Every parent to an ADHD child knows this horror: the bed is missing a blanket, the monitor was on all night, a pile of clothes is on the floor, and your kid is late, again. Living with ADHD can be challenging, but it has its benefits if you know how to deal with it!
An important part of dealing with the disorder is creating an inclusive environment that will fit the child's needs. With the right tuning, a child's room can be transformed from a warzone to a place of relaxation. This article will cover some of the best practices to adjust the room for your awesome ADHD kid.
To begin with, not every child with ADD/ADHD is the same. While some of the advice might be perfect, others can benefit from just a few tips.
Therefore, we should design the room with the notion of personalization and diversity. To do a good job with re-organizing the room, we need to understand the environmental obstacles standing in front of a child with ADHD. For ADHD children, the low dopamine levels in the brain tend to make everything "noisy." This feeling is generated by the overwhelming sensual stimulation, which in its turn, becomes "noise." Our work on designing the room should focus on decreasing the noise by using relaxing elements that will help regulate this noise. Let's dive in.
Storage As a start, the fewer the things, the better. For the items you do have, try to create a designated area. Think of the tool wall your mechanic has, where outlines of the tools are a clear sign of the exact place for each one of them. Another piece of advice is to use a closed storage solution. The idea is to eliminate distraction, and by covering the items, they are no longer in our eyesight.
Time ADD/ADHD kids have a problem with conceiving time. Therefore, we should try and use aids to help them highlight the time frame. We recommend using highly visible, oversized clocks everywhere. In addition, large calendars might be useful. Try and Locate those items at the eye level of the child, in a visible place. Using the Iphone's clock is o.k for some, but generally, it is not a replacement.
Personal Items Keep it simple and minimalistic. Whatever has no practical reason should be put away- reduce the number of decisions the child needs to consider. For example, instead of five different pencils, one might be enough. Maybe colorful socks are not needed, and same color socks might be sufficient. Think of the way Obama dresses- same colored shirt every day.
Space It is crucial to provide the child a sense of freedom. On top of that, it's important to remember that an ADHD child has an inherent need for movement and diversity of postures. Therefore, we suggest that the space be spacious as possible, and most importantly, it will provide smooth access between different zones.
Colors Use a quiet "earthy" color palette. Generally speaking, bright colors, including white, may be too noisy. We especially recommend pastels that provide a calm atmosphere and positive thinking. Whichever color palette you choose, do not use a combination of them all.
Light Keep in mind that going outside under the sunlight might be beneficial for your child. Natural light is good in the room as well, but do check if there is no glare. If there is, shading would solve the problem. If it's too costly, placing a plant in front of the window might help. Regarding the light sources inside the room, use smooth light sources for a soother feeling. Using multiple sources instead of one bright spot might be helpful. Refrain from using halogen and neon lighting.
Zones Try to create a differentiated zone for relaxation in the room. A soft pillow and a rug might do the trick; this should be where the child comes for a break.
Organizers As mentioned in the time section, ADD/ADHD might have a problem tracking the daily routine. The solution might be a big chalkboard (or any other board) visible for the child. Keep in mind that you will need access to it too.
Furniture Minimalism is the trick. Don't use anything just for the sake of decoration.
Bed ADD/ADHD have trouble sleeping. There is no magic formula to it, just a reminder to keep it in mind and provide the most comfortable bed for them; they need it more than us. Try using different pillows, make sure the mattress is comfortable for them, and keep the room quiet.
Over to you If you’re searching for ways to make your child's room more friendly for ADHD, consider using a product like DidiDesk, a portable desk for kids designed to help them. Whether they prefer learning on the floor or a park bench, the portable desk enables them to study anywhere, anytime. It stores easily, does not distract the eye, and promotes personal space. Give your child the gift of choice and movement, and watch them reap the benefits of a flexible education that allows them to better understand and accept themselves.
Коментарі