“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness,
but direct them to it by what amuses their minds,
so that you may be better able to discover with
accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”
-Plato
In Mel Levine’s book Ready or Not Here Life Comes, he states that “A person may or may not be equipped to ride the next wave [of life]…” He goes on to explain how “today, society makes it hard for kids to grow into productive adults.” He warns that, in some cases, our children are so programmed and structured with activities that they never have to learn how to “organize themselves or assemble their own routines, establish their own priorities or organize their own time.” Thanks to the information age, today’s students are feeling the effects more than any generation before them. They deal with more paper volume and access to information, which in turn means their workloads have increased. At the same time, the need to organize and store and retrieve information has become that much more important. Variations in technical competency make competition among peers even more daunting.
Helping our children create an effective study environment for themselves will significantly help them become both better students and better prepared for the world of work beyond their school years. Creating a study environment that works for each child—one that caters to his or her learning style—will help reduce stress at home and at school, while enhancing their ability to retain what they have learned.
Philosophy of getting organized:
“This is my way.
What is your way?
THE way does not exist.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche
Most likely, the disorganized child’s bedroom is a disaster area, but be mindful that being messy and being disorganized are two different things. You may not be able to see the floor in your child’s bedroom, but if he can find what he needs and hands his work in on time, if he is prepared for test and get good grades, disorganization is not an issue. Aesthetically, the room may be a wreck, but there is clearly an underlying structure that enables him to function. On the other hand, if a child has a chaotic bedroom and is exhibiting signs of academic distress, it’s likely that disorganization in her personal space is contributing to the problem.
While some students have an innate ability to organize themselves, many don’t. Sadly, the disorganized student rarely gets the help he needs. When organization is taught in a school setting, it generally takes the form of an adult imposing her own ideas about organizing on the student, regardless of whether thye are suited to his particular learning style (Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic). For example, your child may learn better visually than verbally, or think alphabetically and not by color. Teachers who are not trained in organizational techniques miss many of the learning clues.
So what are we as parents to do?
Begin when they are young. If you notice any of the above frustrations in your children, do not assume they will grow out of it. Seek out the help your family needs right away. Hiring a professional organizer to assess your child’s room/home arrangement for optimal efficiency is a great first step. Taken a step further, they can suggest products and time management strategies to ease the family’s frustrations and set you on a course for success, one step at a time.
A good place to start helping your child get organized is to assess the previous school year. What caused the most frustrations last year, and is that pattern resurfacing again? (i.e. has your child already been late to school, forgotten her homework, or had trouble remembering his sports equipment?) Have a discussion with your kids about how you can work together to create systems for getting and staying organized. Getting organized is not an individual project; the whole family needs to know the structure and process. Taking it slow and steady will produce the desired outcome and soon your child WILL be ready for life!
Eileen Koff CPO
www.tothenextlevel.net
631-553-0068
Give yourself the gift of order
Eileen Koff CPO, Professional Organizer of To The Next Level, specializes in family and home organizing on Long Island, NY. Her company was mentioned in Parent’s Magazine on the care of children’s rooms.
Previous Articles By Eileen:
- Preserving Your Children's Past While Building Towards Their Future
- The Morning Crunch Begins the Evening Before
- Green is Not Just a Crayola Color: Teach Your Children Well
- Got Photos? Get Organized!
- The Garage - Home’s Final Frontier
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Editor's Note: Eileen will be sharing some organizing tips in my newsletter over the next few weeks! I would love to give her some feedback on areas in your home and life that you are struggling with so she can write the articles to fit your needs.
Please stop by HERE and fill out a quick questionnaire and tell me what you need help with!
