How to Organize and Schedule Your ADHD Child
Tips to Help Attention Deficit Children Manage School
Apr 22, 2009
The reality is that there is only so much time in a day and only so much attention that can be put toward tasks. As Larry Tracey notes in his post Leadership Tip 17: Invest Attention Units Wisely, dated February 5, 2009 on the Youth4Youth website, individuals only have a certain amount of “attention units.” He defines these as the ability to remember and keep information in the forefront of the mind. People only have the capacity to hold a certain amount of information. For many, especially the ADHD child, a lot of important information gets lost or misplaced as a result of disorganization.
The solution is to teach your child how to use those attention units to become organized, which will allow him to reach his maximum potential each day. Start with these basic tips to help your child stay focused and on task.
Organize the Essentials
Set up an area for your child to place every day essentials such as house keys, cell phone, iPod, school shoes and back pack. Each item should have a specific spot to be placed and stored as soon as he enters the house.
This will make it easier for him to leave the house each morning as each daily essential will be contained in one, specific area. The closer to the exit of the house and the easier the access the better.
Organize by Using a Planner
A planner is a necessary tool for most people. A child with ADHD can benefit greatly by using one. Unfortunately, this presents a challenge because, by nature, the ADHD child is disorganized. This can make it difficult to find the planner or to even use it.
Partner with your child’s teacher to help him to accomplish using the planner at school. Establish a protocol where the teacher reviews the book at the end of the day and signs it.
Plan and Schedule Homework Time
Set a time each day to review the planner together. Ideally, this can occur early enough in the afternoon to allow you to plan out the rest of the day and week based on the given assignments. As per the Teacher’s Guide [Cambridge Educational,2005], published as an adjunct to the video program, “Get Organized! Managing School, Life and Fun” [2006], organized people plan ahead for success by ordering their time, goals and activities.
Make sure that your child has a work station that has the supplies he will need to complete his work without interruption.
Generally, children with ADHD require breaks in between assignments. When scheduling the afternoon, make sure to include breaks. This will give your child a goal and help him to stay on task.
Prepare for the Next Day the Night Before
Have your child review and prepare for the morning the night before. An easy way to do this is to have a checklist. Include all of the things that need to be ready for the morning; i.e.; clothes, lunch packed, phone charged etc. Make sure that this is taken care of before your child is allowed to watch TV, or whatever his down time activities may be. This will serve as motivation for him to complete these tasks.
It is important to follow this routine everyday. According to Tracey, it takes thirty consecutive days before something becomes a part of the unconscious habit pattern. Before long, your child will be able to focus his attention units on setting and achieving goals. This will give him the self-confidence to reach his full potential!
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