From knowing a family having a member with learning disabilities, I have seen how much it helps to live close to a regular daily schedule.
Janie (name changed) is a 10 year old girl who is hyperactive, and has Irlen's Syndrome and dysgraphia. The jumping around from one activity to the next is compounded with the short attention span while reading for a child with Irlen's.
I've watched her parents struggle trying to fit Janie into their laid-back life style, a product of their upbringing in the 1960s. It just doesn't work. What does seem to work for their household is a scheduled time for everything, and then to stick to it as much as possible. It seems to put rhyme and reason into Janie's daily life, and gives others a chance to enjoy her company.
Okay, what is Janie's daily schedule like?
- Regular times for rising and going to bed, to start out with.
- After rising and using the bathroom time for a sit down breakfast.
- Getting dressed for the day with clothes laid out and decided upon the night before.
- Packed lunch ready on the counter except for pizza lunch day at school on Friday's.
- Watching television till mom gets ready and drives Janie to school. Mom gets out of car and gives Janie a hug.
- At school, being in a structured class rather than an open plan (it was tried one year but Janie thrives better with activities at their usual time).
- After school, taking time to unwind with a half hour exercise or play time, then homework till dinner.
- After dinner, quiet time where voices in the house are kept low till bath time, then a half hour to read quietly in bed.
That about wraps up the Monday to Friday routine. Weekends are somewhat chaotic with the family sleeping in or going off to their own activities, disrupting Janie's patterns.
They sure look forward to the scheduled order of Mondays again!
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Irlen Syndrome
Dysgraphia
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Editor's note: At their request, child's name changed to protect their privacy.
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