If you have a child with ADHD, you’re no stranger to the struggles that come with it. School can pose more challenges when a child juggles personal organization, getting homework done and keeping track of paperwork. If your child is stressed trying to keep up with everything school demands, try these tips for a much-needed reset.
Let them take ownership. Your child won’t keep up with any system they didn’t help to create themselves. One mom of three shared, “… your kid needs to do what works for them.”
Make a fresh start … every month. Begin with a massive cleaning session to clear out clutter. Empty the backpack, closet and bookshelves. Put monthly cleaning sessions on the calendar.
Limit choices and decision fatigue. Consider that less is usually more. One pocketed folder might work better for a class than a binder with too many tabs and pockets.
Buy color-coded supplies. Choose colored binders with clear front and side areas for easy labeling. Staples has colored 2-inch binders with a large, attached pocket. More supplies to consider: Post-It Notes and tape flags in various sizes and colors.
Tame paper explosions. Have your kid keep a small notebook for jotting notes and transfer the little jots over to that one spot in a timely manner. This goes for notes created on phone apps as well. If reminders aren’t put in the right place, they are lost forever.
Work that planner! Have your child commit 15 minutes each night preparing for the next day, and that includes reviewing and thinking about what could have gone differently. Rebelling against the planner is normal; create rewards for sticking with it.
Handle homework. A spot designated just for doing homework is key. No phones or other distractions are allowed. Start with the most difficult subjects first and take frequent activity breaks.
Do things in small chunks. Try setting a timer for 15-20 minutes and then allow them to get up, move around and come back to it.
Have a place for everything. Once homework is done, get them into the habit of putting their binder or textbook back into their backpack. Keep the backpack in the same spot all the time. File papers using a system that makes sense for you.
You can help make school more exciting for your ADHD kid by teaching them organization skills and how to work with teachers for long-term success. The biggest added bonus? You’ll be helping them build skills and good habits they can use for life.
—Kerrie McLoughlin is a mom with ADHD, and color-coding her five kids has been the solution to many challenges.
