Tag Archive for: back to school family organizing

Back to School with ADHD: 10 Simple Routines to Calm the Chaos and Support Your Child

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back to school adhd kiddos

Back-to-school season is exhausting and overwhelming, especially for families navigating ADHD. From organizing supplies to managing emotional transitions, the start of the school year can both help and hinder kids with ADHD. What’s the most successful way to manage this time of year?  Simple, consistent routines tailored to your child’s needs. As a Certified Professional Organizer, Gigi, and mom, I’ve seen how important small, consistent routines can make a big difference for you and your family. Here are 10 ADHD-friendly routines that bring calm to the school year and support everyone’s emotional regulation.

A great day starts the night before.

With a good night’s rest, everyone has better capacity in the morning and during the school day.  Start early with getting ready for bed and create rituals that enrich that time.

  • Outdoor time to run around and get fatigued.
  • Early bath and pajamas for everyone, including parents.
  • Time to wind down without electronics an hour before bed.
  • Cool, dark rooms with noise or music to calm everyone.

 

Start the day with a checklist.

No need to stretch working memory! Start the day with a visual checklist for simple required tasks such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and putting on shoes. Backpacks should be packed the night before. Post the list in your kiddos’ rooms for them to become more independent. If you need to check on their progress, be sure to get up a bit earlier to allow for this.

 

Set up and expect the need for a wake-up buffer.

Kiddos and parents with ADHD often need extra wake-up time. Set alarms at intervals and start earlier to keep everyone on track and calm. Play calming or energizing music depending on your needs. Consider a sunrise clock if needed. Plan bedtime and wake up at the same time to promote consistency. Have a no-device rule for the morning. These rules keep you moving toward the goal of getting out of the house on time.

 

Set up a landing strip by the door.

Designate a bin, shelf, or basket near the door for backpacks, lunchboxes, and school supplies. This landing strip reduces morning scrambles and teaches your child to place items there the night before. Cute can count here with bright or neutral colors and slots for all the stuff.

Establish a Command Center for papers. 

A Command Center created with a calendar, wall pockets, and a bulletin board is a lifesaver for paperwork. Have a slot for each of your kiddos. Place papers in it daily and go through backpacks for homework, permission slips, and notes. This routine prevents piles and missed deadlines.

Keep homework time focused.

The environment is a key element in focus. Set up homework time for success with 2 homework zones. Each zone is equipped with a visual timer, such as a clock or timer, to support concentration as well as an uncluttered environment. Typical homework zones are in the dining room, a family office, or the kitchen table. Why two? That level of interest makes it easier to do the work. Your kiddos can use a timer to create urgency and keep them on track. Have a caddy with all the necessary tools in all spaces. Some kiddos prefer headphones or background music.

Practice transitions.

Everyone does better with a heads-up when it’s time to change to the next activity. Use verbal cues, timers, lights, and music to designate when a transition is about to happen. You will see fewer meltdowns as you use this method.

Stick to an Evening Routine. 

Consistent bedtime routines help regulate sleep, which is critical for ADHD. This is hard to do, but it starts with adding in extra time.

  • Dinner, hopefully, as a family.
  • Place devices in a common charging spot.
  • Downtime or family connection time every day.
  • Pack up for the next day.
  • Bath/shower/brush teeth
  • Wind down with quiet reading or quiet music.
  • Lights out at the same time nightly.

Think of this workflow as a model for your evening. It is not about adding a time of day to do each part, but rather the sequence of activities.

Celebrate every win, big and small. 

ADHD brains thrive on encouragement, not reprimand. Celebrate progress rather than perfection. Discuss learning rather than failure. Did your child remember their folder? Did a kiddo get ready early? Was everyone kind at the end of the day? Acknowledge it! Use praise or small rewards to build motivation.

Review what’s working and discuss why that is. At your weekly Family Meeting, find out what went well, what felt hard, and what should be tweaked.  Empowering self-awareness and reflection is important for executive function.

Get off track? Not to worry! Just start again the next day.

With routines that meet everyone’s ADHD brain where it is, you can bring more ease, confidence, and success into the school year. Remember progress over perfection and baby steps. You don’t have to do it all at once. Start small, stay consistent, and celebrate progress over perfection.

How to Kick Start Your School Year with Family Communication

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back to school with family communication

 

Start this year off with strong family communication. Effective communication and organization tools make all the difference in improving school success and family happiness. Two key strategies that help families connect are holding weekly family meetings and maintaining a family calendar. Here is how to implement these to create a more harmonious, collaborative household.

 

Create agency and accountability

Creating ownership for all family members from the start of the school year is essential for fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. This sense of ownership comes from giving everyone the opportunity to contribute to the family agenda. During your first family meeting, include your kids’ thoughts, feelings, and problem-solving ideas as you create the agenda and establish the “rules” for your family calendar. By involving everyone in this process, you empower each family member to take responsibility for their commitments and contribute to the overall success of the family’s organization and communication strategies. This collaborative approach not only ensures that everyone feels valued and heard but also promotes a sense of accountability and teamwork that will benefit the family throughout the school year.

