The last tip covered the basics of Time and Place – the importance of a regular Time and Place for children to do their homework.  This week let’s focus on how to make those more regular in a household that may be somewhat on the chaotic side.

First, if you don’t already believe it, begin to think of a schedule as your friend.  Those with ADHD often balk at the idea of routines and schedules, but it is crucial to be willing to rethink this.  Healthy, balanced routines are not straight jackets.  Instead, like your skeleton, routines keep you upright and flexible.  Imagine what you and your children would look like without your skeleton!  …  If you can get that picture in your mind, you may begin to see that being upright yet flexible is a pretty good idea. 

Assuming I have convinced you, what steps can you take to put more routine into your child’s week? 

1. Grab a sheet of paper and turn it sideways (“landscape”). 
   
   
2. Across the top, write these 6 headings (left to right): Time, Monday, Tuesday … to Friday.
   
   
3. Under Time, list the hours after school through bedtime in 30-minute increments.  (Don’t panic!  This is just to have some visual anchor points.)  This is the actual time during which all after-school and evening activities must occur.
   
   
4. Using a pen, write in all activities that are recurring and cannot be moved (e.g., piano lessons Wed 4 to 5).  Be sure to include time in every afternoon for a healthy snack and outdoor down time.  Down time should NOT include TV or videogames. 
   
   
5. Again using a pen, write in dinner time and bed time. 
   
   
6. Using a pencil, write in the times when you think your child should be doing homework. 
   
   
7. When you have made the above entries you will notice have very little time there actually is. 

Now it is time to sit down with your child to explain the homework routine and to make any necessary changes.  Younger children may adapt to this structure fairly easily, especially if you also introduce a Reward System.  Older children and adolescents, however, are much more likely to resist.  You will need to develop the art of negotiation without allowing your child “to be the boss of you”.  I strongly recommend the use of a Reward System to make the transition to more predictable, less chaotic afternoons and evenings.  Your home really can be relatively free from the daily battle over homework, but learning to do that can be a challenge.  Take heart! 

Next week I will be offering some suggestions on how to respond when your child has too much homework.