Do you often find crumpled sheets of paper, stray or broken pencils, and empty granola bar wrappers at the bottom of your child’s backpack? Are you used to getting comments from their teacher about sloppy-looking homework or an untidy desk? No need to panic. If your child lacks organizational skills or if they can be a little messy or absent-minded, these tips are sure to help.
Every child is different in terms of their strengths, abilities, and needs. Just because a particular strategy helps one child stay organized does not necessarily mean it will work for another. However frustrated you may feel about your child’s messiness, it is important to address it in a kind and positive way and to practise active listening rather than reacting with anger or irritation.
Disorganization is a symptom associated with many conditions and learning disorders. A child with ADHD, for example, may exhibit the following:
Lack of attention to detail
A tendency to lose things
Difficulty sitting still
Impulsivity (acting on impulse or emotion)
A tendency to interrupt others
Difficulty getting organized
In many cases, a child without any type of diagnosis can still have trouble keeping track of their schoolwork. Problems related to attention span, executive functioning (executive difficulties include distractibility, impulsivity, and forgetfulness), fine motor skills, and vision are just a few of the issues that can contribute to disorganization. For instance, left-handed kids often require school supplies specifically designed for lefties. Not only are these more comfortable to use, but they can also improve the children’s motor skills.
Academic difficulties or lack of motivation can also play a part in disorganization. Say, for example, that it is always your child’s math homework that ends up covered in doodles or crumpled up at the bottom of their school bag. It could be that they do not understand certain concepts or are experiencing math anxiety. Whether your child is struggling with math or any other subject, talk to them about it and bring it up with their teacher.
How can a child be expected to stay focused in school if their desk, backpack, and locker are hopelessly cluttered? An important way to help kids keep their things in order is to create an orderly environment and motivate them to keep it clean and tidy.
Children learn by example. If you show your child the benefits of a well-organized space and encourage them to keep your home clutter-free, they will come to see cleaning not as a chore, but as something the whole family can take pride in. Here are a few ideas on how to make tidying up more fun and appealing for your child:
Let them put on their favourite music while cleaning their room or other areas of the house. You can also make up fun challenges or encourage your child to arrange their things as if they were an interior designer.
Invite your child to help you pick out bins or containers for storing their things. Insufficient storage space can lead to clutter. If you enjoy DIY projects, look up tutorials on how to decorate or make your own storage boxes. If your bins are not transparent, consider labelling or colour-coding them to make it easier to keep track of their contents.
Break tasks down into small steps, keeping in mind your child’s age, their level of autonomy, and how much energy they have.
Be patient. Your child may not always do things perfectly when they try to help out, but they will do their best and make progress over time. The important thing is that they put in the effort and that they feel a sense of pride when they improve.
From time to time, do a big household cleanup (e.g., during spring cleaning) and put items you no longer need into donation boxes. You can turn this activity into a special occasion by ordering dinner from your family’s favourite restaurant or holding a movie night as a reward.
Explain to your child why it is important to be organized. Emphasize how being disorganized can lead to poor grades, for example. If your child’s homework is covered in scribbles, eraser marks, or food stains, their teacher will have trouble reading it. As far as everyday objects, ensuring that there is a place for everything (a logical one, of course!) and that everything is in its place results in fewer lost items, less frustration, and less time wasted trying to remember where things are.
Provide your child with the tools they need to stay organized and keep their homework pristine. Ask if they need more binders or extra sheet protectors. These will cut down on the stray sheets of paper in their school bag.
Encourage your child to use scrap paper for assignments so they can copy out a clean version of their final work to hand in to the teacher.
When you go back-to-school shopping, choose high-quality pencils and sharpeners to help keep your child’s pencil case free of broken pieces.
A picture is worth a thousand words! Give your child a copy of this fun poster so they can get an idea of what a tidy desk looks like. Having a clean, organized workspace can become a source of pride for your child and boost their motivation to learn!
If your child is disorganized, they may get overwhelmed more easily, which can cause difficulties in school. To help them learn to be better organized, you can suggest clear and simple routines based on their daily activities:
Before school in the morning:
Make my bed
Get dressed
Put away my pyjamas
Have breakfast
Put my dishes in the sink or dishwasher
Brush my teeth
Make sure I have everything I need in my school bag
Etc.
After school:
Put away my outdoor clothes and shoes
Empty and put away my lunchbox
Have a snack and clean up afterwards
Empty my gym bag
Etc.
Move to a spot where there are no distractions
Make sure I have everything I need
Check my agenda
Organize my study periods
Ask my parents or use Alloprof if I have questions
Tidy my workspace when I’m done
Etc.
To help your child learn to set priorities, suggest that they use this planning tool. If they want to make a habit of staying organized, they will also need to organize their thoughts!
Organization is not a habit that develops overnight. Remember that your child is unique and that they will need to learn and experience the consequences of their choices. In doing so, you will help them become more autonomous and better understand the meaning of responsibility. A good message to instil in your child is that order is not a punishment or a parental whim, but a way to make life easier and avoid problems.
Maintaining a positive and encouraging approach is essential. Explain to your child that being organized is not only useful for school, but also an important life skill. You can remind them that a well-made presentation is a sign of respect for themself, for others, and for the work they have accomplished. In addition, you can help them stay motivated by celebrating their efforts and progress.