Providing
an Organized Workspace for the ADHD Child
When
homework times rolls around, a cluttered or disorganized
work area may be daunting to the child with ADHD.
The first order of business in helping your ADHD child
succeed in school is creating a clean, calm area where
your child is able to stay on task. Here are some
ways you can establish a favorable workspace for your
child so that he or she may have the best chance at
managing both ADHD
and homework:
-
Provide assignment notebooks and color-coded folders.
By organizing each class in a separate notebook
and/or folder, it’s easier for the ADHD child
to keep everything straight.
-
Help your child clean out book bags, backpacks,
and the work area every day. Do not let things get
out of hand before you sort through them. Sit down
with your child daily and organize paperwork together.
-
Have a place for everything. Designate a space for
filing, pencils, paper, pens, office supplies, and
so on.
-
Offer several tools in and around the workspace
to keep track of time. The workspace should include
a clock, timer, calendar, weekly assignment log,
and white marker board.
-
Find a sturdy notebook or planner for your child
to keep track of assignments, needed materials,
and other reminders or notes.
-
Suggest that your child compile a checklist of frequent
mistakes such as punctuation errors or mathematical
miscalculations. The child can use this list to
proofread his or her own work.
As
you can see, the best workspace for the ADHD child
is one that helps the child cope with his or her symptoms
of distractibility, hyperfocus,
and impulsivity. Your child may need training in organizational
skills for several years before he or she develops
good administrative abilities.
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