By Elizabeth Hamilton, M.Ed.
For Variety

DEVELOPING good organizational skills is essential for success in school and in life. However, most children are not born with natural organizational skills. Below are 10 strategies parents can use to help their child develop good organizational skills:
1. Develop a household schedule. Develop and establish a set routine for your child. Having a set, predictable routine will provide him with structure and give him a sense of security. As part of the routine, have regular homework time, dinnertime, bedtime, playtime, and television viewing time. Also, be a good role model and establish a routine for yourself as well.
2. Have a master calendar. Teach your child how to stay organized and avoid scheduling conflicts by having a large, wall-sized calendar for the entire household. Use it to write down your family’s social commitments, appointments, sports activities, days off from school, and other important home and school events. Also, have your child mark the dates on which he has exams or projects due.
3. Use checklists. Help your child get into the habit of keeping “to-do” lists. Use checklists to write down homework assignments, household chores, etc. Have your child keep a small pad or notebook dedicated to listing homework assignments. Crossing completed items off the list will keep him on track and give him a sense of accomplishment.
4. Designate a study area. Establish a specific area in your house for studying. This area doesn’t have to be a separate room, but it should be quiet, well-lighted and free from distractions. Also, it should be stocked with all of the necessary supplies and materials. For younger children, designate a place where you can easily monitor them and encourage good study habits.
5. Establish a study time. Your child should have an established time every day that is reserved for studying and doing homework. Even if she doesn’t have homework, the reserved time should be used to review the day’s lessons, read, write in a journal, or work on an upcoming project.
6. Organize school papers. Help your child keep track of papers by organizing them in a binder or a folder. This will help him review the material covered in class and to organize the material later in order to prepare for tests and quizzes. Use dividers to separate each class in a binder, or use multiple color-code notebooks (red for spelling, green for math, etc.) for each class or subject. Also, have separate folders labeled “to do” and “completed.” Use the “to do” folder to keep assignments and to organize worksheets, notices, and items that need to be signed by parents. Use the “completed” to keep completed assignments and papers that need to be returned to school.
7. Declutter bags. Each week, have your child sort through his book bag, binders, and folders, and remove all of the unnecessary materials and trash. Returned tests and corrected papers should be organized and kept in a separate folder at home.
8. Prepare everything the night before. Make mornings less hectic by teaching your child to pack schoolwork and books in a book bag before he goes to bed. The next day’s clothes, shoes, socks, and accessories should be laid out in advance as well. This will cut down on morning panic and allow your child to get ready quickly.