For some reason, ADDers have very poor skills when it comes to managing time. We vastly underestimate how long things will take and we experience time differently than people without ADHD. To us, time is an elastic concept; to others, it’s more of a stated fact.
Here are 5 ways that you can help your ADD Student manage their time a little more effectively:
1. Use visual representations of time. An analog clock – the old fashioned kind with a face and arms – is much more effective at representing time and how much is left than a digital one.
2. Take advantage of television. This is especially effective with younger children. You can give them ways to mark time that they can relate to. For instance, when my oldest daughter Sarah was in kindergarten, she was a big I Love Lucy fan. She learned that when I Love Lucy was almost over, she needed to be ready for the bus to take her to school. You can also use television shows as measures of time. It will take us 30 minutes to get there – that’s like one episode of Sponge Bob.
3. Use small chunks of time as motivation for doing chores. For instance, set the timer for 10-15 minutes and challenge them to see who can pick up the most toys in that time. It makes the process fun and more bearable than just cleaning.
4. Build in break time, especially for homework. 15-20 minutes of homework should be followed by a few minutes break. If you have a big assignment to do, break it down into chunks and alternate it with something else. For instance, if math will take 30 minutes, and spelling homework will take 10, do a 15 minute chunk of math, take a break, do the spelling, and then another break before tackling the last of the math.
5. Break tasks down into teeny, tiny bits and then use odd bits of time to get them done. For instance, during commercial break #1, pick out the pants you are going to wear tomorrow and put them on the chair in your room. When you need to run into your room to get your shoes, take a few seconds and pick out a shirt or put 2 things away. A habit like this can be invaluable once learned.
We all have the same amount of time at our disposal every day. Help your ADD Student learn to use theirs to its fullest.