Children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) have a tendency to be disorganized. Your child may drop his backpack in the first vacant spot he finds after coming in the door. Perhaps he leaves his dirty clothing on the floor or toys scattered in his room. He may have a tendency to misplace or lose things on a regular basis. Getting your child organized and helping him stay there is not difficult. By following these ten suggestions, your child will learn simple techniques to keep his world orderly and arranged for his comfort and convenience.
1. Help Your Child get Organized.
All journeys begin with the first step. Set aside a day to arrange his room in an orderly manner. Working together, find ways to make his belongings easily accessible. Remember the old adage: A place for everything and everything in it’s place.
2. Make a List or Chart for Daily Activities and Chores.
Place a chart or list in a conspicuous place. Go over it with your child and include important daily chores and activities. Have him check off each one as they are completed. To encourage him to use the chart, offer a reward at the end of the week for a completed chart or list.
3. Use Tools to Assist Your Child in Keeping His Belongings in Order.
Hanging shelving units at eye level for books, school supplies, etc. will help keep his work uncluttered and easily identifiable. Purchase clear plastic containers with lids to store his personal belongings, toys, and games. Keep like items together and stored in the same area. Use a cylindrical container for pencils and pens, likewise for paintbrushes and crayons. Label containers for easy identity.
4. Keep a Clothes Hamper in His Bedroom.
Having a place close by to put his dirty clothes makes your child more apt to use it. He will probably utilize it as a basketball hoop and his clothes as the ball; that’s okay, he is using it.
5. Keep Items Used Daily in an Accessible Location.
An area just for backpacks, notebooks, anything your child uses everyday should be within reach and in a conspicuous area. Game boys, cartridges, Ipods, ear buds and MP3 players should be kept together in a clear plastic container, labeled for easy identification.
6. Teach Your Child to Think in Questions.
Encourage your child regularly to take a few moments before leaving for school, completing a project, or tidying up after playing to stop and ask himself, do I have all I need, did I put everything up, is everything where it is supposed to be? An ADHD child’s thought process is easily disrupted, teaching him to stop, stay on track, and mentally picture what he must do to remember everything is a great tasking tool.
7. Plan Ahead for Assignments, School Activities, and Outings.
Arranging ahead of time for the next day’s endeavors, will help your child learn to prepare. It is a valuable lesson to teach him to lay out the necessary equipment, supplies, or completed papers in a designated area.
8. Check the Backpack Regularly.
Keeping a neat backpack with papers, notebooks, and folders in order, will help your student feel more organized at school. Inventory for needed supplies and remind him to stock his backpack with pencils, pens, and paper as they run low.
9. Stay Focused on the Task at Hand.
Giving your child an allotted time to finish a clean up chore will help him stay focused on getting the job done. Reminding him to give his whole attention to the task so he can complete it in a timely manner will help him to stay focused on what he is trying to accomplish.
10. Stress the Importance of Always Finishing the Job.
A child with ADHD is easily distracted. Sending him a clear message of the value of finishing a task will be a strong lesson he can use throughout life.