Consistency helps disorganized kids stay on track.
Some kids emerge from the womb with a day planner in hand. Other kids do not understand the concept of organization until they are in their college dorm rooms trying to remember where they placed their midterm paper. The challenge for parents who have disorganized kids is to help teach them organization skills without either party becoming frustrated. By consistently following a few planning tips, parents can help their children develop a system that will assist them with managing everything from homework to messy rooms.
Instructions
1. Talk to your child about the problem and let him know you are on his side. Make sure your child understands you are not getting her "in trouble," and discuss some of the issues that are leading to disorganization. Such issues may include distractions, poor time management or forgetfulness. Ask your child if she thinks any of these issues apply to her. Kids who are able to recognize their own issues are easier to help.
2. Set short- and long-term goals. Telling a kid to clean his entire room may seem overwhelming and may make him feel like you are setting him up for failure. SheKnows recommends looking for long- and short-term solutions to help kids achieve their organization goals. For example, a short-term solution to getting homework handed in on time is to give a child, who constantly forgets assignments at home, a folder where she can keep all her papers in one place. Other short-term ideas include cleaning a room in parts by having your child pick up his clothes first and then implementing an organization system that uses color-coded drawers and small, plastic storage boxes.
3. Implement a schedule and create lists. Set aside a time for your child to do homework every day. Dollar Stretcher recommends breaking up homework sessions into 15 to 30 minute slots, and adding a break in between each one. Include in a child's schedule the hours she is to do chores and prepare her backpack for school. Near the schedule, create a list of to-do items that your child can check off as he finishes each task. Add extra lines at the bottom of the to-do list so your kid can add extra tasks he would like to accomplish. Post a different checklist of long-term goals your child would like to achieve to remind her of her aspirations.
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