Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about 11% of kids in the United States between the ages of 3 to 17. The symptoms and presentation vary from person to person and can even change over time, but it almost always includes some level of disorganization and forgetfulness.
ADHD symptoms can rear their heads at school when kids are suddenly thrust into a high-paced environment. Kids with ADHD are more likely to daydream, forget things, lose things, miss important details, and struggle to organize and complete tasks.
In addition to hyperactivity and trouble concentrating, kids with ADHD often struggle with executive function, the neurological processes that allow us to analyze, organize, and prioritize our activities. Kids and adults with ADHD can experience executive dysfunction, making it challenging to complete what otherwise might be simple tasks.
Recognizing that your child isn’t “being difficult” or being uncooperative on purpose is so valuable in helping them succeed. People with ADHD are doing the best they can with the tools at their disposal, and the best way you can help your child succeed is to add to their toolbox. Help your child stay organized and on track with these 12 strategies for managing ADHD symptoms.
- Make a family calendar: Forgetfulness is one of the characteristic symptoms of ADHD, and frequent reminders can be helpful. A family calendar in a common area provides an interactive visual reminder of upcoming events.
- Create a morning routine: Almost everyone does better with a certain amount of structure and routine, but that’s especially true of kids with ADHD. Create a checklist of daily morning activities like finding an outfit, brushing teeth, packing a lunch, etc. Check off tasks as they are completed to provide real-time reinforcement and praise. Using pictures or icons to make the list more recognizable for young kids can be helpful.
- Build movement breaks in: Research indicates that everyone is at their best when given opportunities for rest and recreation. In addition to keeping good sleep habits, frequent breaks can help break the monotony and keep kids on task during the day. Try trading off 15 minutes of homework or chores with 5 minutes of break time. Knowing a break on the horizon is often enough to help a child power through a difficult task.
- Clearly labeled bins and baskets: Make cleanup time as intuitive as possible with clearly labeled containers. Kids with ADHD can become overwhelmed by complex tasks like cleaning up an entire room. Providing a clear home for toys, clothes, and other items can help combat executive dysfunction.
- Double up on key supplies: Whenever possible, provide your child with supplies for home and school. A forgotten notebook or pencil might be the difference between a good day and a bad day at school, setting the stage for the entire day. Having supplies in both locations means that forgetting something doesn’t have to be a disaster.
- Encourage writing things down: Once your child knows how to read and write, encourage them to write down assignments and other important information they need to remember in a notebook. Notebooks can remember things, so we don’t have to! Work with your child’s teachers to ensure your little one is writing down assignments before they leave class. Alternatively, your child might prefer keeping track of things in some other way, in a planner or smartphone app, and teachers may offer printed assignments. Use whatever works for you, as long as your child has a physical reminder they can reference.
- Color code everything: Use color coding anywhere it might be helpful: drawers, containers, cubbies, folders, book covers, and binder tabs. Something as simple as knowing that your yellow history book is with your yellow history notebook in your yellow cubby can help navigate a complex class schedule and keep a handle on everything.
- Give positive praise: Celebrate accomplishments and successes. While you should celebrate big wins, consistent praise for smaller successes is just as important, especially for a child for whom things don’t always come easy.
- Be your child’s safety net: An essential part of establishing organizational habits is inspecting them to ensure they work. Remember that kids with ADHD are more likely to misunderstand expectations, miss crucial details, or straight up forget what they are supposed to do. Your child might believe something is finished when it isn’t. The occasional spot check is one of the easiest ways to step in to keep your kiddo on track.
- A hole punch of their own: If your child has a habit of cramming papers into the bottom of their backpack, they might benefit from a portable hole punch. Many options are slim, designed to fit inside a three-ring binder, and they can be the difference between getting home with a usable stack of papers over a crumpled mess.
- Weekly cleanout: There’s some wiggle room in the timeframe. Maybe your child needs a clean slate every couple of days, and perhaps they can go for a few weeks without needing a deep clean. You know your child better than anyone; make an assessment and do what works for you. During the cleanout, sift through your child’s backpack and bedroom, looking for missing assignments, permission slips, and other items that may have been misplaced. If something does get misplaced or forgotten, this gives you a chance to recover it before it’s too late.
- Distraction-free study area: ADHD makes focusing hard, especially when distractions are nearby. Providing space at home free of significant distractions can give your child the best shot at holding onto their focus. Every child is different, sometimes music or background noise helps, sometimes it doesn’t. Explore this with your child to find the best fit. Keep this space clean, organized, and stocked with paper, pencils, a computer, and other necessary supplies. When study time is over, help your child get all their papers and books back in their backpack for the next school day.
Initially, you may have to do most of the heavy lifting in building and maintaining these habits and systems. Over time, as they become part of the ordinary routine, your child may be able to take over without you needing to look over their shoulder. You should also adapt or modify things along the way to fit your child’s situation. And if you have any questions or concerns, the team at Families First Pediatrics is here to help!
