Organization vs. Distraction

[ilovemyboys]

Are these the same? For instance, my son is having a terrible time remember homework, he has a very hard time organizing his work (for instance he can never put his papers in the proper folders, he loses paperwork).

Let me preface this by saying I don't have a very structured house. I am unstructured too, by nature. We as a family are constantly on the go, which obviously is not helping.

Is this the "A" in ADHD? He learns fine, he just gets bored quickly. He rushes thru work that he finds boring, and doesn't take the time to check his work.

I"m thinking this is the attention problem, but just wondering if others thought the same.

[Shandawn]

I think its definately an attention problem, as my DD has inattentive only type ADD & I see these same traits in her. Her backpack & desk are constantly a mess. I have her put all her completed homework in one certain folder ALL THE TIME & still she forgets to turn some things in! I notice it at home too. For her entire life shes been told to put her clothes in the hamper, top back on the toothpaste, shoes in the rack, etc & STILL i walk in the bathroom to find clothes strewn everywhere, toothpaste leaking all over the sink! AARRGGHH! It drives me nuts, but when I ask her why she just answers "I forgot" or "I didn't think of it". I figure that by now (shes 11) these things should be habit, but apparently they're not.

[brazos]

I bought the book The Organized Student, it has helped tremendously. She lays out routines that kids can do.

[G]

"i forgot" those are the famous words around this house. I am starting to cringe when I hear them.
I know one of the first things the docs said was to get my house in order to help my dd be in order. I am doing that and it does help the day go smoother, but her school work, school desk are still a mess.
Flylady helped me get organized at home, I really needed someone to tell me edxactly what to do to get organized, so i guess i shouldn't be so surprised that my dd can't do it either.

It is frustrating though.
nat

[my3texans]

I think having routines is helping my kids to be better organized. A simple check-off list of things to be completed can help, or it has helped us. The list has given my kids a routine to follow when they get home from school, once complete, they get some unstructured free time. Weekends are when we have the most unstructured time at our house, but weekdays we have to have some sort of routine.




nat605,

You're a Flybaby? Me, too. I recently joined, and am working to get my house in order, so I can get my kids in order too. I know that's OT, but it's nice to know there are others out like me. Like you, I needed someone to "teach" me what needed to be done.

I use some of it with my kids. Like I have them to each do a 27 Fling of trash in the Living room. I also use the timer to give my kids my undivided attention for 15 minutes, during homework time.

Georgia

BTW, the Flylady is at Flylady.net, in case anyone's interested.

[G]

MY3 texans,
yep, I am a flybaby too. I am truly amazed at the progress in my house. I was always so anti-routine. This is eye opening to me. I am still in awe when I look in the laundry baskets and they are sometimes EMPTY!!

I didn't "jump right in" like some, I resisted, but now that I see it is working, I am way more enthusiastic.

I am glad that I found that site, because my dd is just like me, unorganized. Maybe just seeing me keep things in order, and having her help out will give her some skill for the future.

flybaby nat605