The Best Organising Tips For ADHD Children

Do you have a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? If yes, then you may be familiar with their tendency to lose their assignments, forget their books at school, misplace their pencils, or have a very chaotic study setup.

Disorganisation and forgetfulness are two major problems that ADHD children face, but the good news is that these skills can be learned and improved upon.

This post is going to list some of the best organising tips for ADHD children. If you’re a parent, these tips will make a huge difference in your life and the life of your ADHD child.

Why Do Children With ADHD Struggle With Organising Skills?

Before we dive into the best organising tips for ADHD children, let’s first understand why they struggle with these.

Children with ADHD have difficulty focusing and paying attention, which makes it challenging for them to stay on track with tasks. This lack of focus can also lead to forgetfulness and a disorganised thought process.

Students with ADHD also have executive functioning deficits, specifically in areas such as planning, organisation, and time management.

That being said, let’s continue.

Organising Tips For ADHD Children

It is up to us to teach and model the essential organising skills that ADHD children need to be successful in school and beyond.

Here are some of the best organising tips for ADHD children:

1. Set Up A Distraction-Free Study Area

A cluttered study setup where pencils are scattered, papers are in disarray, and toys are present will distract anyone, especially an individual with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

To set up a distraction-free study space, make sure to remove any unnecessary items from the study area and provide an organised workspace.

Organised workspaces look like this:

• Clean and tidy desk with only necessary items present.
• Organised stationery such as pens, pencils, and erasers placed in cans and boxes.
• A designated area for books and papers.
• Labelling everything from shelves to folders.
• A comfortable chair and good lighting.

After setting up this space, take your child through the process of tidying up before and after studying to maintain an organised study area. You may want to make this process a part of your daily routine so that the child gets used to it.

2. Get A Notebook

To prevent lost assignments and overlooked homework, give your child a notebook.

The notebook is primarily for writing down EVERYTHING. If your child gets used to writing important information in the notebook, there will be fewer chances of misplaced papers or missed assignments.

To encourage your child to use the notebook, you can do the following:

• Buy a brightly coloured notebook that stands out.
• Name the notebook, for example, “My School Book.”
• Explain the purpose of using the notebook and its importance.
• Supply dividers and sticky notes.
• Use the notebook yourself to set an example for your child.

Having a dedicated notebook will also make it easier for your child to find important information, such as due dates and exam schedules.

3. Colour Code Each Subject

If every subject book is the same colour, your child will have trouble differentiating between them.

To avoid this problem, use colourful labels, stickers, and cover paper for each subject book.

For example;

• Maths – red
• English – blue
• Natural Sciences – green
• History – yellow

This simple colour-coding system will help your child not only differentiate but also find the right book quickly. It will save time and reduce frustration when searching for a specific subject.

4. Create A Filing System

Filing systems are not just for adults; they can be extremely useful for students, too.

Create files for each subject in your child’s study area and teach them how to file their papers properly.

To make it easier, you can use coloured folders or ones with different designs/patterns to match the colour coding system used for the books.

5. Make A Calendar

Calendars are not just for us; children can also benefit from it.

Calendars provide a visual representation of time, which can help your child keep track of important dates and deadlines.

You can use a wall calendar or an electronic one, whichever works best for your child.

Make it a fun activity by letting them decorate the calendar with stickers and colours. This will also make them more likely to check and use it regularly.

6. Introduce The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management method that can be useful for students. (It’s especially useful with the exams around the corner!)

It involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and focusing on one task with no distractions. After 25 minutes, take a short break (5-10 minutes) before starting another Pomodoro session.

This is an effective time management technique that will work great with children who have ADHD. It forces them to focus for a short period of time and then allows them to take a break, which can help them stay motivated.

7. Talk With The Teachers

You need to schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers to talk about your child’s needs and how you can, together, increase organisational skills.

Organisational skills cannot be solely taught at home; they must also be reinforced in the school environment.

Mention the following points to the teachers:

• Your child’s strengths and weaknesses
• Strategies that have worked at home
• Any accommodations your child may need to stay organised (e.g., extra time for assignments, visual reminders, support in writing down essential information).

By working together with the teachers, you can create a consistent system that will help your child improve their organisational skills in all areas of their life.

8. Celebrate Small Wins

It is important to celebrate your child’s progress, no matter how small it may seem.

Children with ADHD can become frustrated and unmotivated, so acknowledge their efforts and reward them with a small prize.

Recognition and praise can go a long way.

9. Hire Private Tutors

Private tutors can offer one-to-one tutoring support and guidance to help students with ADHD stay organised.

They can work on specific strategies and techniques tailored to your child’s needs, which can be more effective than a generalised approach in a classroom setting.

Private tutors can also provide regular feedback and progress reports, which can help you stay informed about your child’s progress and areas for improvement.

At Tutor Doctor, we have private special needs tutoring services that allow your child to feel secure and supported while learning at their own pace. We can come to you, either online or in the comfort of your own home.

Call us, and let’s work together to help your child succeed!

Our Final Thoughts

These organisational tips to teach ADHD children organisational skills may take time to develop and require patience and consistency, but with the right support, your child can learn how to manage their time, materials, and tasks.

With the CAPS and IEB exams coming up, start the organising journey today and give your child the tools they need to succeed in academics and in life.