My child keeps losing their things

A pencil case every month, jumpers forgotten in the canteen, exercise books nowhere to be found in the morning: your child is constantly losing their belongings. It isn’t that they don’t pay attention by choice. These losses can be linked to difficulties with attention and organisation. Here is how to help them. A few simple habits can limit the losses and the tension.

A common problem

Losing your things now and then is normal. But when it happens almost every day, it becomes a real difficulty, costly and a source of conflict. These repeated losses can also be expensive for families.

The child themselves is often frustrated at not being able to find what they are looking for.

This point is explained step by step in Mon enfant oublie tout.

Why they lose their things

They put an object down without thinking, distracted by something else, and no longer remember where they left it. Difficulties with attention and organisation are often to blame. They do not do it out of deliberate carelessness.

To go further, read our article ADHD and organisation.

The link with ADHD

Frequently losing the items needed for their activities is one of the signs of inattention in ADHD. This sign alone is not enough, but it may come alongside others. The doctor assesses the full range of signs.

We explain this point in more detail in Les signes du TDA chez l’enfant.

Find dys professionals near you

The only online directory dedicated to professionals working with Dys disorders

A place for everything

Set a fixed place for important items: a hook for the coat, a basket for shoes, a tray for school things. Label them if needed. This kind of organisation benefits the whole family.

The fewer choices there are, the fewer things get forgotten.

This topic is covered in our page ADHD and routines at home.

Marking their belongings

Put their name on all their belongings. Items lost at school are more likely to be returned. A simple label is often enough.

Choosing bright colours also helps to spot them.

You will find more details in the article ADHD and school bag.

Limiting equipment

Fewer items in the school bag means fewer chances of losing them. Keep a simple pencil case and spare items at home. Fewer objects also means fewer distractions.

Our article ADHD and forgotten homework complements these tips.

Staying kind

Repeated reproaches do not solve the problem and hurt the child. Instead, help them set up routines for checking. A quick check before leaving quickly becomes a habit.

To explore further, see ADHD and self-esteem.