Completing projects

Sometimes big projects can be overwhelming for little ones. My statement of "clean your room" is totally a doable project for the born organized 15-year-old. She could handle the job, mostly on her own from the time she was 4. But for my more creatively thinking kids, that is an overwhelming request that will most likely deteriorate into tears and frustration within the first half hour. That is, if they don't get distracted and just start playing with something instead.

My solution has been to break down the job into smaller steps and then when possible, give them a visual to track their process.

In the example of cleaning their room, I might cut out a construction paper triangle and cut layers (like the old Food Pyramid idea). Put one area of their room on each section with "vacuum" being the very top triangle. Scatter the pieces on the table in the living room, out of the project area, and child finds the largest piece. It might say "make your bed" or "clean off the top and the floor under your desk." When that job is done, the child comes back to the table and finds the next piece up on the pyramid. Completing each job piece by piece gives some organization to the process and helps to guide a child who might not be able to get through the process on their own without getting distracted. For added incentive or structure, you can set a timer for 10-15 minutes. If the job is done before the timer goes off, the kid gets to play until it does. The job is still completed in the time frame you set forth, they are encouraged to stay focused for a short period of time, and they also get the mental breaks they may need to get it done.

We also use this sort of system with our younger kids when it comes to school work. Starting her day with a list of subjects to get through is overwhelming. She doesn't always have the same subjects every day either. But she is much more willing to stay focused and work if there is light at the end of the tunnel and she knows there is an end to it. So we use something like this...

All of the subjects she will work on were written on die cuts from the dollar store and backed with a small piece of magnetic strip so that they stick to the fridge. I got a magnetic pocket from a sale on school supply sales somewhere years ago. By adding a clipart basket to the front of the pocket, I've created a "done" basket. Each day I put the subjects that are on her assignment sheet on the fridge. Since I work with this child one on one while my older students complete their own work, I know what the actual assignments are. When we finish an activity or reading assignment she puts the correct apple into the basket. When all the apples are in the basket, she'd done for the day. 

You could also use this system for chores. Put each item to be done on a piece of paper or clipart image and  as the jobs are completed they are put into a basket or moved from one side of a chart to the other. Personally I like things like this on the fridge. It is out in the open and I can see someone's progress without having to interrupt and ask them what they're doing, what they've finished, or what they still need to do.