Tips in case of disorganisation

A tidy house, a tidy mind – who doesn't know the saying? But especially children with ADHD have a hard time keeping order. So it's all the more important that you help out your child with little tricks. For example, it may be already a great relief when every school subject gets its own colour and books and notebooks are provided with a corresponding cover. It is also important that everything has its place – that applies especially for toys, clothes, and the work material on the desk where homework is done.

Whether it's cooking, laying the table, going shopping or caring for the family pets: Give your child a special task and integrate it into the household chores. Arrange exactly when and how often the task is to be done. Have your child explain to you just how it wants to carry out the task. Check it favourably and praise your child – even the mere endeavour should attract your attention. That way children can practice how the different tasks are tackled and that it is important to reliably fulfil its duties.

As parents, you are the greatest models for your child. Because of that, make it clear that you yourself always think along your actions and plan ahead inwardly all the time. If you want to cook for example, think out loud what you will need. Arrange the necessary utensils and comment every step of the process. Moreover, also explain in the end that cleaning up is part of the process. Children learn particularly easily by imitation.

With special tricks, complex tasks can be broken down and structured in subtasks. Thus, the individual actions which are necessary – e.g. for doing homework – become manageable and can be tackled step by step. It proved to be effective to proceed according to the following system:

1. Attention! Sit up straight, listen, watch closely.
2. Think! What is the task? What are the individual steps? What do I need for the task?
3. It now starts and I will keep up with it! I work carefully and step by step. I do not let myself be interrupted. I work until the goal is reached.
4. Check! Did I complete the task? Am I really finished? I check everything once again and make corrections where necessary.
5. Clean up! The workplace is empty. Pens, paper and other materials are in their proper place.
6. Done! I am proud of myself!

Precisely explain the individual steps to your child and hang up an overview where it can be seen well. Thus, the child may check it at any time again or you can make specific reference to it.