schedule for kids? | ADHD Information

We don't have a posted schedule either, but I DO run a very tight ship here and there is NO deviation from the schedule. DD doesn't do well with surprises so if it is Lunch time we cannot change it to go to the store time.........I say find what works and stick with it.

Any one use a posted schedule to help keep kids on track? It has been suggested many times to us to use a schedule but I dont really know what needs to be on it,  how much time to alott for things etc...any advice?

We dont have a *schedule* posted but we adhere by a pretty strict one with very few exceptions. Ryan thrives on schedule and routine. I know some people say their ADHD kids love the spontaniety of summer, camp etc but even those have some sort of schedule. Its not a free for all! LOL

 

Ryan follows the same schedule in his morning routine, and then his after school routine. Weekends differ but they are still the same. He gets out of sorts when he is too far from his routine. He likes to know what is going to happen and in what order.

 

we also follow a farily solid schedule both mornings and evenings. I do not post it either, although have tried several attempts at this in the past. Unfortunately the actual paper would distract my daughter more . She'd spend more time checking things off, decorating it, adding stickers and flowers, she got less done . Now I nag...........no really, I just say, ok eat your breakfast, then when  she looks done, I say ok, finish and go wash your face and brush and your teeth, ok now get your shoes and coat. I say the same things every single day I dont even know I'm saying it anymore. Becasue we've always done the same order she does do some stuff on her own now. Like bed made and clothes on BEFORE breakfast. No exceptions. We tried doing it in different order or less strict, we couldnt get out the door, we picked a rouitne that worked and after some grumbling, now it just happens.We run a very tight schedule rarely deviating from it as my 9 year old DS has Adjustment disorder and makes for change even worse. He know what we are going to do each day before it happens. even sometimes the week and he checks with me perioductly to make sure it is going to be the same. We do not post a schedule but do post chore lists that include eating, brushing teeth, feed fish, get dressed ect. he gets a reward for every time he does it without reminding(ya right) and he turns them in for money and screen time.

I don't post a schedule/list for our daily routine (we aren't as structured as most) but I do post a weekly calendar with all of the activities for the week - practices, games, appointments, etc.  If I know if a big school project that is due, I try to put that on it too.   I did it initially so my husband would have a better idea of what was going on each week and remind him of the girls schedule.  (I would bet my last dollar that he is ADD as well.)

In doing this, I have found that the kids really like it as well.  It's good for my ADHD daughter that likes routines and predictability.  She knows exactly when her games/practices are and it makes it easy for her to prepare herself.  She doesn't do well with surprises or routines that change.

An added benefit is the kids also get to see some of what I do during the day while they are at school.  It's kind of nice to have them ask me about the things I am doing or how my lunch went with a friend.

Logistically,  I manage the family calendar in Outlook.   It works well for me because I sync it to my phone and always have everything with me.   I bought a smart phone primarily for the purpose of being better able to track all the sorted appointments we started having when we started down this road almost 2 years ago.

HorseMom39455.7600115741We also have a pretty set routine.  Our 5 yr old ADHD son has always been a "routine" kid.  From the start, he set his routine as a baby and even though obviously we've adjusted along the way, he still needs routine.  If bedtime varies too much, he gets out of control and gets more emotional cause he's tired.  Weekends are pretty loose, meal times, nap times and bed times are about the only routine things we stick to.  I'd like to have more of a schedule set up for weekends but it seems every weekend just gets busy and it's never the same so it makes it tough.  Routine not only benefits the child but the parent also, keeps you sane to know what needs to be done & stay on track.

Thanks for all your replies :)

I supose we do have a good schedule, but over the holidays things got thrown out (which is ok, sometimes) but once school starts again, boy do we need to get back on track!

With my one son ( I have 8 yr identical old twin boys..one ADD, one ADHD) he needs to see things in writting, so we will have to jot something down and just estimate the times and aim to stick to it. I find if he sees when things are happening he feels more in control, rather than mom saying "five minutes till bed time" and him figuring I am randomly coming up with a time to send him to bed..lol he can see that bed time is 8:15 and that is that :) It makes for less arguments from him and less, "oh but why cant I play for another 10 minutes, or I didnt have my snack yet" etc...

What you need to do is set up a routine that will be your schedule for example wake up child at 7 am get ready for school, after school homework time, free time, bath time, bedtime routine time etc and do the same routine daily obviously a somewhat different on the weekends no school.  Set your times for each thing you need accomplished.  On weekends keep the bedtime can vary by 30 minutes the most to keep shedule. janyben:  We have a similar chart and it seems to help.  Our son is only 5 so he doesn't follow it himself, but likes to see the star go on the chart if he finishes his job before the buzzer.  The only thing I would recommend when building your chart, it to make it so that you can change the "jobs", you may want to add or remove jobs as your child gets better at doing them and may not need that particular job on a chart anymore.  I first started printing my own off the computer and putting star stickers on it then moved to one I found at a book store that has a dry erase marker so I can write in the jobs.  The stars on that board are magnetic, we just start over each week.  Good luck!Thanks for the tips .. you chart sounds good!  I'm going to have to keep looking for something, or make my own if I cant find what I'm looking for. The ones I've seen in the store so far are just way too "busy" .. way to much for my DS. I need something a little simpler.. without so many stuff on it, or like you said, spots that I can write in our own jobs and tasks.

I have been thinking about this question too!  My morning is the most hectic because I have to get ready for work and DS ready for school. I drop him off a before school care each morning and then head to work. (DH is up and out of the house to work before we get up.)  .. And, just like everyone else, I struggle with having to tell DS to get dressed 20 times, then put shoes on 20 times, ask him if he's finished breakfast 20 times, back to shoes cause they still arent on, back to breakfast to make sure the bowl is put in the sink, back to the shoes again....

I've been thinking of creating a chart with velcro checkmarks that each morning he can look at this poster of everything he has to do in the morning and put the check mark in the square once the task is done, then move to the next task. 

So, this morning I asked him (he just turned 7 on 12/30) IF he'd like something like that, and he said yes! So, I think I'll look around to buy the stuff I'd need to make a big chart. Take it to Kinkos to have it laminated, and create it myself. I dont want it too busy, like all the responsiblilty charts I see in the store. I need a basic one for morning routines and one for night routines. Night time isnt as much of a struggle as morning, but I might as well do both!

We do have a sort of routine, but not written down anywhere. He does have the same bedtime on school nights, which I remind him constantly, and he usually asks to stay up longer! Weekend nights I do let him stay up a little longer by watching a movie in his bed, so he's at least resting and comfy in bed and he usually falls asleep before the movie is over!