The symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) make learning difficult. Prone to procrastination, children struggle to discipline themselves and set up effective organisation. Yet organisation is absolutely necessary for staying on track and succeeding in their studies. That’s why it’s best to build good working habits as early as possible. Here are 3 principles to help your ADHD children organise themselves better day to day.
Principle 1: what isn’t written down doesn’t exist
Since ADHD affects attention, it affects memory too. The first compensation strategy to put in place is to make the child write down information to remember straight away. Forcing the brain to remember something while focusing on the task at hand inevitably, and needlessly, increases mental load. The risk of forgetting is simply too high.
To remove that risk, give your child a notebook where they can jot down everything they need to remember. It should stay accessible at all times: in the backpack, by the bed, in the car, and so on. From then on, if it isn’t written down, it doesn’t exist! Over time, this habit becomes second nature, and the child can refer back to it to avoid forgetting things.
Principle 2: a weekly to-do list
A child with ADHD struggles to start or finish tasks. And because they don’t know where to begin, time slips away without the activity moving forward. To offset this difficulty, it helps to draw up a list of tasks to complete every week. It can be written on paper or made using an app.
Ideally, create two lists at once: one for school, one for everyday life. Displayed in visible spots such as the fridge, the bathroom mirror, or the front door, they act as an automatic reminder for the child with ADHD. Once a task is done, they can happily cross it off and feel proud of what they’ve achieved.
Note that you can add a rating system to prioritise tasks; even if it’s basic at first, it will become essential over the years and later in working life.
Principle 3: every tool has its place
There are many tools that can help with your ADHD child’s daily life, but once they adopt one, it’s essential not to change it. Even though novelty is appealing, any change means starting from scratch again (getting used to it, fitting it into the routine/use, etc.).
Once they’ve found their tools, they’ll need to decide where they belong, somewhere easy to find and easy to access, just like everyday items such as keys, glasses, or a bus pass. This organisation means systematically planning two moments each day: one to pick up the day’s tools/objects, and another to put them back in the same place ready for the next day.
These 3 principles form the foundation of a first organisation system for your child with ADHD. As they progress through school and working life, they’ll need to build on these and adapt them to new demands. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from an ADHD coach to help you lay these foundations as quickly as possible.
