| The mind goes of an ADHD child goes in 1000 | | | | they were too cluttered and the spaces for each |
| different directions. Their environment often | | | | date were too small. So we made our own. |
| matches, full of chaos and disorganization. One of | | | | 6. Use a planner. This means YOU! Get a |
| my sons once said, "ADHD is being able to lose | | | | daytimer, a PDF, or something, and keep your life |
| something without moving." It's true. | | | | organized. If you have ADHD tendencies as well, |
| As the mother of three ADHD boys, parents | | | | visit flylady.net, or grab one of the many books |
| often ask me how to organize an ADHD kid. Here | | | | available on being ADHD and organized. |
| are ten ideas... | | | | 7. Think out of the box. Why are underwear |
| 1. Declutter. Get rid of all the extra JUNK in your | | | | stored in the bedroom? To me, it makes more |
| child's rooms. Old books, toys, games, trophies, | | | | sense that underwear be stored in the bathroom. |
| pictures...you know what is in there. Take it out. | | | | If you have a place near your door for shoes, |
| Store it, throw it away, or give it away. Don't | | | | store socks there. Keep a small box of school |
| store it in the closet or under the bed. You are | | | | supplies in your car. Go through the arrangements |
| trying to get as little in the room as possible. | | | | in your house, and see if there are things you can |
| 2. Get rid of CLOTHES. Your child probably has | | | | change that make things more convenient. |
| way too many. (If you don't believe me, count | | | | 8. Get a 'night before' drawer. We have a big |
| how many shirts are in your child's room.) No kid | | | | lateral file cabinet near our back door. give each |
| needs more than a dozen outfits. Keep two sets | | | | child a drawer, and put everything for the next |
| of 'junky' clothes, two sets of 'good' clothes, and | | | | day in it - notes, clothes, backpacks, sports |
| eight sets of everyday clothes. If you're in doubt, | | | | equipment, homework, lunch money. In the |
| pull out a dozen outfits, and put everything else in | | | | morning, grab and go. |
| storage. See how long you can go, and how much | | | | 9. Dump the equipment. No, don't get RID of it. |
| simpler your life will be. | | | | Just put a container next to your entry for |
| 3. Label! Use a permanent marker to label all | | | | everything your child needs for those extra |
| shoes, sports equipment, books, calculators, | | | | curricular activities - uniforms, sports equipment |
| jackets, and everything else that might leave | | | | and balls, props, pom poms, and that pocket knife |
| your house. Inside your house, organize the stuff | | | | from Scouts. (Especially that pocket knife...) Have |
| in your child's room and bathroom into labeled bins. | | | | your child put the items in the container the |
| Label school folders and notebooks; try to use a | | | | moment they walk in the door. This will eliminate |
| different color for each subject. Don't forget that | | | | those last minute, "I can't find my jersey!!!!" |
| there are silver markers for those dark items. | | | | moments of panic. |
| 4. Get prepared. Keep an amply supply of school | | | | 10. Use electronics. As much as your school will |
| supplies on hand. We have a closet that looks like | | | | allow, let your child use electronics. PDA's, |
| Wal-Mart, with pens, folders, erasers, markers, | | | | electronic dictionaries, smart phones - they are all |
| glue sticks, poster board, rulers, and on and on | | | | great. Truth be told, they were probably invented |
| and on. Don't forget ink cartridges and printer | | | | by people with ADHD. |
| paper! I buy in bulk at the beginning of the school | | | | Life is never totally organized. And life with ADHD |
| year, and save tons of money. | | | | is even less so. But these hints will help give your |
| 5. Use a planner. Your child NEEDS a planner. We | | | | child that bit of order that every ADHD child |
| tried the standard ones from Franklin Covey, but | | | | craves. |