3 Reasons to Create Task Lists for Your Child With ADHD

 

With ADHD, your child may struggle to stay on task. This might create problems when it comes to completing homework or routine chores around the house. Your child might be quick to abandon the task or may easily get distracted, making the task or homework go longer than it needs to be.

However, a “planner” or “task list” can help children with ADHD manage their time better. And yes, this may take some practice! So, how can a task list or planner help those with ADHD? Here are three reasons.

Reason #1: It helps develop healthy routines and habits.

With ADHD, it’s easy for your child to bounce between items throughout the day, never quite completing them. This can not only lead you to feel frustrated but also your child likely won’t feel like they are accomplishing much either and may feel equally frustrated.

For the development of proper habits, a task list or planner can help you and your child manage their time better and get things done. Not only that, but it leads to the development of healthy habits, such as daily walks, brushing one’s teeth each morning, and more.

Reason #2: It gets high-priority tasks done.

The key piece of creating a task list is to keep it relatively short or have a short list and a long list. Ideally, the highest priority tasks should be at the top off the list, ensuring they get done. Inevitably, not all tasks will be completed each day.

Breaking down the “must-dos” into easy steps can further help guarantee they will get checked off. At the end of the day, this may take some trial and error, but it’s well worth it.

Reason #3: Things don’t get forgotten about.

Those with ADHD tend to get overwhelmed easily and, as previously mentioned, they tend to get distracted easily. This often means tasks get forgotten about and left incomplete. Having a list gives your child something to refer back to when they aren’t sure what exactly they should be doing.

Not sure where to start this process? Our team at Pathways Neuropsychology Associates can help you and your child stay on task. Contact us today for more information.