“Oops, I left my homework in the car.”“Oh, no! I forgot to get my test signed! “I thought I packed my agenda.”Having to constantly remind your child to complete homework or do their chores can become exhausting for any parent. Recognizing the reason for your child’s chaos and disorganization is probably the first step to helping your child to develop their organizational skills. Time management and Organization are two skills which neuroscientists refer to as the executive functions in our brain. The development of these functions usually takes place later on in our lives. Therefore, children need consistent support, guidance and encouragement to develop these skills in their formative years. As parents and teachers, we could ease this process by teaching children at an early age the basic skills of organization, beginning with the simple principle “Everything in its place and a place for everything!” Even though this principle applies to the physical aspect of organization, it can eventually give rise to the mental aspect as well. An individual who can organize physical things visually is also following that process mentally. If children learn this skill at an early age, it would most likely help them to develop an organized mind.1. CREATE CHECKLISTSThere are many notable benefits to developing strong organizational skills. The most significant benefit is the sense of security that children acquire from this skill. For example, as a teacher, I would have a daily checklist visible on the board so my students know what they are expected to do as they walk into class each day. Once everyone is settled in, the day’s learning goals and success criteria for those goals are also projected on the board for my students to read. This gives them a sense of what to expect for that day of learning. When things are predictable, children are more likely to feel secure, and they may possibly succeed in achieving their goals. At the end of the day, students record their homework in their agenda, and as a class, we review the homework items and create a packing list, which is also visible on the board for students to follow when packing their books. Each student has a zippered binder to carry their homework books and agenda. This is a useful tool that both parents and students rely on to keep homework organized and contained.2. ESTABLISH ROUTINESAs a busy parent of two school-age children, I have found it very useful to have an established homework routine and a designated homework space within my line of sight. This allows me to monitor my children’s homework while getting dinner ready. Each day, as we get home, the children will list any upcoming tests or assignments on the whiteboard in the homework corner. Having a visual reminder of tasks allows children to plan and be prepared with the necessary materials. Homework is always completed the night before, and bags are packed and ready to go at the door. As a family, we make every effort to keep this routine consistent. The mornings are usually for light reading, and absolutely no T.V or electronic time is allowed. This practice brings about a calm start, and it gives children an opportunity to gather their thoughts and prepare their minds for a new day of learning.3. SET TIMELINESFollowing a consistent routine instills a sense of discipline and consolidates good time management skills as well. Setting a timeline for tasks lets children know that they don’t have all day to accomplish one task. The clock keeps ticking, and time does not stand still. They need to learn the value of using time wisely to have a productive day. The use of Analogue clocks is an effective way to teach this skill because the analogue clock shows the present moment in a setting of past and future. It helps the child to know how long he has been working – the past, and it shows how much time he has left to complete the task – the future. In class, we use a classroom timer for each task. Students enjoy the challenge of beating the clock. They are mindful of passing time, and they make every effort to work at a steady pace.4. LABEL, LABEL & LABEL!Another common frustration that children experience more often in school is misplaced personal belongings. These items can be as small as stationery supplies and as big as clothing items. From the viewpoint of a mother and a teacher, I cannot emphasize enough the importance and value of labelling children’s belongings enough. It is most definitely a stress reliever for children and teachers alike. As time-consuming as it may be, it is most certainly worth the trouble when a young child can identify his/her belongings before it makes it to the LOST & FOUND! Getting children involved in the labelling process not only takes the load off the parent, but it also gives the child a sense of responsibility. In the long run, this practice also saves time and money! One of the highlights in our home, at the end of a school year, is when the children take stock of all the stationery items that they brought back home, both used and unused, and they realize how they could recycle or reuse the items for the next school year, which gives them a sense of pride and satisfaction. 5. DE-CLUTTER – ONE IN, ONE OUT!Keeping things organized can be a challenge if you avoid identifying the importance between the WANT & the NEED. Teaching children this basic principle will make it easier for them to organize their space. As adults, we can set that example so that they can follow our lead. The One in, One Out method is a great way to maintain a clutter-free environment. Periodic purging of useless items in both my home and my classroom is the one and only way that helps me to keep my space organized. Whenever we bring in a new toy or clothing item, etc., we make it a point to clear out an item in its place. Children need to realize that they do not need a whole lot of stuff to be entertained. Teaching children to be content with a minimum number of things, finding happiness in simplicity, is one of the easiest ways to stay organized.A SKILL WORTH INVESTING YOUR TIME & ENERGYAbove all these benefits to building and strengthening good organizational skills is the ability that children develop to function smoothly and efficiently with minimum stress and unease. Learning to maintain a clear space lends itself to a clear mind and allows us to effectively think and act with a clear purpose.Being organized and teaching our children to become organized is a valuable commitment we make to building a lifetime skill which will surely reap fruitful results not only for ourselves and our children, but also for our schools and workplaces. Staying organized usually guarantees less stress, being more productive and enjoying a better quality of life overall!STAYING ORGANIZED….IN A1. Establish a Daily Routine & Stick to it!2. Designate a Homework space6. Designate a Play space7. Label belongings3. One In One Out rule4. Colour code5. Maintain Check Lists, Packing Lists, Homework lists8. Use timers – preferably analogue clocks.9. Categorize things10. Keep children’s items within easy reach.
