teacher to write some things they think you are brilliant at in the box below. You might be surprised!
Write anything else you'd like to work on:
Getting a diagnosis of ADHD can feel scary. You might not understand it all, and you might worry about what others will say. That's completely normal! We felt all of those things too.
You might get frustrated when you don't succeed at something at school. Everyone feels like that sometimes. But you can overcome these feelings by thinking about a time when you got better at something by practising and not giving up. That's called Resilience — and treasure hunters need it in buckets!
Think of something you weren't great at when you first tried it — but now you're much better. Write about it (or draw a picture if you have paper!):
Feelings don't just live in your head — you can feel them all over your body! Can you remember a time you felt really excited? Maybe finding out about a trip or receiving a brilliant gift?
These are called triggers — situations that we know can make us feel uncomfortable. The more we know our triggers, the more we can prepare for them.
Can you add your own?
With ADHD, things can happen very quickly. When we're angry or upset, we can act before we think. That's okay — we just need some tools to help us pause.
Write down 2–3 that you'd like to try next time you feel a big feeling:
Here are some more tricks from Luke & Misty's toolkit:
This means imagining how someone else feels — pausing before you act or speak to think: what might they be feeling right now? This is called Empathy. It helps us have better friendships and feel more confident with other people.
You've learned so much about emotions — how they feel in your body, how they can make us act fast, how to calm ourselves down, and how to understand others. That's a whole chest full of gold right there!
Go and take a well-earned break... then come back for Chapter 4!
Have people told you that you have trouble paying attention — but sometimes you get SO focused on one thing that you forget everything around you? That's called hyperfocus, and lots of people with ADHD experience it. It happens when you're doing something you love and find really interesting. It's not a problem — it's a strength when you aim it in the right direction!
Which activities can you pay attention to for ages without getting distracted? Write a list:
What activities are most likely to make you feel bored? Write them down:
When your brain is running too fast, try this:
You can let your teacher know about this technique so they understand when you're resetting!
Thinking Games: Crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, card games like Memory or Uno. Picture puzzles where you spot things that are "wrong" are brilliant.
Storytelling Games: One person says "I packed my bag and found a compass." The next person repeats it and adds something: "I packed my bag and found a compass and a torch." Keep going until someone forgets!
Captain Says: Like Simon Says — one person is the Captain and gives instructions. If they don't say "Captain says" first, you shouldn't do it. Anyone who does is out!
What other games do you play that help you focus and pay attention? Write them here:
Think about a ship. It needs an anchor and a good hull to stay on course. Every great explorer needs strong foundations too. When you have ADHD, having a structure and daily routine can make a huge difference to your happiness and success.
What goes in your school bag every day? Write everything here so you never forget:
Draw or write every morning task (get dressed, eat breakfast, pack bag, brush teeth...) and put it on your wall. Tick each one off — it's like completing a treasure quest every morning!
Keep track of your sleep for a week. Write what you tried to help you drift off, and what time you fell asleep and woke up:
| Day | What I did to help me sleep | Bedtime | Wake time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | |||
| Tue | |||
| Wed | |||
| Thu | |||
| Fri | |||
| Sat | |||
| Sun |
With ADHD, it can be easy to forget what homework we have or when it's due. Do you ever get to school and realise you've forgotten something — or find it hard to even get started on a task?
Fill in your homework below when your teacher sets it. Knowing what's coming means you can plan when to do it — like plotting your route before you set sail!
| Subject | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | |||||
| Maths | |||||
| Science | |||||
| Other |
Sometimes a big piece of work feels overwhelming — like staring at a huge ocean with no map. You don't know where to start, so you do nothing. Or you spend so long trying to start that you run out of time.
Try the ABC Plan: Always Break into Chunks. Every treasure map gets broken into smaller sections — X marks the spot at the end, but you follow it step by step.
What is the big thing you need to complete?
What are the smaller parts? Group similar ideas together.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Put your ideas in the order you'll tackle them. Start with the most important!
All 12 clues found! 🏆
You have worked through all twelve clues and we hope you enjoyed every activity. You've achieved something really special.
Write your three biggest discoveries from this adventure:
📨 Parents — there's a message in a bottle for you!
