Preparing for a new school year involves more than just refreshing your child’s wardrobe and buying a new backpack. Now is a great time to think about how to get your child organized for school and establishing time management tools and organizational tips that will set them up for success in school, no matter their grade level.
In elementary school, each class tends to have lists of school supplies with built-in organizational components. For example, color coded notebooks and folders for certain subjects can help you and your child feel more organized.
In middle school and in high school, children’s cognitive skills grow, but this early organizational foundation sometimes doesn’t for a variety of reasons. Some children might have a condition like ADHD that makes staying organized a tougher challenge. Others might overestimate how organized they are until they fail to turn in homework assignments because they’ve forgotten a due date or can’t find their schoolwork in a messy desk or backpack.
By establishing resources and activities before the first day of school, you’ll help your child start off on confident footing. You also can teach your child the importance of organization skills by practicing certain ones as a family.
A schedule and a plan
Every night, start by reviewing the upcoming day’s schedule. Set up an entryway cubby or a spot in their bedroom where they drop off and pick up their backpack and any important school information, such as quizzes or health forms for you to sign. You might have your child designate a pocket folder in a color they won’t use for another class, like orange, for the stuff that you can’t miss.
Buy school supplies with a color code in mind so they can find notebooks and folders for different subjects easily – for example, blue for language arts and reading, green for math and yellow for science. Also, encourage your child to use a planner, whether it’s in a smartphone, on a dry-erase board or just writing on a calendar they hang on the wall. Jot down projects and activities on a regular schedule, then check them off as they complete each one. Even parents can struggle to stay focused, so show your child how you use your own planner and to-do list.
A project plan is also a good way to teach time management skills, because it breaks down large tasks into smaller bites. If your child has a regular chore like making their bed, for instance, have them explain what they do first, then next.
For older children, divide a sheet of paper into two columns, one labeled “Today” and the other “Tomorrow.” Under “Today,” list everything they need to accomplish toward a larger goal, such as reading a chapter or certain pages for a book report. Anything they don’t finish goes under “Tomorrow,” which becomes the following day’s new “Today” list.
A set workspace and regular sorting
Establish a daily routine with a specific space and time for homework and other activities. You can even block out free time for your child to unwind after school. While you might want to limit social media use, social media also has some educational purposes. For instance, school friends can provide helpful support by confirming due dates, clarifying details of assignments and offsetting exam stress with humor.
Lastly, set up a time each week for your child to clean out their backpack and go through class schedules or assignments on the computer. Set out a bin for printables and other learning material from the previous week, grouping material from related topics together. This way, they can find anything they might need from earlier in the semester without losing track of current work.
Organization skills truly take a lifetime to refine, as we learn what works and what doesn’t for our mindset and lifestyle. Try to set a good example by incorporating some strategies into your family life – clearing out the pantry monthly or sorting through a purse or briefcase each week – to reinforce the benefits of an organized space.