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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here's what we did (and buy a book about helping organize the ADHD teen).

Set aside a weekend, and take lots of breaks as you go. Goal: extreme minimalist. Empty the room of all but the furniture and rugs. Even the closet. Deep clean.

Step 1: Clothing

Help him sort clothing and decide together where each category of clothing will go. Teach  him how to fold/hang and put it all away in an organized way. Label drawers if you have to for now. Don't overstiuff anything. Eliminate things that don't fit into the designated spot. Put a laundry hamper in the room. Get hooks for bags and hoodies; a hanging shoe holder works to organize more than just shoes in a closet.

Step 2: Study NEEDs

If the room is used for studying, help him decide the absolute minimum of things he needs to have in and on his desk/drawers, in and on a bookshelf. Choose a way to organize the bookshelf -- by class, by category of item, etc.) Keep any other "desk or bookshelf " item out of the room (no "extras just in case" go in the room; store it elsewhere if you feel you have to have extras on hand).

Step 3: Bed and bedside table:

What do you really need here? What would you have to have in a hotel room? Limit him to that.

Step 4: What's left that has to be in the room?

Go through whatever has not been returned to the room and decide:

- do you need it?
- if so, does it need to be in this room?
- if not, find a better place for it; if so, find an organized dedicated in room home for it.
- if it is a sentimental "want," where can it go in the room that will not be distracting or become clutter?

Step 5: All the other stuff

Sort by trash (have a bag or two ready), donate (have boxes ready), find another spot in the house (put it there right away).

After this, take a photo of the room, print it and post it on the back of the bedroom door.  For a the next 4 weeks, every Saturday morning, compare the room to the photo and have him set it right, help as needed, this is a new learned skill. Then every two weeks then once a month. The goal is to form a habit, and that takes 90 days of consistency. Good luck.[/quote]

GREAT great great advice. Be a team with him in this.

We had to do something similar with our DS, who is a bit younger, but was having similar struggles. Bedroom has to be really spartan. He has a loft bed, which might be a little juvenile for your 16 year old, but it works to keep it simple and organized with no place to hide stuff. When we moved his dresser there were wrappers, trash, things he thought he lost months ago. It was gross. We also let him spiff things up with LED lights, which I personally don't care for but at least gives him some feeling that it's a space he enjoys too. Other than that, very little in the room other than a dresser, a simple desk and small bookshelf under the loft, and a peg rail. His closet has hanging items and no place to hide or store anything extra.[/quote]

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