7 Ways to Keep Kids (and Yourself) Organized

If your kid’s backpack looks anything like his or her bedroom, this article is for you! No matter how many times I tell her to keep things organized, my daughter seems to destroy the neatness that calms my brain. While this isn’t the end of the world for her bedroom (though it makes me crazy), this won’t work at school. Any good teacher will tell you staying organized leads to better grades and less stress, no matter the age or level of education. Here are seven tried and true (yes, I’ve tried them - it’s true) ways to keep you and your child organized.

1. Daily agenda - many schools provide daily planning books, ours starts at fifth grade. Below that, parents or after-school sitters should do a daily bag-check for homework and school notices. Missing just one notice can mean missing opportunities for both students and families. If kids have organization issues, a daily check and initial by parents and teachers may be warranted.
2. Folders and/or binder - keep color-coded folders (not more than one or two for younger kids) for each subject, matching notebook and stretchy book cover color too. Kids can easily see color-coded supplies in their lockers. Teachers may require binders for certain subjects like math, but should also provide a system of organizing those binders as well. There may be labeled sections for notes, vocabulary, classwork, homework, quizzes and tests. When I was teaching math, we did random binder checks as part of the grade.
3. Space at home - a desk in your room is nice, but not super productive until maybe middle or high school. I like having my kids do homework at the kitchen table so I can see they are on task and provide help if needed. Some kids are independent enough by third and fourth grade to use the desk in their room, but parents or babysitters should still check for neatness, accuracy and completeness. No matter where the space is, it should not be cluttered with other junk.
4. Time at home - a neat space is great, but there should be a set time each day for homework, studying and reading. Depending on after-school activities, lessons and sports, this may vary but should be as consistent as possible. Gymnastics on Mondays means homework is after dinner instead of before, but generally speaking, it’s right after school with a light snack. At the private school my two middle daughters attend, study hour is each night from 7-8pm. Whatever works for your family, make sure your kids’ schedules aren’t so full they don’t have time each night to at least read for 15-20 minutes, even when there’s “no homework.”
5. Consistency - very hard to pull off, I know! Consistently checking the backpack, organizing papers, and providing a set time and place will lead to positive habits. It may take time, and your child may never keep a neat bedroom, but teaching them to stay on top of things will last a lifetime!
6. Parent/Family support - maybe obvious for beginning students, but all students need parents and family to check in on them, offer support, and ask how things are going. Having been students ourselves, we should remember how overwhelming it can feel to be disorganized. Make sure you support middle and high school kids too. Parents often feel older kids don’t need as much support, but classes only get more complicated and schedules become much busier. It’s just as important to check on your high school child’s organization as it is your kindergarten child.
7. Tutor, if needed - if you consistently provide support and tools to keep your child organized and he or she is still disorganized, you may want to seek the help of a tutor. This could be a classmate, relative, neighbor, or babysitter. An Au Pair could help greatly. If your child’s grades are suffering due to his or her lack or organization, don’t wait! The teacher may be willing to provide some more support or you may seek the help of private tutors or agencies like Tutor Doctor, who has a specific curriculum/training to improve organization.

September will come and go, but disorganization can stay with you forever. Help your child be successful in school and life by teaching him or her ways to keep organized. Whether it be reading logs and homework papers or marketing proposals and manuscripts, organization is a skill for real life. Organization (or lack thereof) can be taught, so don’t give up on your child yet! Follow my advice and talk to your child about their progress so they see the benefits of being (and staying) organized!