Time management can be particularly challenging for children with ADHD, as they often struggle with staying focused, managing their attention, and transitioning between tasks. However, implementing simple strategies, such as using clocks and alarms, can significantly help parents and children manage daily routines, especially when getting ready for school.
Why Time Management is a Struggle for Children with ADHD
Children with ADHD often find it difficult to track the passing of time, which can lead to disorganisation, lateness, or missed tasks. Their minds may jump between activities, making it tough to stay on track with routines like getting dressed, eating breakfast, and packing for school.
Time-blindness, a common trait in individuals with ADHD, means that they may have trouble feeling the urgency of deadlines or transitions. This is where clocks and alarms come in handy—not just as reminders, but as tools to help them develop time awareness and independence.
How Clocks and Alarms Can Help
Visual Timers Make Time Tangible
Children with ADHD may find it hard to gauge the passage of time, and this difficulty can interfere with planning and completing tasks. Visual timers—such as countdown clocks that display time visually—help make time more concrete. These tools give children a clear understanding of how much time is left for a task, which helps with the executive function skills of planning and organising. Whether it’s completing homework, cleaning up, or getting ready for bed, visual timers help children structure their activities and stay on track.
Alarms Provide Structured Transitions
One of the key aspects of executive function is the ability to switch from one task to another, but transitions can be challenging for children with ADHD. Alarms offer auditory cues that signal the end of one activity and the beginning of another, helping children move smoothly between tasks. For example, setting an alarm 5 minutes before the transition to a new activity can help the child mentally prepare for the change, reducing anxiety and resistance. These cues reinforce time-bound routines, which are critical for strengthening task initiation and transition skills.
Promotes Independence and Accountability
Children with ADHD often rely on external reminders to manage their schedules, but clocks and alarms can help them develop greater independence. By setting up reminders for tasks like getting ready for school, completing homework, or taking breaks, children can start to organise their own time. This encourages the development of key executive function skills such as self-regulation and task monitoring. As they grow more accustomed to using clocks and alarms, children become more accountable for their own routines, with less need for parental intervention.
For more tips and strategies around how to support your child with time management, our experienced Occupational Therapists and Allied Health specialists are here to help. Get in touch at hello@patches.com.au or to book an appointment please complete our online referral form.
