| One of the most important things you can do to help | | | | Small shelves and small plastic crates, drawers make |
| your child in school is to help them get organized and | | | | organizing much simpler. You can buy organizing "stuff" |
| stay organized. School success requires it. And I'm not | | | | or you can improvise and save money. The rule of |
| just talking about shopping for new clothes and shoes. | | | | thumb is the smaller (within reason) the storage unit, |
| Even if your kids don't have ADHD, organizing all their | | | | the easier to keep things organized. |
| stuff and keeping it organized is often a challenge. But | | | | Now label everything. When drawers and shelves and |
| staying organized is also a big key to school success. | | | | bins or crates are labeled, kids have an easier time |
| Proceed with one project at a time. | | | | sorting their belongings. They can decorate with |
| Start with their room if there's stuff on the floor, under | | | | stickers--whatever makes it fun for them. |
| the bed and piled everywhere. | | | | Finally, take a close look at the height of dresser |
| Set an intention to do this together without arguing. | | | | drawers, clothes rod, shelves in the closet. Are they |
| Your job is to make suggestions, not demands. Buy | | | | too high for your child? When children use adult-sized |
| three brightly colored bins (even three good-sized | | | | shelves, rods, drawers, it makes staying organized |
| waste baskets will do). Label them "put away," "give | | | | more difficult. |
| away" and "throw away." Now encourage your kids to | | | | Once your kids have their rooms, closets, and drawers |
| get rid of as much as possible. | | | | organized, help them organize their desk (or table) |
| You'll want to model the behavior, so choose a similar | | | | where they can do homework and projects. They'll |
| project for yourself and get them to help you. I'm sure | | | | need all the necessary supplies in desk drawers or in |
| they'll have some great ideas about things you should | | | | plastic drawers or organizers for the top of the desk. |
| toss. | | | | Make sure they have two sets of school supplies: one |
| Now that you've got room to move around their room | | | | set for school, one set for home. They'll need pencils, |
| and to temporarily take things out of the closet or | | | | markers, scissors, tape, a ruler, erasers, pencil |
| drawers for sorting, repeat the "put away," "give | | | | sharpeners, and extra paper at home, plus a place to |
| away" and "throw away." | | | | keep these supplies. |
| Use small crates, shelves, and drawers | | | | Clutter and disorganization is hard on the brain. It's so |
| Once they've gotten the "throw away" and "give | | | | confusing and distracting that sometimes it can cause |
| away" bins out of the room, it's time to start figuring | | | | ADHD-like behavior. So you'll want to take care of |
| out ways to organize everything. One big toy bin isn't | | | | your kids' rooms first. Then it's on to organizing school |
| the answer--just keeps all that clutter in one place. | | | | supplies, lunches, homework habits, and schedules. |