11 year old getting more and more disorganised

[elliejjtiny]

Ds4 is 11 and in year 7 at secondary school. We have always had roughly 1 or 2 calls a week from school asking is to bring in his pencil case/spare batteries/cooking stuff/pe kit etc but it's been getting worse and this week he has lost his school tie twice, forgotten his hearing aids once, lost both hearing aids in different places and forgotten to make his packed lunch. This is with several reminders.

Apart from the fact that it's driving me bonkers, when he was little he had extra fluid on his brain and he is currently being investigated for a shadow on his jaw. We have always been told that the fluid on his brain could come back, although unlikely. Academically he is doing so much better than he was in primary, thanks in part to his amazing one to one TA, but his organisation seems to be getting worse.

Passive aggressive way of saying I don't like doing this? Would a wipeable checklist somewhere help if he could check it off as he goes?

There's a big range in capabilities at 11. Yes a lot will manage to remember everything they need but some just aren't capable yet and need a bit more help.
Can you make a list with him of what he needs each day, maybe a laminated timetable or checklist , then go through with him what he needs to pack each evening for the day ahead and then a check in the morning too that he's got everything.
Hopefully as he gets older he will become more and more independent.

On a practical level could you duplicate some things like the pencil case so that it stays in his school bag all the time and there is another one for homework?

Thank you. We already have a duplicate pencil case. Hearing aid batteries are in his school bag, his drawer at home and in my handbag. I always remind him verbally what he needs for the morning but I think having it written down might be better.

I think you probably need to pack his bag with him each evening before bed.

We have to do this for our ASD y7.

He’s only 11 and high school is a huge change with lots going on. I would sit with him and make a checklist with him to help him remember what he needs.