Organization is a difficult skill to learn. However, if not learned during your youth, you may struggle with it in adulthood. I know my children struggle with organization right now and I hope to teach them ways to be more responsible of what they have. Each time they go to visit grandma, something that they absolutely love, gets left behind until the next week. I want them to learn some organizational skills before they reach adulthood, so they will not have the struggles that I have faced in that area. Thankfully, it is possible to teach children to be organized.
Organization is a difficult skill to learn. However, if not learned during your youth, you may struggle with it in adulthood. I know my children struggle with organization right now and I hope to teach them ways to be more responsible of what they have. Each time they go to visit grandma, something that they absolutely love, gets left behind until the next week. I want them to learn some organizational skills before they reach adulthood, so they will not have the struggles that I have faced in that area. Thankfully, it is possible to teach children to be organized.
When they travel to their grandma’s or a sleepover or homeschool co-op… wherever they are going, they seem to take a backpack. The problem is that the things they take in the backpack do not return home in the backpack. Although they are reminded to replace each thing they take from the backpack when they are done with it, it does not always happen. This is because organization is not something that is learned with one lost item. It is a skill that must be taught continually, until it becomes part of their unconscious thinking. It must be taught to them in such a way that it becomes habit, so that without thinking, their items will be put back where they belong.
Although this cannot be learned after one attempt, there are simple ways to practice organization. For example, if your children like to paint, painting time can also be a time to practice organization. Before they paint, make sure to place all the materials they will need for painting in one location, like a box or plastic tote. When it is time to paint, let your children get out the supplies they will need to complete their projects. Remind them to put everything back into that box when they are done painting, but DO NOT do it for them. After they go off to their next activity, you can then gather any items that they did not return to the box, put them in a plastic bag, and put them away in your closet or a cabinet (not in the designated box). I know this sounds odd, but there is a reason for it. ?
Now, in about a week or so, suggest that they complete another painting project. If they put everything back into the box, they will have everything they need to paint again. While they are painting, discuss how nice it is that they had everything that they needed. It will help encourage them to once again place the items back in the box.
However, if they didn’t put the items back in the box, they will find that they are wondering where to items might be. Let them think for a few minutes. If they cannot figure it out, let them know that they left them out last time and you put them away. Also, take this time to talk to them about the problem that has been caused by them forgetting to replace the items to the box. After talking with them, then you can explain to them that you have the items and will give them to them, but that they must put them in the painting box. After they have returned all the items, then ask them if they are better able to paint now that they have all of their items. After this has been completed, then let them paint. When they are done, watch to see if they remember to put all the items back into the box this time. This time, if they forget to replace the items, you should make sure they do so, helping them if necessary. Then, the next time they want to paint, everything they need will be right there.
Although organization might not be able to be taught in two painting sessions, you will have a good start established. Then, you can start applying these skills to other areas, like their toys. They have to learn the importance of the old saying: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” So, the next time they are playing with one of their toys, and they forget to put it away in its place, pick it up and set it aside somewhere. When they go looking for it the next time, then you have another opportunity to teach them the importance of putting each thing back in its place when they are done.
Over time, your children will learn that they need to have a place for everything and put each thing back into its place when they are finished. As an added bonus, by teaching your children learn to be organized, you will strengthen your organization skills as well!
About the author: Alicia H. Tucker is a homeschool mom of three, after having taught in public schools for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Technology. She is a freelance writer and is currently working on writing her first book.
