Just wondering what do you do, or use to help your child with their time management, this is one of the worst parts of ADD my Son has. I also have a big problem in this area as well, so if you also want to add what you do as an adult, I'd appreciate it! :D
THANKS!!

TJ

It's something I struggle with as well. Like I know I've got to get him to do something, then the next thing I know it's 10:00pm.

I think having a schedule and sticking with it is the only solution. This is something I am bad at as well, so I try to use outside things, like sports and tutors, to build his schedule around.

UGGHH, Isn't it soo hard! My time management is just as bad as Cody's except on an adult level :D
It makes it hard to teach him, when I have the same problem :confused:

My biggest concern is school, his biggest area of struggle there, is with time. At least at home he doesn't have to be so "timely" although now I'm wondering if I should really try harder at home to help him deal with it, that way he can also do better at school KWIM?

Thanks Uminchu :)

Being an ADHD parent of ADHD kids is tough, but there is one really big plus...

my kids really know that they aren't alone in their struggles. They watch me doing "stupid" things and misbehaving and having to deal with the consequences and they know that life goes on. Sometimes they take great delight in Mama getting into trouble for a change! LOL

We ADHD parents have the biggest advantage because we can truly teach by example and it doesn't look preachy or condescending coz we fall flat on our faces and have to pick ourselves up, just like our kids!

Hope that made sense.

Kim

I've found the easiest way to teach and enforce a lesson in my kids' lives is to use positive reinforcements and incentives Baybay :D I mean really who notices if it takes you two hours to clean your house or five other then yourself.

So, you could try adding some structure to his day by making a time chart.

7am you get up
7:05 have breakfast
7:15 take a shower and get dressed
7:30 brush your teeth
7:40 be ready to head out the door

etc
etc
etc.

For each goal he hits or completes before hand he gets a happy face. So, many happy faces at the end of the week earn him a prize. Give him something positive to work towards in an adults life the positive reward is a raise, positive acknowledgement, etc.

You could add little chores like making his bed in under 5 minutes, cleaning his room in 30 minutes, taking the trash out in 10 minutes, etc.

You could speak with his teacher about her time table; how long courses last, how long is the transistion period, etc and make a chart for her to give happy faces and reward him at home as well. And remember a little homework never killed anyone though it tends to lead to screaming and hissy fits that may affect your hearing loss later in life. :rolleyes:

Life is never going to be perfect but we kind find fun ways to struggle with imperfection. :p

Yeah, I agree being an ADD parent does have it's advantages, it helps that Cody doesn't feel like he is the "only" one making mistakes now and then, even when the "seemingly" perfect Mom makes em too! :D

There have been times I've told him "Hey I have that problem too" or let him "catch" me messing up, it helps because he tries so hard to be perfect, that when he fails, it's really hard on him, he can be so freakin hard on himself! Like I mentioned above I don't want him to think I'm perfect, just human. It took me a loong time to realize this in my own Mother, she was really good at hiding her imperfections.

I am gonna try some sort of positive reinforcement with him, it's just figuring out what it will be? I have tried the "poker chip" system where I put a poker chip in a jar, for each time he does what he is supposed to do, then when the jar gets filled up, he gets his reward, I have tried the sticker chart too. He gets excited at first but when it comes down to it, he'd just rather be "lazy" about it or not commited to it to get the reward, KWIM?

I was thinking the other day, heck what kinda reward was he expecting out of me, a hundred dollars!! One day he even asked for an expensive video game for just cleaning his room! I think it's the delay in gratification, so I even tried to give a little allowance at a time, and that even stopped working for a while? We even had a chart up on the fridge, for doing things around here, for every time he unloaded the dish washer, walked the dog, or just anything around the house, he got between 25 and 50 cents, but he had to keep up with it by signing his name after the chore was done,then we had to know he did it, then put down our name beside his, that he did the task. At the end of the week we then added up his allowance, we'll it got to the point that he wouldn't even sign for what he did do, even after reminders, he would just shrug his shoulders and say "oh well" when I mentioned "no signature from you, no pay" he thought at first I'd go behind him and sign his name just because I "knew" he did the chore. WHY, oh WHY,do I have such a picky, picky kid?!

I think what I may try is....Using a timer, at least some. Hopefully it want cause too much anxiety, especially when he is doing homework (he is a clock watcher) I may have to put the time in another room. Also maybe trying to give him extra time when it's a good time for "extra time" like for instance, if he gets ready in the morning with out much hovering or pushing him to hurry, he'll have extra tv time or video game time, I just hope I'm not sending the wrong message doing this, or it backfiring on me? Nucking futs, the chart idea sounds good too, I think I'm gonna try that also.

"And remember a little homework never killed anyone though it tends to lead to screaming and hissy fits that may affect your hearing loss later in life" LOL :D

I appreciate your suggestions ladies, I just wanted to see what works for you, I may have to use a combination of many things, and sorry so long (again) < slinking away... >
THANKS!! :)

Russ Barkley referred to ADHD as " The world's most debilitating time management disorder."

It's a complicated scenario involving elements of Working Memory,Plan/Organize, Persistence, Monitoring and even Inhibition;to name a few.

This is a great practical reference for just about any ADHD related symptom or co-morbid problem:

The Parents Guide to Attention Deficit Disorder...by Stephen McCarney & Angela Marie Bauer (Hawthorne Press).

There's no complicated theory at all. It's all about specific rewards based behavior management charting programs for use at home.

Everything I try works for about a day. I forget to put the stickers on the charts. I figure I'll give him his allowance the next time I'm near my purse. I tried setting a timer for homework, you work for 15 minutes, take a break for 5, work another 15...that went well, but then the next day we couldn't find the timer. I remind him to do his chores, he figures he'll get around to it and then doesn't (where on earth did he learn that, I wonder?), and then I forget to remind him and by the time I notice that he didn't do it, it's 11:00 and he's asleep.

Argh. I guess I should just keep trying...

Russ Barkley is SO RIGHT ON!!!!

Thanks, Mctavish23 for that book Recommendation.

I guess it's all about being consistent, persistant, plus having PLENTY of patience (God forbid :b). Even when what type of modification you are using seems to not work, at least at first...maybe?

Alala, I know it's hard, but I guess we'll just have to keep at these boy's, it's so easy to get off track. keep me posted at what is working for you and your Son, I'm cheering you on!! :D

One of the things that I've heard discussed at workshops (and in here as well), has to do with the genetic nature of ADHD and the impact on behavior managment programs at home.

In other words, if an undiagnosed (or untreated) ADHD parent tries to implement that program at home, do they need to treat their own first?

You could probably write books on the broader nature of the question. My take is to cut to the chase and look at the solution and not the problem.

Common sense would suggest it would be easier all the way around, because what the parent is trying to target and reinforce in the first place ,are the same types of things they're battling themselves.

If they (parent) wants it to work (duh:) then the chances for consistency would increase .

Just a thought.

take care

mctavish23 (Robert)