If you live with a child who has ADD/ADHD, you know too well that clutter comes with the territory: books on the stairs, backpacks in the hall, pizza boxes on the floor and a coat draped over every chair. Is that the scene at your house? More to the point, are you the one who straightens up?

Stop right now. Your child must learn to clean up his own messes. After all, clutter control is a skill kids must master if they are ever to live successfully on their own. Establish a set of ground rules about cleaning up, and make it clear that that every family member must follow them. Four rules are especially helpful:

Hang it up! Let's say, your daughter has a habit of dropping her coat on the floor when she comes home. You've reminded her to use the coat closet, and yet, there's that darn coat again. If you can't bring her to the closet, bring the closet to her. Install coat hooks or place a coat tree near the door. Hang a coat on one of the hooks as a visual reminder that this is where coats go. At first you may have to yell "Use the hook" each time you hear the front door open. But soon your daughter will be using the hook as a matter of habit, without any reminders.