Organizational Hints For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Hint 1.
Have a checklist of what needs to be taken to school.
This can be in written or picture form.
This needs to include all books needed at school that day as well as homework and any work that needs to be handed in that day.
This could be stuck on the fridge or onto the child's school bag.
Hint 2.
Have a checklist of what needs to be taken home from school.
This can also be in written or picture form.
This could be stuck on the child's desk or onto the child's school bag.
Hint 3.
Have three different coloured folders to help keep work organised, one for that night's homework, one for assignment work and one for work in progress.
Hint 4.
Draw reminders of what needs to be done for homework or for chores at home.
Sometimes drawings are easier to remember especially if they themselves do the drawing.
Hint 5.
Write reminders.
These could be a list of where they need to do research for their assignments.
Hint 6.
Have a homework timetable.
This can be written up daily and tailored to what they have to finish each evening.
Hint 7.
Have a step-by-step plan for assignment writing.
Each step can be written up with the date on which it has to be completed.
Hint 8.
Ensure child sets goals in each area of life.
Goals could be set weekly or monthly.
Hint 9.
Reward small achievements as soon as they have been completed.
Children with an attention deficit, find it difficult to wait for rewards so immediate rewards work better.
Hint 10.
Be patient and try not to become emotionally involved with any dramas.
Listen to any complaints about school, peers, teacher and siblings with compassion and empathy but try not to get sucked into them by becoming emotional In summary one of the greatest difficulties experienced by children with Attention Deficit Disorder is that of keeping organised.
This can cause distress to teachers and parents.
Implementing these hints will aid with organization and lead to a more peaceful household and to a child who keeps in control of life.
Marguerite Clancy
Have a checklist of what needs to be taken to school.
This can be in written or picture form.
This needs to include all books needed at school that day as well as homework and any work that needs to be handed in that day.
This could be stuck on the fridge or onto the child's school bag.
Hint 2.
Have a checklist of what needs to be taken home from school.
This can also be in written or picture form.
This could be stuck on the child's desk or onto the child's school bag.
Hint 3.
Have three different coloured folders to help keep work organised, one for that night's homework, one for assignment work and one for work in progress.
Hint 4.
Draw reminders of what needs to be done for homework or for chores at home.
Sometimes drawings are easier to remember especially if they themselves do the drawing.
Hint 5.
Write reminders.
These could be a list of where they need to do research for their assignments.
Hint 6.
Have a homework timetable.
This can be written up daily and tailored to what they have to finish each evening.
Hint 7.
Have a step-by-step plan for assignment writing.
Each step can be written up with the date on which it has to be completed.
Hint 8.
Ensure child sets goals in each area of life.
Goals could be set weekly or monthly.
Hint 9.
Reward small achievements as soon as they have been completed.
Children with an attention deficit, find it difficult to wait for rewards so immediate rewards work better.
Hint 10.
Be patient and try not to become emotionally involved with any dramas.
Listen to any complaints about school, peers, teacher and siblings with compassion and empathy but try not to get sucked into them by becoming emotional In summary one of the greatest difficulties experienced by children with Attention Deficit Disorder is that of keeping organised.
This can cause distress to teachers and parents.
Implementing these hints will aid with organization and lead to a more peaceful household and to a child who keeps in control of life.
Marguerite Clancy