Organizing is something many of us struggle with, even as adults. Now, imagine trying to teach a child how to be organized. It sounds like an uphill task, right? Maybe. But not if you know how to go about it.
In this article, you will learn five (5) ways you can develop your child’s organizational skills and start them on the path to being responsible adults.
Let’s start!
Set up To-do lists
Help your kids set up To-do lists of the tasks they need to accomplish, from house chores to school assignments. Then, ensure they put these lists up in areas where they can easily see them and remember what they have to do. This will ensure the important tasks are always top of mind for them. It will also ensure they can keep track of their progress on each task.
However, ensure their lists are reasonable. If you make unreasonable demands of your children, there’s a likelihood they’ll rebel and not do them, which is the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish.
Establish a routine
One of the best ways to teach your children organizational skills is to inculcate the habit of maintaining routine in them. For example, they can make a routine of studying every day after school. Also, they can make a routine of arranging their room every Saturday, and so on.
Teach them to plan ahead
Yet another way to develop your children’s organizational skills is to teach them to plan. Every night, after school, you can sit down with them and discuss their actions for the next day. Then, they should take the necessary steps to ensure things go smoothly. For example, if they have sports activities the following day, they can lay out their sportswear and accessories the night before.
Assign them categorizing & sorting tasks
To develop your children’s organizational skills, give them tasks that involve sorting. Ask them to separate colored and uncolored clothing items before washing. Have them empty the dishwasher after a wash cycle. Have them catalog your photos, and so on. Apart from imparting that crucial life skill to them, having them learn this way is also fun.
Lead by example
Perhaps the best way to teach children anything is by example. If your child is disorganized and unruly, you should ask if they picked the habit for you. Naturally, kids tend to emulate their parents. If you want them to be organized, be organized. In time, they’ll come to emulate your actions.
Remember, you can’t develop your child’s organizational skills in one day. We are creatures of habits. Making a new habit is a hard undertaking and so is shedding a bad one. So, be patient with them and yourself. Take your time with them. In the end, you’ll instill a sense of organization in your child and, as a result, put him on the path to success and excellence.