Fredericksburg Parent

August 2019

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28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • August 2019 INTERVIEWED BY KERRIE MCLOUGHLIN If you have a child with ADHD, you witness their normal daily struggles. School poses even more chal- lenges when a child juggles personal organization, getting homework done, keeping track of permission slips, managing hygiene, participating in activities, etc. PsychCentral.com says, "… ADHD affects the very skills that are required for success in school. Kids with ADHD have difficulty getting started, prioritizing, planning, managing their time and emotions, staying on task and focusing... It's the nature of the disorder, which impairs the executive functions of the brain." So where do you start when it's time to head back to school? MAKE A FRESH START… EVERY MONTH Start with a massive cleaning session to clear out the clutter from last school year. Clear out the backpack, the closet, the bookshelves. Put regular (monthly) cleaning sessions on the calendar to keep up with the paper monster. TAKE OWNERSHIP Your child won't keep up with any system they didn't help to create themselves. One mom of three shared, "… your kid needs to do what works for them — they should be the one to come up with an organizational method." Helping ADHD Kids ORGANIZE for a School Year Successful LIMIT CHOICES AND DECISION FATIGUE "One helpful tip a teacher told me (and has worked) is less is more. I got my son all these binders with tabs, but she said one simple folder is sometimes more helpful," says a mom who wishes to remain anonymous. COLOR-CODED SUPPLIES Dr. Lisa Adams, Ph.D. and school psycholo- gist for 10 years, sug- gests, "Depending on age, organize and color code binders. Use the same color for all math, etc." Choose colored binders with clear front/ side areas for easy labeling. Staples has a great line of col- ored 2-inch binders with a large attached pocket in the front cover with customizable front and sides. HOMEWORK A spot designated just for doing homework and nothing else is key. No phones or other distractions are allowed. Start with the most difficult subjects first and take frequent activity breaks. Dana Baker-Williams, mom of an ADHD child, says, "She and I would set up a quiet place for her to study and set a schedule for homework. She had pens that she could use on her mirror closet doors to write out assignments and due dates. Then she could prioritize better. We'd also break assignments into more bite-size pieces, if they were large or long projects." Dr. Adams adds, "Develop a system of retrieving assignments, a time for doing them, a time for turning them in. Provide continuous parent oversight until the system is learned." If you still need a helping hand, check out the various tutoring services found on our site so your child can catch up, stay on track, or get ahead (https:// www.fredericksburgparent.net/guides/ tutoring-services). ...your kid needs to do what works for them...

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