Organization is a skill that helps children and adults throughout all stages of life, but it does not always come naturally. Teaching organizational skills to children who do not feel them naturally takes work, but it always worthwhile. The first step to successful organization is to understand the importance of organizational skills. Next comes ways to actually implement this accomplishment.
How to Teach Organization
There are various degrees of organization, from the super-tidy to the person who is organized in his own way. The goal is to help the unorganized child to develop basic skills that help him take care of belongings and stay on top of tasks.
- Find a place for everything – Whether at home or at school, it is difficult to be organized if there is not a place for everything. Help the child to find a place for everything in his room or in his school binder. Help him clearly identify where everything should go.
- Make things accessible – It is easier to stay organized if the child can reach things herself, for instance a coat hook where she can reach, a place for scarves and gloves, a special hook for her bath towel at her level. Empower the child to do these things herself.
- Clear directions – Give clear directions where things are to go and how to do it. Some children work best if there is a step-by-step list for them to follow. Some children are visual and need a chart or picture. Whatever works for the child is best.
- Maintain it – Help children to know what areas they are to organize, help them organize it once, then set clear directions on how often that area is to be maintained. If a child is responsible for clearing out his backpack, make sure he knowa how often (every day). He may need help in learning the steps for cleaning and organizing area several times before he can do it on his own. When he is ready, let him do it, but be sure to check in often, gently correct when needed, and give refresher organizational demos as needed.
- Routine – May sure to stick to a routine. Children who struggle with organization tend to do better with it when it is clear that it is a routine, and not a one-time event. If a child has to clean her room, let her know when she must do it. For example, her routine may be to tidy up her room every night before bedtime, and to super-clean it on Saturday morning. Then, as much as possible, stick to that schedule. Being consistent is very important to successful mastery of organization for the child who tends to clutter and lose.
Every Child Learns Organizational Skills Differently
Anyone can learn organization skills, but this is not a guarantee of being neat and tidy for life. There are many different ways to be organized and many different expressions of organization. Some will learn this skill and be neat and tidy and some will use this skill successfully, yet still tend to clutter their space. Being organized does not necessarily mean being always neat, but it should result in a reduction of chaos and a system on knowing where things belong.
Following these simple steps will help give a child guidelines towards keeping track of belongings in a respectful manner. Stay patient, calm, and consistent as the learning process unfolds. In the end, the result will be worth it. Organizational skills are life skills, and the child will thank his parents for taking the time to teach this important lesson.
Christine Alcott - Christine is an active homeschooling mother of 4 boys in Texas. She holds a BS in Mental Health and Human Services and a MTS in Theology ...
