I have been reading a lot lately about getting your child organized for the start of this very unusual school year. Most of what I read is good information. Having a calendar, using a white board, setting up an at-home school room with supplies at the ready, an elaborate folder system, timers etc. are all wonderful suggestions.
The trouble with most everything we, as adults and educators, suggest is that they are things that work for us. Or, at the very least, what works the best for organized people and perhaps people who make organization systems. What works for me is not necessarily what works for you. Have you ever tried to empty someone else’s dishwasher and put things away? The most organized kitchen becomes a minefield of seemingly strange decision making!
In all this planning and suggesting I rarely see the one most important part of creating an effective organizational system for anyone in any setting. The key to an effective organizational system is to ASK THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO USE IT WHAT THEY WANT OR WILL USE.
What you might think is if I ask my son/daughter what they want or will use, they don’t know - that’s the problem. Yes, that may be part of the problem, however, your beautiful system is what makes sense to you. A workable system has to be what makes sense, and is user friendly to the USER - namely your child.
Start with what your child thinks works for them. If they say they don’t know, help them brainstorm ideas by looking at what they like to do and how they organize that. You may need to play detective. There is organization in everything; it is sometimes just very hard to see.
Time spent creating an accessible system, based on your child’s needs, is the place to start. Notice I said start. Organization takes work and adjustment. You have to remain involved in getting a workable system, designed by your child, to work efficiently. Instead of a Trapper Keeper it may be a small spiral in the back pocket.
The simpler the better. Do not give up or worse give in and become the eternal organizer for your child. Time spent in creating a system together, modifying as necessary and supporting your child’s growth towards independence will be well rewarded.
Need to review what you have in place, or get ideas based on your child’s current needs? Reach out today - message or call for a 15 minute free consultation.
The trouble with most everything we, as adults and educators, suggest is that they are things that work for us. Or, at the very least, what works the best for organized people and perhaps people who make organization systems. What works for me is not necessarily what works for you. Have you ever tried to empty someone else’s dishwasher and put things away? The most organized kitchen becomes a minefield of seemingly strange decision making!
In all this planning and suggesting I rarely see the one most important part of creating an effective organizational system for anyone in any setting. The key to an effective organizational system is to ASK THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO USE IT WHAT THEY WANT OR WILL USE.
What you might think is if I ask my son/daughter what they want or will use, they don’t know - that’s the problem. Yes, that may be part of the problem, however, your beautiful system is what makes sense to you. A workable system has to be what makes sense, and is user friendly to the USER - namely your child.
Start with what your child thinks works for them. If they say they don’t know, help them brainstorm ideas by looking at what they like to do and how they organize that. You may need to play detective. There is organization in everything; it is sometimes just very hard to see.
Time spent creating an accessible system, based on your child’s needs, is the place to start. Notice I said start. Organization takes work and adjustment. You have to remain involved in getting a workable system, designed by your child, to work efficiently. Instead of a Trapper Keeper it may be a small spiral in the back pocket.
The simpler the better. Do not give up or worse give in and become the eternal organizer for your child. Time spent in creating a system together, modifying as necessary and supporting your child’s growth towards independence will be well rewarded.
Need to review what you have in place, or get ideas based on your child’s current needs? Reach out today - message or call for a 15 minute free consultation.