THRIVE: Organizing your Home to Fit Your Child’s Neurodivergent Needs
March brings awareness to developmental disabilities like autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome, which are part of the rich spectrum of human experience. Every child’s developmental journey is unique and should be supported with empathy and tailored strategies. I want to tell you how home organization can significantly impact the well-being of your unique little learner.
Organization
Whenever I talk about organization, I have to include a conversation about the role of executive function. Executive function is a collection of cognitive processes that enable you to plan effectively, sustain attention, recall instructions, and efficiently manage multiple tasks. Children with developmental challenges often experience difficulties with executive dysfunction. Understanding the link between organization and executive function can help you identify how to provide the appropriate support and strategies for children as they navigate their daily activities and responsibilities.
Executive Function Skills
Executive function skills help people manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions effectively. They involve something called working memory, which allows a person to hold and manipulate information over short periods.
Who faces challenges with executive dysfunction? We are all born with no executive function skills. It’s something we develop over time. This means children will naturally struggle with tasks that require them to access old information in their heads and complete multiple steps, which can result in frustration and difficulty in following through on assignments or chores. As children progress into middle childhood and adolescence, their executive functions gradually improve as their brains mature. This developmental process allows them to manage more complicated tasks with greater ease, helping them adapt to the demands of school, social interactions, and everyday responsibilities.
Complex Tasks
Complicated tasks are activities that involve multiple steps to complete successfully. For instance, consider brushing your teeth: while adults may view it as a straightforward routine, it involves several steps.
Let’s break down the process of brushing teeth:
- Walk away from your parent.
- Go to the bathroom.
- Turn on the light.
- Locate the toothbrush.
- Locate the toothpaste.
- Open the toothpaste.
- Put toothpaste on the toothbrush.
- Close the toothpaste.
- Put the toothpaste away.
- Brush your teeth.
- Turn on the water.
- Rinse your mouth.
- Turn off the water.
- Put away the toothbrush.
- Turn off the bathroom light.
As a parent, you may not have realized that brushing your teeth is a 15-step process. Just wait until your child becomes a 40-year-old and starts to add a nighttime skincare routine into the mix (lol). I digress. I’m highlighting why your morning or evening routine may be a struggle.
When a person possesses strong executive function skills, tasks and processes can flow effortlessly. They can complete daily activities without needing to consciously think about each step. It feels automatic, almost like a routine that’s been ingrained over many years—because it has. On the other hand, if a child experiences challenges related to executive dysfunction, completing even simple tasks can become a struggle. They may find it difficult to initiate activities and often require frequent reminders and guidance to understand what actions to take next. Without this support, they can feel overwhelmed and frustrated, making even basic tasks seem daunting.
Five Parental To-Dos for Executive Function
I know personally how challenging parenting can be, especially when it comes to helping your child develop executive function skills. To support you on this journey, I’d like to share five key steps that can make a meaningful difference for both you and your child.
1. Take Smaller Steps
Assisting children in developing organizational skills enhances their executive functioning. Teach children to break tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, “Go upstairs, and I’ll meet you there.”
2. Use Visual Aids
For younger or neurodivergent children, visual schedules and chore charts offer a clear and tangible guide for their daily activities. These tools can help children stay on track with routines like getting ready for school or completing homework. When my kids were younger, we used visual charts. Now, they have written chore sticks. They love them—or at least I do.
3. Create Designated Spaces
Organizing your home with dedicated spaces for schoolwork, play, and relaxation helps children understand where and when activities should happen. It also teaches them the value of keeping their environment tidy and organized. Clutter-free is the best option.
4. Teach Time Management
A structured daily routine helps children learn the importance of time management. Using timers, alarms, or a checklist helps them stay aware of time limits and expectations, making transitions between tasks smoother.
5. Positive Reinforcement
This should be the first step because it is the most important. Praise or rewards for following routines, keeping spaces organized, and completing tasks can motivate them to maintain these habits long-term.
BEA MOISE is a board certified cognitive specialist, author, neurodiversity coach and consultant for both individuals & businesses, a featured expert for NBC News, and the neurodivergent expert for Verizon. Follow her UNIQUE parenting channel on YouTube or on Instagram @beamoiseauthor.
