Home-Based Strategies Which Support the School

Concern

Accomodations

Difficulty with structure and/or organization

• Develop schedules and routines for your child to follow and post them in a prominent place.
• Prepare your child ahead of time when there will be a change from the normal routine.
• Structure the home environment.

Difficulty sustaining effort

• Compile a list of rewards and consequences that are powerful motivators for your child -- sit down with him or her and update the list frequently to keep it fresh and motivating.
• Give praise and encouragement freely to motivate and reinforce good behaviours.
• Recognize your child's efforts when he or she is not successful.

• Allow less important things to slide--pick your battles!
• Model task for your child that he or she finds difficult--repetition is often necessary to help internalize the behaviour or task that is being taught.
• Write step-by-step instructions on 3x5 index cards for each chore you expect your child to do, then have him or her refer to the card when it is time to do the chore.

Difficulty completing homework

• Divide homework time into manageable work periods.
• Involve your child in extracurricular activities he or she enjoys and at which he or she can be successful.
• Provide a clutter-free study area for doing homework.
• Provide your child with a daily assignment notebook to help him or her keep track of his or her homework assignments.
• Set a limit for the amount of time your child can spend on homework each night and notify school personnel that assignments may need to be modified accordingly.

Difficulty getting along with others

• Do not measure success by comparing him or her to peers, but make him or her responsible for improvement.
• Help your child understand the part he or she plays in conflicts.
• Provide opportunities that promote successful social interaction with other children (short, one-on-one, supervised play situations seem to be most successful).
• Recognize strengths and encourage opportunities to build them.