Anyone, adult or child, with ADHD knows this struggle: they want to do something, they know that they have to do something, but finding the motivation to actually do the thing feels like a gargantuan impossible task. Even simple tasks, like putting dishes into the dishwasher, sometimes feels like trying to climb Mount Everest. For the average neurotypical person, this seems silly. Putting dishes away takes thirty seconds, so why would adults or children with ADHD struggle so much? Why aren’t they capable of doing something so simple? This mindset is harmful. People with ADHD are capable, but they struggle with motivation. Executive function struggles stop them in their tracks, even if it’s a task that they really want to complete.
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Make Sure That Kids Understand What It’s For
It’s important to involve your kids when creating a responsibility chart. If you don’t, things could go wrong. It’s better to discuss with your little ones, no matter how young they are, and make decisions together. Also, it’s a good idea to show your kids what’s on your own responsibility chart, so everyone is on the same page. Not anyone likes to be told what to do without any say in the matter, so let your kids be a part of the decision-making process. You might be amazed and surprised by the results!
What happens once you make the chart and see your child avoiding a task? Don’t assume it’s all negative! We all have trouble remembering essential tasks sometimes. Ask them what they’re supposed to be doing. Have them walk you through the task. If they can’t, this is a good opportunity to remind them.
Instead of showing them how to do the task (especially if you’ve done it before), work together on it this time and make sure that your child does their fair share. If they’re not getting it, support them with a visual schedule.
| Involving Kids in Chart Creation – Discuss with your kids and make decisions together. – Show them your own responsibility chart to establish a shared understanding. – Let your kids be a part of the decision-making process. – Be amazed and surprised by the results! |
| Addressing Task Avoidance – Ask your child what they are supposed to be doing. – Have them walk you through the task. – Use this as an opportunity to remind them if they’re unsure. – Work together and ensure your child does their fair share. – Support them with a visual schedule if needed. |
Create a Schedule and Reminders
A lot of times responsibility charts don’t work for kids in the traditional sense, especially kids with ADHD. Executive functioning is tough for kids with ADHD, so try a different way to “chart” responsibilities, like with visual schedule, or a checklist with audio aids and visual support.
Creating a children’s schedule in an app (like Goally!) is a great way to help them get their brains into “task mode.” It’s helpful to have a visual representation of what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s helpful to balance digital and physical reminders so your child has access to as many resources as possible. You probably use a digital calendar app or reminder app to help you get through tasks and responsibilities in your day — why not give the same tools to your kiddo?
Read more: Should Kids Get Paid for Chores?
Once your child gets used to their schedule, it will become easier for them to mentally block out their time so they can complete their tasks. This is also helpful when it comes to things like homework. Learning for children with ADHD might seem difficult, but it isn’t because they aren’t bright. It’s because they have a hard time finding time and motivation for their schoolwork. With a schedule, they should be able to mitigate this problem.
Be Consistent With Potential Consequences + Motives
A kids responsibility chart can be overwhelming. So what happens when they don’t complete tasks? While it should vary depending on the type of task, you should be consistent with how you handle the situation. Consequences should match the task and they should be the same every time.
For example: did your child forget to clean the counters? Reduce the number of points they earn for “cleaning the kitchen” instead of punishing them. A token board reward system can help keep kids motivated through tasks. (Goally will calculate points for you automatically!)
Natural Consequences
When it comes to consequences for a child with ADHD, natural consequences are the way to go. By focusing on natural consequences instead of making up consequences, you can help your child understand cause and effect in a way that’s applicable to their everyday life. So, what exactly is a natural consequence?
For instance, if your child doesn’t turn in their homework, they’ll lose points, and may even miss out on a school incentive. While you shouldn’t keep letting your child skip out on their responsibilities, sometimes letting them experience the natural consequence of their actions can help them understand the importance of doing their work.
Put your child’s clothes on their bed (folded or unfolded) when you’re done with laundry. If your child doesn’t put their clothes away during the day, they now have to do it at night or sleep on a bed covered in clothes. If the clothes were already folded, they may have to re-fold them themself.
Use a Reward System
Positive reinforcement is one of the best things that you can do for your child with ADHD. When children know that something good will happen after they complete a task, they’ll start associating that task with the positive reward. This will make it easier for them to complete the task in the future (even if the rewards stop at some point).
Read more: 7 Fun Activities for Kids With ADHD
Goally allows you to track your child’s progress and offer them rewards for completing tasks. You can even add bonus rewards if your child completes their tasks in record time. (Goally can do this automatically!)
Make Responsibility Charts Fun for Kids
This doesn’t work for all tasks, but it will work for a lot of them. Find ways to make the task more entertaining for the child.
There are several fun activities for children that involve cleaning, for example. Time the child to see how long it takes them to clean their room. Consider putting on fun music and having the child stop and take a dance break when the songs change.
If you have multiple children, you can make it a competition. Children love healthy rivalry.
Break Down Tasks Even Further
Break simple tasks into even simpler parts. Let’s use the laundry as an example. Instead of “put away laundry,” break it down into steps:
- Go into the bedroom
- Separate clothing into categories
- Put pants into the “pants” drawer
- Grab empty hangers from the closet
- Put one shirt on each hanger
- Put hangers back in the closet
These steps may seem excessive, but they can help your child overcome executive dysfunction paralysis.
Try Goally For Your Child With ADHD
Goally helps kids with ADHD stay focused and build skills. Unlike a Kindle or an iPad that kids get easily distracted on, Goally has no YouTube, no social media, no web browser, and especially no ads.
Goally uses game play as a points-based motivator for your kiddo with ADHD and helps them learn emotional regulation skills. It’s simple to set up and has an expert-informed design.
Help Kids With ADHD Stay Motivated With a Responsibility Chart
Children with ADHD need an extra boost when it comes to motivation. Try these responsibility chart strategies and see how your kid develops. Mix and match them to create the perfect motivation techniques for your kid!
If you want a new tool for your child’s ADHD toolbox, try Goally! It’s a great way to create a daily task schedule that provides reminders for your child and lets you reward them for completing tasks.
Check out our pricing plan or try a demo today!
FAQs About Kids Responsibility Chart
How can a responsibility chart benefit my child with special needs? A responsibility chart can be particularly helpful for children with special needs because it provides a clear structure and routine, which can be comforting and reduce anxiety..
How can I involve my child in creating their responsibility chart? You can involve your child in creating their responsibility chart by discussing their tasks and responsibilities with them and letting them have input in what is included on the chart.
What are natural consequences, and how can they be incorporated into a responsibility chart? Natural consequences are the result of a child's actions or inactions, and they can be incorporated into a responsibility chart by allowing the child to experience the natural consequence of not completing a task.
What should I do if my child consistently fails to complete tasks on their responsibility chart? If your child consistently fails to complete tasks on their responsibility chart, you may need to reassess the chart and make adjustments to ensure that it is realistic and achievable for your child's abilities.
How can I make the responsibility chart fun for my child? You can make the responsibility chart fun for your child by using colorful and visually appealing graphics, allowing them to choose stickers or rewards for completing tasks, and involving them in the process of creating the chart.
This post was originally published on 02/18/2022. It was updated on June 12, 2023.
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