 

One of the biggest obstacles to family communication is knowing the “why” which is the value of communication. Everyone needs to benefit from staying connected. Talk about how improved communication makes life easier for everyone, how a shared calendar helps everyone support each other, and how stronger relationships happen because of collaboration. With everyone knowing the benefits, there is more buy-in and accountability to maintain the system. Each person is tethered to the others’ successes. That accountability to each other makes all the difference in keeping the system all year long.

 

Overall, remember to keep these as simple as possible. Clarity makes all the difference. Post the outcome in writing on your refrigerator or door near the kitchen. You’re creating accountability for everyone to work as a team this way. You can reference your plan with your family every day, especially during the weekly family meeting.

 

Hold weekly family meetings

Weekly family meetings are times for communication, cohesiveness, and collaboration. These provide the opportunity for everyone to share their upcoming activities and schedules, as well as celebrate achievements and discuss challenges. Here is how to make the most of your family meetings.

  • Choose a time that works for everyone
  • Create your agenda together
  • Make sure everyone has a chance to speak
  • Review family values and goals. Discuss problems and solutions.
  • Celebrate together

Weekly family meetings foster teamwork and ensure that everyone feels heard and supported.

 

Start and maintain the family calendar

A family calendar is an invaluable tool for keeping track of everyone’s activities and responsibilities. Your family can use a digital calendar, a traditional wall calendar, or a hybrid. Keeping a shared schedule helps make sure everyone knows upcoming events, shares time together, and keeps things running smoothly. Here’s how to effectively use a family calendar.

  • Place the calendar in a central location so everyone can see it.
  • Include as much as possible, especially priorities on your family calendar. Individuals maintain their calendars with great detail.
  • Update the calendar as soon as new dates come up. Update individual calendars at the same time.

A family calendar helps to organize busy schedules and prioritizes what is most important about all commitments.

 

Staying connected and up to date throughout the school year requires effort and coordination, but the rewards are well worth it. It may take time to get a flow going with the family meeting or the family calendar. Keep at it! By implementing these strategies, families can navigate the academic year with confidence, ensuring that both students and parents thrive.

Back to School: Quick Tips to Thrive during Busy Family Times

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Back to school is when we all gear up and get organized. It’s back to structure and routines. Busy people are the most organized. Here are many organizing, productivity, and self-care tips from those who are in the trenches too.

Organization tips for busy people

 

  • Having a joint email with my husband that we use for ANYTHING related to the kids, the pets, the car, the home, vacations, digital tickets etc. Even if I’m the one who reads and answers 90% of them we both have access to entire conversations, booking numbers, dates and details.
  • It is ridiculously simple but I use the notes app on my phone. I’m able to scan documents and email them. Keep a running tab of my to-do list and groceries. I also have a notes page for gift ideas.
  • Color-coded calendar (each person has a color) including how they’re getting to/from the practice or game, etc… and review that at least weekly but ideally every 3 days to ensure we’re all on the same page
  • Personal: morning workouts before fam wakes up. Familial: shared family Google calendar. Marital: weekly marriage meeting.
  • Written and Google calendar for myself, dry-erase monthly for my daughter, and verbal communication with my husband
  • I meal plan every dinner and prep accordingly. I add all things to the phone calendar and “invite” whomever in my family needs to know. The kids have a daily chore schedule and also lay out their clothes for the week on Sunday so I can steam them in time. During the summer, I started “marvelous Monday’s” where we do all the chores on a Monday so we can forget about it. I also stopped folding laundry. I made them each a basket in the laundry room where clothes are sorted coming straight out of the dryer. They are responsible for putting away their own clothes. I love it!!!
  • Cozi Gold family organizer app. With 2 active teens, it really helps keep everyone informed and organized.
  • I have a cleaning service so I don’t resent every mess as a personal slight. Kids have a very large calendar on the wall for all things as my ADD DH doesn’t look at online calendars, emails, or text messages. He didn’t look at the wall calendar either but it modeled good organization for the kids at least, lol. Also, tell DH plans over dinner and remind him in the morning.
  • Use a digital family calendar, order the week’s groceries for pickup on Mondays, and once a month have someone come in to clean!

 

Summary

I am grateful to those who shared their wisdom.

  • Having a calendar that works for your family is important. Choose what you love, model this for your family, and collaborate with those who need extra support on this.
  • Build your best team with outside help and buy-in from your family. Set up systems in your home where kids can partner and everyone benefits. Make it fun!
  • Set up routines that reinforce and support your goals. Weekly meal planning and grocery delivery, as well as regular cleaning people, help everyone at home.

 

What works for you at your home or office?