How to help with Forgetfulness

Welcome to the board! I think we would all hope that by that age they would take it upon themselves to do certain things, and to remember important things like shutting off the lights and locking the door behind them. Even the best kids are forgetful about stuff like that on occasion, and sometimes even all the time. I am sure others will come on to confirm that yes, its partly the age and some suggestions to help. I was going to suggest some sort of chart, whether it be a dry erase board that he can check off as he progresses through the list each night, etc. Getting them into a concrete routine and habit takes time, but it does help. If its something serious, instituting a punishment or whatever may work. My 16 year old has a fan on in her room all the time. We spent many months reminding her it needed to be turned off when she left for school in the morning as it didn't need to be turned on all day while no one was home. It wasn't important to her, she didn't pay the electricity bill, but it did matter to her when after a week straight of reminding her every day to do it, she still didn't and we took the fan away. She still leaves it on occassionally, but it sunk in very quickly that if she wanted to keep the fan, she better figure out how to remember to turn it off each morning. Natural consequences, leaving the bag for karate at home, getting a zero on homework for not turning it in, etc. sometimes are the best consequences. But, if you feel like its more than that, doing what you can to get down to the bottom of it and helping him be organized is important also.