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Creating Activities

Learn how to create engaging and effective activities for children with ADHD and autism using Spectrum One's activity management system.

Activity Creation Wizard​

The activity creation process is designed to be intuitive and comprehensive:

1

Basic Information - Name, description, and category

2

Scheduling - When and how often the activity occurs

3

Evidence Requirements - What proof of completion is needed

4

Rewards & Points - Point values and completion criteria

5

Review & Create - Final review before saving

Basic Information​

Activity Name​

  • Use clear, descriptive names that children can easily understand
  • Examples: "Brush Your Teeth", "Complete Math Homework", "Tidy Your Room"

ADHD Tip: Keep activity names short and action-oriented. Avoid complex or ambiguous language that might cause confusion.

Description​

Provide clear instructions that include:

  • What needs to be done
  • How to do it (step-by-step if complex)
  • Where it should be done
  • Any materials needed

Activity Categories​

Choose from predefined categories:

  • Self-Care - Personal hygiene, dressing, grooming
  • Education - Homework, reading, learning activities
  • Chores - Household tasks, organization
  • Social - Family time, friend interactions
  • Physical - Exercise, outdoor activities, sports
  • Creative - Art, music, crafts, building
  • Life Skills - Cooking, money management, independence

Scheduling Options​

Frequency Settings​

  • One-time - Single occurrence activity
  • Daily - Repeats every day
  • Weekly - Specific days of the week
  • Custom - Advanced scheduling patterns Basic+

Time Settings​

  • Specific Time - Exact time the activity should be done
  • Time Range - Flexible window for completion
  • All Day - No specific time requirement
  • Before/After - Relative to other activities or events

Autism Support: Consistent scheduling helps create predictable routines. Use specific times when possible to reduce anxiety about when activities should occur.

Duration Estimates​

Set realistic time expectations:

  • Quick (5-15 minutes) - Simple tasks like brushing teeth
  • Medium (15-45 minutes) - Homework or chores
  • Long (45+ minutes) - Complex projects or activities

Evidence Requirements​

Evidence Types​

Photo Evidence

  • Child takes a photo showing completion
  • Useful for: cleaned rooms, completed artwork, self-care activities
  • Automatic timestamp and location data Basic+

Description Evidence

  • Child writes or dictates what they did
  • Useful for: learning activities, social interactions, feelings
  • Voice-to-text support available

Both Photo and Description

  • Comprehensive evidence for important activities
  • Provides context and visual proof
  • Recommended for complex or high-value activities

Evidence Guidelines​

Help children succeed by providing:

  • Clear examples of good evidence
  • Photo tips - lighting, angles, what to include
  • Description prompts - questions to help them explain

Points & Rewards​

Point Values​

Consider these factors when setting points:

  • Difficulty level - Harder tasks earn more points
  • Time investment - Longer activities get higher rewards
  • Importance - Critical activities (like medication) get bonus points
  • Child's challenges - Extra points for activities that are particularly difficult for that child

Suggested Point Ranges​

  • Simple tasks (1-5 points) - Brushing teeth, making bed
  • Medium tasks (5-15 points) - Homework, chores
  • Complex tasks (15-30 points) - Major projects, challenging skills
  • Bonus points (5-10 extra) - Completing without reminders, exceptional effort

Completion Criteria​

Automatic Approval

  • Activity is marked complete when evidence is submitted
  • Good for routine, low-stakes activities
  • Builds independence and confidence

Parent Review Required

  • Evidence must be approved by parent before points are awarded
  • Recommended for complex activities or when learning new skills
  • Allows for feedback and guidance

Motivation Strategy: Balance immediate rewards (automatic approval) with learning opportunities (parent review) based on the child's needs and the activity's importance.

Advanced Features Premium​

AI Analysis Integration​

  • Automatic analysis of photo evidence
  • Detailed feedback on activity completion
  • Progress tracking and insights
  • Personalized suggestions for improvement

Bulk Activity Creation​

  • Create multiple similar activities at once
  • Template system for common activity types
  • Import activities from other children or families

Custom Notifications​

  • Personalized reminder messages
  • Multiple reminder types (visual, audio, vibration)
  • Smart timing based on child's patterns

Activity Templates​

Pre-built templates for common activities:

Self-Care Templates​

  • Morning routine checklist
  • Bedtime routine steps
  • Personal hygiene activities

Educational Templates​

  • Homework completion tracker
  • Reading log activities
  • Skill practice sessions

Household Templates​

  • Age-appropriate chore lists
  • Room cleaning checklists
  • Pet care responsibilities

Best Practices​

For Children with ADHD​

  1. Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps
  2. Use visual cues and clear instructions
  3. Set realistic timeframes with buffer time
  4. Provide immediate feedback when possible
  5. Celebrate small wins with appropriate point values

For Children with Autism​

  1. Maintain consistent routines and scheduling
  2. Provide detailed instructions with examples
  3. Use predictable language and terminology
  4. Allow processing time with flexible deadlines
  5. Respect sensory preferences in activity design

General Guidelines​

  • Start with easier activities to build confidence
  • Gradually increase complexity as skills develop
  • Involve the child in activity planning when appropriate
  • Regular review and adjustment of activities
  • Consider the child's interests and strengths

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Child Resistance​

  • Involve them in choosing activities
  • Start with preferred activities
  • Adjust point values or requirements
  • Break activities into smaller steps

Inconsistent Completion​

  • Review scheduling and timing
  • Check if instructions are clear
  • Consider environmental factors
  • Adjust difficulty level

Evidence Quality Issues​

  • Provide better examples and guidance
  • Simplify evidence requirements
  • Offer additional support or training
  • Consider alternative evidence types

Next Steps​