To have a daily schedule for 12 year old?

[xterde]

DS is 12, asd and adhd ( adhd being the main issue imo) all he ever wants to do if not given direction is watch YouTube, and if I ban YouTube then he just wants to play Roblox or Minecraft all day.
is it weird/controlling to do a sort of timetable for him of his day? I'm just so worried his attention span is becoming worse. He doesn't have homework etc to fill his time as he is in a special school however he is in many ways of mainstream ability is that's relevant.

so for example:
3pm-Home from school, Gaming/TV 1 hr to wind down from school
4pm- something 'craft' or learning related Lego, painting, drawing, practice piano, making stuff with card etc
5pm- Dinner
5:30- board games/Card games/ Reading
6:30- tidy up, shower
7pm until bedtime- tv/chill time

is this ok? Is it mean? He does enjoy these things but just doesn't do them without being directed to- if I just said one hour gaming then find something else to do without being more specific he would literally just go to bed or whinge at me the whole time or run around jumping on things causing disasters

If you can get it to work, why not?
My son has similar executive function difficulties and would sit watching videos all day if I didn't limit these things.

Yes totally this sort of support with executive functioning might be important. Mine is a bit PDAish so timetabling computer.time makes her freak out and go into a panicky scarcity mindset. But if he would feel soothed and structured by a timetable then go for it.

Think about AuDHD children as in areas of challenge being more than 3 years younger than their actual age. When mine has periods of capacity fluctuating low because she finds it hard to do stuff, I am literally putting on her socks for her.

I don’t see the problem if it helps him.

Over time you could change it to a daily list (or two lists - stuff that needs doing and ideas to fill time) rather than a timetable and let him choose what order he does stuff in.

Good idea, this would suit my 11 year old son who is autistic but isn’t allowed YouTube . What about cooking together, would he like that?

Does he not have homework?

If it works for him then go for it.

The only thing I'd suggest is trying to get him involved in this process. It sounds like the timetable is a good idea for him, it would be worth getting him on board with doing it for himself so it's a tool he can use going forward.

I sometimes make a timetable like this for myself, helps me focus on what needs to be done.

Nothing wrong with it in theory but ADHDers are at higher risk of burnout so be careful you don't overschedule him, and as PP said involve him in decision making as much as possible.

That said I would include some simple life skills like helping clear up after dinner.

My autistic child wrote himself an after school timetable in YR! But he later got very burned out and unwell.

Op I think it's not even just a ND issue. I think a huge number of young people (and I think boys particularly with the pull to gaming) come home and want to play on their playstation for hours

The dopamine hit of gaming makes other things boring - my 13 year old is the same. If I take the gaming away he lies on his bed looking completely depressed

What has happened to childhood - that we have to organise their time? At 12/13 the ideal would be they were out on bikes/ knocking for friends.

but given that has sadly vanished from many neighbourhoods - yes, I think you are right to push him to do things other than gaming.

I have two boys with ADHD and autism. I think this is PERFECT. Gives some structure, lets him know what's expected and what to expect.

When they were younger, I used to do a "planner" of what we were going to do each day during the holidays and stick it on the front door. They loved knowing what was happening. You can always ask for his input on the schedule, what would he like to see happen and when?