Organize Your Child

Organizing Your ADD/ADHD Child

To Return To School

by Norma J. Heller and Jo Ann Sheldon

In August, we start to see sales for school supplies. This is the signal that it is time to get prepared for school to begin. Plan a family meeting to talk about your child's accomplishments during the summer. Ask how they feel about going back to school. This is a major transition, and with transition comes anxiety especially after the lazy days of summer. Talk to your child about the need to prepare for the changes and what they need to be successful.

Transition

If your child is going to school for the first time, be sure to schedule a visit. Try to get the names of a few classmates and arrange a play date so your child can recognize a familiar face on their first day. If this is your child's first time on the bus, show your child where the bus stops or walk with them so they learn the route.

Start to get your child prepared for the school routine. This might include going to bed earlier, waking earlier, reading each day or even picking out clothes at night for the next day. Make changes in your child's schedule about a week prior to the opening day. This will help to establish a routine and assist in the transition. Besides making changes in your child's schedule, start making changes in the household schedule/routine. Prepare dinner at the same time that they will have dinner when they are in school. Work to transition the family in every way from the summer routine to the "back to school" routine and schedule.

Their Study Environment

Make sure that your child's desk is set up with proper lighting, supplies and space for study. If your child uses the kitchen table, make sure that all their supplies are handy and easy to access. Try to have your child's study space in a less distracting area of the house. Be aware of keeping the noise levels down during study time. There are some children who will need to have music playing in the background to help them to "filter" out other noise.

Their Binder

Visit a superstore such as Staples or Office Depot to purchase your child a binder and what they need in order to be effective. Your child may be more successful if:

1. each subject has it's own section in the binder.

2. they use colored dividers and tabs for the different subjects or

categories.

3. they use pocket holders for each subject for loose papers.

4. have a table of contents.

5. keep extra pencils or pens in the binder in a 3 ring pencil holder.

Have them set up their binders after consulting with their teachers to see what each teacher wants. Consider having space available for some of the following:

· requirements for each class

· calendar

· class notes

· handouts

· reports

· projects

· names, addresses and phone numbers of classmates

· reading assignments

· homework

Tools needed for studying

To make sure that your child is ready for school, have their supplies purchased and available prior to school. Keep in mind that children today are getting a "shopping list" directly from their schools. Some get it before school starts and some the first week of school. Either way, you can start purchasing the basics ahead of time.

For the desk area (subject to your child's age) -

calendar

lamp

pens

pencils

highlighters

ruler

scissors

paper clips

stapler and staples

scotch tape

paper supplies

calculator

timer

dictionary

scrap paper

extra paper for 3 ring binder

binder and binder supplies (color dividers, pocket holders, and tabs, 3 ring

pencil holder)

Time Management

When our children are young, we take on tasks of time management issues for them. It is never to early to work with your child to understand these concepts so that they may incorporate them into their daily lives as they grow and become independent.

Work with your child to analyze their use of time. Talk to your child about how they spend their time. Teach your child to prioritize. Let them know ahead of time that they need to study in order to be effective.

Help your child to create and maintain a schedule. Children need and crave consistency and routine. This is imperative for our children's success to have and stay on "a consistent routine". However, be flexible. Don't schedule every hour of the day. Make a list of their daily activities such as school,

family time, play time, sleep, meals, chores, outside classes or extra curricular activities. Schedule study time. Leave room for them to make some of the decisions as to what they want to do.

Rules

Revisit the rules that may have changed during the summer. It is suggested that children watch T.V. no more than ten hours per week. If they have spent many more hours than that during the summer, they need to understand that policy changes during the school year.

Have ground rules regarding friends visiting. Do they need permission or may they bring anyone home anytime?

Remind them about their chores and how to schedule them when they have the demands of homework and extracurricular activities.

Talk to your child about what happens if they miss the bus or misplace their keys.

Talk about strangers and how to handle themselves.

Physicals

Set up appointments for physicals. Make sure that your child has all the necessary vaccinations and forms ready for the first day. At the same time, make a list of all of their emergency information for the school. Put a list of emergency numbers in your child's back pack also.

New clothes

Most kids love to go to school dressed in something special on the first day. Allow your child some autonomy in picking out what they want. During school years, kids like to dress like everyone else. It is not the best time to send them to school with the sweater that Aunt Martha made.

Making Life Easier for All

Life becomes easier for your child and your family when you have the knowledge of the value of good preparation and a respect of the difficulty of transition. These tips should help simplify life for your ADD child transitioning from summer lazy days to back to school routine. Here is to routine, consistency and preparation! If you would like further information, please contact Optimum Organization at 203-299-0422.

Norma J. Heller, MCC, A.C.T.

Master Certified Coach and Professional Organizer

Optimum Organization, LLC

Phone: (203) 299-0422

Email: Lifecoach8@aol.com

Website: www.lifecoach8.com

Organization, order, simplicity and efficiency for your office, home and life!