Assist the student with attention challenges in considering the areas of the dorm room. Dorm rooms allow for the essentials: clothes, study tools, self-care items, and perhaps some entertainment equipment. ADHD kids work well with lists. Create a list that addresses each of the four areas of a dorm room.
Students With ADHD Should Take Less
The student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may easily be overwhelmed in trimming those categories to what is truly needed. For example, the student may be used to a large amount of closet space at home. Since that will not be the case in the dorm room, choices must be made on just what to take. The student with Attention Deficit may be inclined to take it all. Sort through clothing and pack only what will be needed for the current season.
Easy Unpacking for Students with Attention Deficit
Label boxes for each dorm room area. Encourage students to pack according to the labels. For example, only clothes should go in the clothes boxes. Consider packing clothes on hangers that can simply be removed from the box and hung in the closet. This is critical for the student who is overwhelmed with organization. If he struggled to keep clothes picked up due to Attention Deficit at home, the challenge will be greater in a small dorm room. The concept of unpacking clothes, getting them on hangers, and getting them into the closet will most likely be too much.
Pack Organization Tools to Benefit Attention to Task
Consider organizational tools that worked for clothing and study tools during high school. It is not enough to say to the college student with ADHD that he should get a file box to organize papers. Search for the appropriate box at home. Work with the student to create and label a system for keeping track of papers. The freshman student with ADHD might need a file for each class, one for registration materials, and another for general college information.
Many students with learning disabilities find that three ring binders are helpful. Using a hole punch to insert papers or using clear plastic sleeves can be helpful. For many students who struggle with attention and organization it is easier to keep track of a binder that keeping papers in files.
Maintain Attention to Task With Quick Box Removal
Many students with special needs have difficulty staying on task. Moving into the dorm is overwhelming for most students. The student with ADHD may think he should unpack later. He may think he needs to keep empty boxes.
Have a plan for unpacking. Encourage the student to unpack one box at a time, placing the items in the appropriate place. Certainly, it is his choice just where the items go. The important thing is having a system that will allow the student to overcome his challenges with organization and to complete the task.
Using a plan to pack needed items and unpack them systematically will assist the college student with ADHD. Organization and attention to task are important for the successful move into the dorm.
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