The ADHD Launchpad - Simple Strategy for Families with ADHD

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21 Sept

Mornings can often feel like a race against the clock, especially on school and work days. Packing essentials, preparing breakfast, and getting everyone out the door can easily become a rush—or a total mess—for most families at some point.

When ADHD is part of the mix, that rush can quickly spiral into chaos, with stressed parents and overwhelmed kids. We know this all too well, as both a parent and child in our household have ADHD.

No one wants to start the day in that kind of stress. If you’re an ADHD parent, your experience may be especially difficult, with the added guilt of your child feeling stressed before school or the frustration of consistently running late despite your best efforts. We’ve been there.

That’s why, when we heard of the concept of a ‘launchpad’ we jumped on the idea. It’s significantly improved our overall organisation as a family and has made mornings more manageable for everyone.

So, what is an ADHD Launchpad?

A launchpad is a designated space where the family prepares everything needed for the next day—backpacks, keys, jackets, laptops, lunchboxes and any other morning essentials. The idea is to form a habit of preparing everything the evening before and placing everything consistently in the same place, to streamline the morning routine.

Benefits of an ADHD Launchpad for Families

Prevents the Morning Rush
For families managing ADHD, structure and routine are crucial. A launchpad helps create a sense of order and predictability, making mornings less frantic. Knowing exactly where to find important items prevents the last-minute scramble and helps everyone stay on track.

Supports Executive Functioning
ADHD often impacts executive functioning, which includes skills like planning and organisation. By creating a launchpad, you’re reinforcing these skills for both parents and kids. Setting up the launchpad becomes part of a predictable routine that helps with organisation and time management.

Encourages Independence
For kids with ADHD, a launchpad can promote independence by giving them the responsibility of preparing their own space. Parents can involve their children in setting up their launchpad, teaching them to manage their own time and resources while giving them a sense of accomplishment.

Reduces Stress and Overwhelm
By removing the number of tasks for the morning, you reduce stress and decision fatigue. Parents with ADHD often find that minimising the number of decisions they have to make in the morning leads to a calmer start to the day, allowing more focus on other priorities.

Improves Focus and Reduces Distractions
With a clear, organised launchpad, both parents and kids can stay focused. ADHD brains are easily distracted, and a launchpad reduces the mental load of searching for lost items. When everything is in its place, the likelihood of distractions or getting off task significantly decreases.

How to get started?

Choose a high-traffic, highly visible area in your home, like a hallway, kitchen, room near the front of the house or near the front door.
Incorporate the setup of your up the launchpad into your evening routine, before your kids go to bed.
If there are items that can’t be prepared the evening before, write a note and put it somewhere visible in your launchpad and/or set an alarm or reminder for the morning.
Whether your family members have ADHD or not, having everyone follow the same routine helps things run smoothly. Working together to gather essentials reduces the chances of forgetting important items.

For families with ADHD, the launchpad is a simple yet powerful tool for reducing stress, fostering independence, and creating a more manageable morning routine. Whether you’re a parent, a child, or both dealing with ADHD, a little preparation can go a long way in setting the stage for a strong start to the day.