Setting your disabled child up for success with their chores

When a space is cluttered, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. And that's just for the adults! 

When a tween or teen is told to 'clean their room', if the steps haven't been broken down for them, it's probably not a reasonable expectation that they can do it unassisted. The inability to do the task (can't) can then look like an unwillingness (won't) and can lead to frustration for all parties and conflict.

To set a child up for success we need to:

• Break the task down into steps (scaffolding)

• Model each step (I do)

• Do each step together (We do)

• If/when appropriate, allow them to do each step (You do) 

Using a checklist is a great way to work through the steps required of a bigger task.

Tick each step off as you go for positive feedback and extra dopamine! 

The short term goal - a tidier space - can be more easily achieved. 

The longer term goal - building skills to manage personal belongings - is being worked on with appropriate scaffolding. 

Inspired by KC Davis' 5 Things Tidying Method plus a lifetime of trying to keep her own spaces under some level of control, I developed two checklists for our Carer Community members.

The key is to focus on one element of the task at a time - it helps you stay on track by giving your brain only one thing to seek out and do. Finishing one aspect of the task (eg putting all the rubbish in the bin) makes it more satisfying and helps build momentum.

There is a simple pcs version for those who benefit from visuals plus a more text-based checklist for those with more developed literacy skills.

Hint - this is not just for kids. Using the checklist for ourselves makes life easier and takes up less bandwidth.

Download your free tidying up checklists in our Facebook group here -

https://www.facebook.com/groups/600867071601242/posts/635655044789111/

If you’re not yet in The Carer Collective group, click and join us here -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/600867071601242

Caz Clarkson x