How to Set Up a Suitable Home Environment for an ADHD child
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a behavioral disorder that, if not effectively managed, can wreak havoc on a child's life. There are three subtypes of ADHD: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. Depending on the subtype, a child with ADHD may struggle with impulsiveness, attention burnout, loss of focus and problems with organization and memory. As a result, his environment can significantly impact his level of functioning. Delayed metacognition skills -- thinking about thinking -- in the ADHD child make it even harder for him to compensate for surroundings that are less than ideal for his cognitive characteristics. To help your ADHD child reach his potential, consider household modifications that will support his ability to function on a daily basis.
Instructions
Reduce household clutter that is distracting and contributes to your child's difficulties with focus. Take a few minutes each day to lessen the amount of random items out in the open in your child's view. Keep surfaces such as tables and counters clear, and have a system in place to deal with incoming paper such as fliers and junk mail. Discard unwanted or unused items on a regular basis to make room in cupboards and closets for the storage of more important and relevant things. Encourage your child to participate in the regular declutter routine by assigning her a small task each day, such as clearing the top of her dresser or picking up items off her bedroom floor. Teach your child to maintain a tidy environment by establishing a place for everything to be put away. Coat hooks, visible wastebaskets in every room and laundry baskets in bedrooms are examples of items that not only reduce clutter but help your ADHD child assist in the housekeeping efforts. Purchase a bin for hats, mittens and scarves and keep it near the front door to minimize the time required dressing for a cold winter school morning. Install shelves for reading material with a designated spot for school library books to reduce the possibility that these could be lost and accumulate fees. Employ visual aids to help your ADHD child. Mark all pertinent events, appointments and deadlines on a family calendar that is accessible to all. Use a whiteboard for reminders and to-do lists, and have chore charts clearly displayed. Assist younger children with pictorial representations of daily routines, such as a picture of a breakfast plate followed by that of a toothbrush. Embrace the power of color with stickers and highlighting pens to draw the attention of your ADHD child to key elements on your visual planner. Allocate a specific place for homework. Choose an area free from distractions, or equip your child with distraction minimizing tools such as earplugs or a fan for white noise. Ensure that there is adequate room for text and work books, and stock up on tools such as pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers and blank paper. Provide your child with a list of homework items that are due, to better facilitate task planning.
