In many cases, poor organizational skills are the reason for poor school performance. While some children are naturally inclined to be more organized, others struggle to keep on top of everything. Thankfully, though, there are ways to help your child develop their organizational skills. Here’s how:
Use a checklist
Checklists are simple and straightforward, making them a great starting point for your child. Buy them a notebook or notepad, then sit down and create a list together such as “What to Bring to School Tomorrow” or “What to Do Before Bed.” By doing this regularly, your child should begin to create these checklists on their own.
Designate a “homework time”
In order to make sure that your child always does their homework, you’ll need to designate a specific time each day for them to do so. We recommend setting this time a few hours after school has ended. That way your child has time to unwind and relax before jumping into their studies.
Create a master calendar
Set up a wall calendar that has all of your child’s important dates and commitments. This will help both you and your child keep track of all of those soccer games, birthday parties, and exam dates while also avoiding any schedule conflicts.
Organize their papers
If you want your child to keep track of all of their work, they need to easily find and access it. Having just one folder crammed full of all of their assignments won’t cut it. Instead, separate their papers and assignments by class with color-coded folders and/or binders.
Regularly clean out their folders/binders
Once you’ve organized their papers into separate folders and/or binders, you want to make sure that those folders/binders don’t get too full. As such, you should regularly clean them out and file away old notes and assignments about once a month.
If you’ve tried these tips and found that your child is still struggling to stay organized, then it might be time to turn to a professional. Dr. Marie Mazza provides organizational coaching to all individuals who struggle to keep things in order. Give her a call today at 516-739-4671 to learn more.