Prepped and Ready For School

My granddaughter is in the first grade this year. The pattern of mornings and evenings has changed in her family. Now, not being "tardy", having homework completed, having lunches planned and packed, getting clothes laid out for the next morning, permission slips signed, after school activities, carpools, playdates.....you remember. Throw younger brother in the mix with his own activities and it is daunting. Why am I so aware of the scheduling requirements? Because I am in charge for a week, on Grandmother duty.

As I peruse my 5 page list of instructions and schedules, I remember my own days in the trenches. With 4 children, organization was the only thing that kept me sane. Clothes laid out the night before, lunches pre-packed and in the fridge, athletic equipment by the door-the Von Trapps we were not, but morning bedlam was just not a great way to start the school day. Frantically doing math problems, ten minutes before carpool is not conducive to learning or to a happy morning.

What follows are some tips from others wiser than me. This post by Jan Stewart and Karen Scibinico makes life so much easier, for both parent and child.

With the school year just beginning, how confident are you that your teen has the organizational skills necessary to manage their workload and belongings successfully?
Is your teen :
• Able to find things when needed?
• Get school assignments completed ahead of time?
• Tote the necessary things to school so you don’t receive calls requesting a drop off of forgotten items?

If you answered yes, to these questions, congratulations! Your teen is positioned for success. However, most teens need a little encouragement to start practicing habits that will help them better manage life’s day-to -day tasks now and in the future.

The best way that a parent can help is to model desired behavior. If you want your child to be on time, make sure you are on time, especially for activities that involve your teen. If you want your teen to have an orderly room, make sure that you create order in the rest of the home. If you want your teen to plan schoolwork assignments to avoid a last minute crunch, make sure you do the same. How many of us are scurrying around in April to get our tax returns complete before the April 15th deadline?

Find a calm moment to talk with your teen about getting more organized. Remember to have realistic expectations. While you may be a “neatnik” or the consummate organizer and planner, your teen may not feel comfortable trying to emulate your style and may not need to become a perfectionist in order to be more productive. Help your teen develop an organizational process that matches his/her personality and style. Begin with small steps.

The beginning of the school year is a great time to start the process. Work together with your teen to sort through your teen’s belongings and make sure that needed items are in good shape. Discard outgrown, worn out or duplicate articles and clothing. Create spaces for your teen's belongings. Make or purchase containers and put like items together. It's a lot easier to put things away when they have a designated home. Otherwise, closets, space under beds and drawers can become a scary mix of unrelated unknowns.

Does your teen have all the recommended school supplies? One of the most valuable tools is an assignment notebook. In addition to homework, your teen can make notations about things to remember or items needed. Create a location where all school-related supplies are kept. Every night, make sure that backpacks and school work are ready to go for the morning. Have your teen check the assignment notebook to make sure he or she is ready for the next day.

Encourage your teen by noticing progress and giving a word of praise. Provide an occasional reward for a job well done. Once your teen has become more organized, confidence will grow, stress will be reduced, and productivity will increase.

So, help make getting organized a priority in your home. It is another way to reinforce the importance of school and education and helps make learning happen.

Note: If anyone sees a frazzled, frizzy -haired Grandmother barreling toward Sadler Arts Academy in the next few days, get out of the way. I'm coming through. I don't want any tardies on Annebelle's record while she's on my watch! chrissie