I have decided that this is what I need to start with my almost 13 yr old son and starting high school, to get him into a routine with checklists instead of me always asking if he remembered to do this or that. Also, in the mornings I would sometimes forget to ask him which makes me feel its my fault!
I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on how to start the checklist and how I can get him into this routine. I feel he needs to learn to do things on his own without a family member always reminding him but I am not sure if I am expecting too much of him at this age. He really is immature but I think I need to try to get him a bit more independent.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Mrs. A, my son is 14 and just starting high school too. We started using a white board. We workied on it together so he had an input on how it was "designed" and what he thought should be on there. We went to auto parts store and got pinstriping too, and worked on placing all the lines on there. We divided morning stuff and evening stuff. Agenda check, school website check, supplememts check, exercises check, give the dog a bone before leaving check, etc. Saturday do laundry/clean bathroom, etc. He really likes it, because then I just have to give him one reminder "check your board" rather than chasing after him all morning and evening. It has helped a lot! I think getting into the habit of making lists, one is never to young for. His counselor even encourated it, even at his age. He appreciates feeling more independant.

Report back on what you ended up working with!

Mrs. A, my son is 14 and just starting high school too. We started using a white board. We workied on it together so he had an input on how it was "designed" and what he thought should be on there. We went to auto parts store and got pinstriping too, and worked on placing all the lines on there. We divided morning stuff and evening stuff. Agenda check, school website check, supplememts check, exercises check, give the dog a bone before leaving check, etc. Saturday do laundry/clean bathroom, etc. He really likes it, because then I just have to give him one reminder "check your board" rather than chasing after him all morning and evening. It has helped a lot! I think getting into the habit of making lists, one is never to young for. His counselor even encourated it, even at his age. He appreciates feeling more independant.

Report back on what you ended up working with!
I use a white board, it is very helpful, but if you use the whiteboard idea then you need to remind your son to look at it! When I started off using it I kept forgetting to look at it and it was a waste of time, my mum then reminded me everyday to look at it and then it just turned into my routine.

Thanks to you both. Not to sound stupid, but what is a white board and where do I find one? Also, where is the best place to put it?

I feel that I should have started this along time ago. We don't have alot of support for ADHD where I live as far as counselling goes so this place is my info center. Thanks.

A white board is like a chalk board but it's white and you use dry-wipe pens instead of chalk. :)

I got mine from a supermarket for £5, I don't know what that is in Canadian money.

I screwed mine to the wall in my room so I see it everyday and theres no avoiding it!

Mrs. A, don't feel bad, there's no time like now to try new things. I always equated the white chore board thing to the "Parent's Magazine" mom, and could never get one going, till now. We went to WalMart, just like Boone said, it's a "white" board that you use the dry erase markers with. We put all the lines on with the pinstriping that stay permanent, but you can get all sorts of stipes through school supply stores, just pinstriping was cheap and now. Then you fill in the spaces with the chores and the checkmarks. at the end of the week, he erases all the checks and starts anew. They can stick to the wall, DS's is near his bedroom door. I do have to remind him daily, go check your board though, so hopefully it will become habit again during the school year. If you like, I can try to send you a photo his to give you a start on some ideas.

Boone, I'm glad to know that yours helps you too!

OH thats what they call those things!!! Yes I know what they are. That would be great if you could send a picture, I have tried this just on regular paper but I think I made it to complicated and of course, I never reminded him. I need to remember to do that!
Thanks to you both for the help :)

I feel that I should have started this along time ago. We don't have alot of support for ADHD where I live as far as counselling goes so this place is my info center. Thanks.A student services teacher at your son's school would be happy to give you some tips or direct you to resources. Your school district board office, if it's like mine and we do live in the same province :D, will have at least one teacher whose job is to offer suggestions and resources to parents and teachers of special needs kids. That's what we pay taxes for, right?

Yes this is true Imnapl! But from the dealings I have had with our district, my son is not special needs as his grades are fine! Doesn't make sense to me. Also, they don't seem to be very knowledgeable about ADHD either. Our area sucks for support for ADHD.

For the white board, when u draw the grid, it helps if u use black tape so when he erases last weeks checks you don't have to re-draw the lines all the time.

:) Thanks :)