OK hear me out.
I have a pretty organized pantry; not perfect but pretty good, if I say so myself.
And yet, I noticed that it wasn’t working for everyone who was using my pantry.
For some neurodivergent brains, seeing all possibilities- even when nicely organized- can feel overwhelming. Instead, some ND brains just like to be told what to do.
So, I borrowed a tip from video games and I laid out a clear formula for “crafting” a snack, and listed all the things in our pantry and fridge that were in each category.
You could do this for packing a lunchbox or making a simple meal as well. And before you say “but you’re doing all the thinking for them!” you should know that I did this with my child; we sat down and talked about what should go in each category so that I knew it was items my child would actually eat and would know what everything meant (as well as where to find it).
Video games- including Minecraft- are very good at visually organizing information to make it easy to understand. By combining a simple visual list of options along with the visual of the pantry itself, and adding in the steps needed to complete the task, we are actually reducing the labor and thinking we are doing for our kids. Instead we’re offloading it and making it available at all times; this sort of easy reminder is another common accommodation for ND brains, and it also can teach our kids that certain accommodations or strategies work well for them, so they can learn how their brains work best.
Do you do anything to make it easier for kids to find stuff in the pantry?
