One of the big ones is papers - Papers from school, art projects, pages from coloring books... At times it seems to take over the house. I have thrown away a paper before, not even giving it a second thought and weeks later come to regret it. To our son it was a prized possession and not one soon to be forgotten. There have been melt downs and panic over a misplace school paper. (one that has been completed, graded and sent back home)
I have tried, but I cannot keep up. As much as I hate to admit it, I don't want them cluttering every corner of our home. And despite all my attempts to help him "get over the hoarding of papers" his mind does not work that way.
The solution to this is perhaps the best thing we have come up with to make life a little more "manageable" around here when it comes to this disorder.
He has a three ring binder, a three hole hole punch, and a rule. If it is something he wants to keep, HE is responsible to punch holes and put it in the notebook. If the paper is still out when he goes to bed that night it goes in the trash. I remind him when I find something of his or it is time to clean up, "If you want it, put it in the notebook if not put it in the trash. After homework is done in the afternoons I tell him to clean out his school folder and he knows what that means. (I do try to remind him to keep up with it everyday so it is not too many papers at a time and so overwhelming)
So far so good. This has cut way down on the clutter of papers and helped him realize that he bears some of the responsibility. We may end up with dozens of notebooks, so far our first one is beyond full. But he LOVES going through it and looking at all his "treasures". We have avoided who knows how many tears.
* I would also suggest putting some sort of folder into the notebook for all the little (and big) projects too.
** Similarly we have a "treasure box" for some of the other things he accumulates. When it gets to overflowing he has to clean it out and throw stuff away. This takes him hours and is hard for him but he does it and I believe it is good for him to have to purge from time to time. He gets to make the choices and decide what is more valuable but he still doesn't end up keeping everything he has ever laid eyes on. This too has worked well. I think when they struggle with hoarding, putting the ball in their court but also giving them some boundaries is very beneficial.
I have tried, but I cannot keep up. As much as I hate to admit it, I don't want them cluttering every corner of our home. And despite all my attempts to help him "get over the hoarding of papers" his mind does not work that way.
The solution to this is perhaps the best thing we have come up with to make life a little more "manageable" around here when it comes to this disorder.
He has a three ring binder, a three hole hole punch, and a rule. If it is something he wants to keep, HE is responsible to punch holes and put it in the notebook. If the paper is still out when he goes to bed that night it goes in the trash. I remind him when I find something of his or it is time to clean up, "If you want it, put it in the notebook if not put it in the trash. After homework is done in the afternoons I tell him to clean out his school folder and he knows what that means. (I do try to remind him to keep up with it everyday so it is not too many papers at a time and so overwhelming)
So far so good. This has cut way down on the clutter of papers and helped him realize that he bears some of the responsibility. We may end up with dozens of notebooks, so far our first one is beyond full. But he LOVES going through it and looking at all his "treasures". We have avoided who knows how many tears.
* I would also suggest putting some sort of folder into the notebook for all the little (and big) projects too.
** Similarly we have a "treasure box" for some of the other things he accumulates. When it gets to overflowing he has to clean it out and throw stuff away. This takes him hours and is hard for him but he does it and I believe it is good for him to have to purge from time to time. He gets to make the choices and decide what is more valuable but he still doesn't end up keeping everything he has ever laid eyes on. This too has worked well. I think when they struggle with hoarding, putting the ball in their court but also giving them some boundaries is very beneficial.
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