Monday, July 22, 2013

Fall Planning: Daily Flow Framework (with ADHD in Mind)

Going with the flow after dinner one night.  The children decided to design and test boats during family time.
In early summer, I bumped into an informative article called Planning Summer Days: Rhythm and Routine.  This piece illuminated typical patterns of alertness and ability to focus in children with ADHD – suggesting what types of activities to plan for which part of a child’s day.  As I have been looking ahead to the fall and considering how to tweak our daily rhythm, I have found myself consulting the article again.

After prayer, thought, discussions with my husband and chatting in an age-appropriate way with my kiddoes, I have come up with a daily flow framework that I think will work best for us for the fall. 

The framework takes into consideration our children’s learning styles, our family's regular commitments and my take on tips from the aforementioned article.  Whether the flow will translate from planning to practice well for our family has yet to be seen.  However, I have already begun to transition us into it and can, with a smile, say, "so far, so good."

Here it is:

Daily Fall Flow

Wake Up Time
o        Five Before Breakfast
o        Tray or Play Table Time: Games, Puzzles, Quiet Play, Books

Breakfast Time
o        Tidy
o        Family Meal
o        Faith Circle/Stories, Etc.

Morning Experiences
o        Personal Hygiene
o        Family Work Time/Home Jobs
o        Any combination of the following with the “less-appealing-to-kids” activities coming before the “more-appealing” ones, whenever possible, and with either sustained physical activity or a 10-15 minute spurt of “heavy work” thrown in around mid-morning.
-                Focused Learning Activities
-                Practice on Goals
-                Physical and Sensory Activities
-                Tidy, then Snack
-                Get Togethers / Field Trips / Errands /Learning Groups and Co-ops

Lunch and Quiet Time
o        Tidy
o        Family Meal
o        Read Alouds
o        Self-Directed Quiet Activities, including Reading

Afternoon Experiences
o        Any combination of “minimal persistence/high-interest activities” (i.e. ones the kids like and stay engaged in) with necesary “less-appealing-to-kids” activities (such as tidy time) coming before the “more-appealing” ones (like snack time or online time).  Activities that might be included:
-                Focused Family Studies and Projects
-                Physical and Sensory Activities
-                Online Time
-                Get Togethers / Field Trips / Errands /Learning Groups and Co-ops
o        Tidy, then Snack

Dinner and Intentional Family (or Parent-Children Time when Mom is Working)
o        Tidy
o        Family Meal
o        Getting Crazy with Daddy, Creative / Physical / Chill-Time Activities

Wind Down and Bedtime
o        Tidy
o        Screen-Free Activities (beginning at least one hour before bedtime)

o        Five T’s

How does your day flow?  Do you intentionally structure it to meet certain goals or to accommodate certain learning / personality / neurology styles?

1 comment:

Erin K. said...

That looks great! As much as I don't "need" a routine, my kids thrive on one. We definitely have better days when we have a plan!

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