Written by Rachel Perez on behalf of HomeAdvisor
If your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), they likely struggle with tasks requiring organization, planning, time management, and focus. Homework assignments are forgotten, misplaced, or abandoned halfway through. Rooms get messy and stay that way. Teachers report that your child doesn’t pay attention or follow directions in class. Sound familiar?
While you may wish for a magic wand to sweep everything into place, there are ADHD-friendly tips and tools that can make a big difference. Based on a HomeAdvisor blog on organization hacks for people with ADHD, we’ve collected seven organizational tips that can help children succeed at home and at school. Although these suggestions are tailor-made for kids with hyperactivity disorders, they may just help the rest of your family get organized too!
1. Start Small
Whether you’re tackling school work, laundry, or even getting ready in the morning, it’s important to start small. Children with ADHD can get frustrated and distracted quickly, so try to keep tasks manageable and realistic. By achieving small goals, your child may get a sense of accomplishment that can boost motivation and keep them going.
Even when you feel overwhelmed, focus on one project at a time when possible: single-tasking works better than trying to do everything at once.
2. Reduce Clutter and Distractions
While many kids struggle to keep their rooms tidy, those with ADHD often need more help than most. You may find the rewards worth the extra effort, however, as reducing clutter helps minimize distractions, reduce anxiety, and make other tasks easier (like getting homework done on time). Although you may be tempted to do the tasks yourself, there is real value in helping children learn to manage themselves.
To prevent overload, remember to break the task up into realistic chunks. Instead of a deep cleaning when things get really messy, set aside 5 or 10 minutes before dinner every day (for example) to have your child tidy up their room. Then, every few months, help them go through their belongings and donate whatever they don’t use. When you do more intensive housework with them, divide it into smaller sections still, such as only sorting one bin or organizing one shelf at a time.
3. Give Everything a Home (Preferably Within Sight)
In addition to disorganization, kids with ADHD often struggle with forgetfulness. When their belongings are always located in the same spot, they don’t need to rely on memory to find them. When the spot is highly visible, it’s even easier. If your son can never find his shoes when it’s time to leave the house, consider an open shoe cubby by the front door. If your daughter loves toys, but can never find the one she wants, try storing them in clear tubs in her closet. You can even try labeling shelves with the names of what belongs there or color-coding bins by contents (blue for toys, red for sports gear, etc.).
Besides reducing clutter, giving every item a home can help children define organization and, eventually, help them achieve it. Organization means that writing utensils are in the pencil case (not on the floor), and trash is in the trash cans (not in the backpack). When your child is ready, you can take this up a notch, such as having them put undone homework on one side of a folder and completed homework on the other side.
4. Have Different Spaces for Different Activities
Just like each belonging has a space, each activity can too. If you have space in your home, designate different rooms (or sections of each room) for different activities. A quiet room (preferably without a TV) creates an inviting place for reading and studying. Noisy or active games can happen in the basement or playroom. If your child enjoys a hobby that makes a mess or requires specific materials, they should practice that hobby in its designated space—and only there.
You can apply the same logical organizing principles to your child’s bedroom. Divide the room into sections that correspond to different activities: studying, playing, dressing, and sleeping (for example). Under this system, you should not find socks on their desk, or homework under their bed. Of course, this is easier said than done. Still, having clearly defined sections of a room at least gives you a foundation for organization. It also follows the other suggestions in this list: giving everything a home, reducing clutter, and breaking projects into smaller parts.
5. Make Use of a Calendar or Planner
Thanks to smartphones, white boards, and old-fashioned paper calendars, we have a variety of planning devices at our fingertips. You may have to experiment a bit, but use whichever one works best for your child. They might find it easiest to locate a wall calendar in a central spot in your home, or they may enjoy keeping track of assignments on their computer and receiving electronic reminders.
Once you decide on a planner, use it to keep track of sports practices, upcoming tests, project due dates, or whatever your child needs to stay on top of in their life. Remember to break bigger items into smaller sub-tasks here too. Programming in studying time or due dates for specific project elements will prove more useful than simply inputting the final deadlines.
6. Experiment With Chore Charts
Like a calendar or to-do list, chore charts serve as a visible reminder of what your child needs to do. A dry-erase board makes an ideal format since you can change tasks over time, use different colors for different people, and then cross or check off chores when finished. While most people don’t enjoy chores, this kind of easy-to-read format can make things less overwhelming and provide a sense of accomplishment as tasks get done.
To avoid singling out your child with ADHD, engage the whole family in this process. Each person can take care of one room each week, do one chore per day, and/or take on several tasks on the weekend chore list. When delegating chores to a child with ADHD, help keep frustration at bay by assigning tasks they are currently able to do, rather than what you wish they could accomplish.
7. Don’t Forget to Give Breaks and Rewards!
All humans need breaks from—and rewards for—hard work. Because children with ADHD tend to get distracted and frustrated quickly, however, they may need them more often. Schedule 30 minutes of video game or trampoline time to decompress between school and homework. If you’re time-blocking, set a timer for 5 minutes of free time after each 15 minutes of work. Of course, you will likely need to enforce the times and help kids refocus, but know that breaks are an integral part of the process.
Finally, stress rewards. ADHD can impede executive functioning, making potential long-term rewards (like good grades) less important than short-term rewards (like going outside). So, create a system that helps your child experience success quickly. Your child can earn rewards (praise, points, time for a favorite activity) by engaging in productive behaviors, following the plan, and accomplishing small tasks.
Stay Positive and Supportive
No one likes to be nagged or criticized, but discouragement and frustration can be a real motivation-killer for kids with ADHD. Therefore, do your best to stay positive and to praise the efforts as well as the results.
If you need a little extra help setting your home up for success, then consider contacting HomeAdvisor. Our professionals can design and organize ADHD-friendly spaces, or simply provide cleaning and decluttering services to help you get your home on the right track.
