How do you get yer kid off to school without losing your voice???

Question

Ok, here's the thing.

My son is ADHD/ODD, so in other words, he's impulsive and can't listen.

Every am, it's a battle to get him ready. He comes downstairs, takes his pill/has breakfast. I tell him to go get ready for school, he's someplace in the house strutting around in his underwear fooling around.

I'm tired of having to tell him over and over. (he's 10)

i have to leave for work same time as he goes to school.

suggestions? (i think i've tried everything, like the charts, rewards, removal of privledges..)

well, i went to work, and left him home to figure it out. when i got home, he was still *sitting* there, but fully dressed.

when i asked where he was supposed to be, he goes..school?

i said o ya.

off he went.

we do have the same routine in place day after day..and waiting for breakfast wouldn't work, because this kid is never hungry. i have a suspicion he's doing it to get my goat..(why i dint say anything to him and just went about my business).

keep the ideas comming, i'm reading them all

Answer 1

Have a basic morning routine written where the whole family can see it.

Give him one reminder.

He gets a reward of TV, computer, or outdoor time when he completes the routine without having to be yelled at. If you have to yell at him more than XX number of times, then he loses the TV/computer/outdoor time that day. (And ONLY that day)

Also, don't yell. Calmly tell him in SHORT easy sentences what specifically needs to be done. Set a timer for each activity. When it beeps, it's his reminder that he needs to be finished with that activity and move to the next one. It will give him a better concept of time as well.

Remove what distracts him. I found that when I left the TV and radio off in the morning, my son got ready much more efficiently. Just minimize anything that typically distracts him.

Also, be consistent with the charts/rewards/etc. For ADHD children, it can take up to 6 months for them to learn a routine and the consequences/rewards for completion or non-completion of the tasks. If you change up your disciplinary measures during that time, you'll be starting back at square one. So make sure you do this and do it consistently for 6 months.

~Mom of son who is thriving with ADHD!

Answer 2

One of my son first diagnose was ADD/ADHD when he was 3. I realized i was doing something for years i was asking him to get dressed i was asking him to eat i was putting every thing in a question form .So in his fast moving mind he thought it was always an option. as a child he option NO. LOL
then we came up with the kitchen timer if task A was not done by time task B was ready Oh well you will go to school looking the way you are smelling the way you do or hungry if so be. aleason soon learned. I informed the school ahead of time.Also there is a book i read it is geared for explosive children but the tools they give you work for all children take what you want and leave what you don't your local library can order it for you
http://www.explosivechild.com/books/index.html

http://www.ccps.info/

email me if you ever need that parent that has been there.

Answer 3

He can't come down to eat breakfast unless he's dressed. Pick his outfit the night before. At age 10, he's old enough to realize there are two places to be wearing only his underwear--the bathroom and his bedroom. If he doesn't get dressed in time, he loses breakfast. It'll take losing breakfast only once for him to realize you mean business. This has little to do with his ADHD and everything to do with being ODD. One of my nephews is the same way (at age 7) and his mom took photos of all the things he needs to do, put them on poster board and laminated it. He gets to check them off with a dry erase marker when he completes them. Make sure as much as possible is finished the night before. Or, call his teacher and let him/her know what's going on at home with getting ready and say that the next day you're not going to say anything to him at all and when he's finally ready, you'll bring him to school late and let him explain to his entire class why he's late. That should really make an impact.

Answer 4

you can try a chore chart/reward system. it may help get him on track but every kid is different. i can tell you, from experience, that the calmer you are, the calmer he will be. even when you're ready to run away, count to 10,20, even 100 if you have to. it will help you cope better. if he doesn't already, it might be a good idea for hm to see a child therapist. they can help him with coping stratagies as well. for now though, you have to stay on him. give yourself extra time in the am to get ready so at least that part is done. i really wish you luck with this.

Answer 5

Set definite routines, repeatable day after day ........ ADHD/ODD children need to focus short term goals.

But they also need to have definite and immediate consequences for breaches of agreed rules. (ie put the playstation in a box and put it in the garage ... just don't say he can't use it and leave it in front of the telly)

Answer 6

Get everything else ready-Concentrate only on him.I have one too.Follow him , repeating,what he`s supossed to do- Do Not trust him or leave him alone.I do a lot night before.Give him 5 min to dress or tell em you`re going to do it.

Answer 7

COnsistency is the name of the game when dealing with that age group. Be firm and never go back on your word.

Answer 8

i have ADHD and I'm just to tired in the morning. when i get up in the morning most of the problem is that i get mixed up in something else because I'm easily distracted. what me parents do is keep reminding me until i do it. they keep asking and asking and it gets really annoying. but eventually it gets into me head.

Answer 9

Mean what you say, say what you mean. Be consistent constantly.
Perhaps he should get dressed before eating. Hunger may encourage him.
Love never fails. Yelling never works.

Answer 10

Haven't got any brilliant answer for you, sorry... just wanted to send a big hug x x x