How to Get Organized Before the Start of the School Year

Kristen Sudnik

The start of the school year can be an anxiety provoking time for many children and their parents. Children with executive functioning difficulties often have an especially hard time planning ahead and staying organized. At Rise Through Learning, we’re here to help you and your child start off the school year feeling confident and prepared. Here are a few tips to get you started: 

• Set goals: Sit down with your child and talk about what went well last year and what could be improved upon. Ask your child what they would like to achieve this year. Once a goal is set, talk about small steps your child can take to achieve that goal. Those steps will be the roadmap to getting things done. For example, if your child says that they want to earn all A’s this year, great! How will that happen? Setting mini goals along the way, such as “start homework by 4pm each day” or “plan for the week each Sunday” will help make the goal more realistic and achievable. Once you have your roadmap, put it in writing. If you really want to go all out, you and your child can create a chart where you track and reward progress. This chart can serve as a reminder of where you and your child are headed and can be a great self-esteem booster!

• Plan ahead: Set an example by showing your child how you juggle the many, many, many things you have to do each day. Encourage them to use a planner, and allow them to make it their own, either by decorating it or by picking it out if that is an option. Prep for the school year by writing in as many events, holidays, breaks, before and after school activities as you can. If possible, purchase or create a large monthly calendar for the family and place it somewhere prominent, such as the refrigerator. Similar to the planner, pre-load the calendar with activities as they are scheduled. This larger calendar can also be used to write due dates for projects, tests and papers, and can serve as a reminder for homework start times. 

• Set behavioral expectations: Discuss behavioral expectations with your child in clearly defined terms. Connect these expectations with consistent responses on your end, and include rewards and consequences if needed. Write the expectations and have them available to refer to as a way to hold both yourself and your child accountable. Practice these behaviors and your responses with your child, so you both know what to expect when certain situations occur. 

• Schedule check ins: If your child tends to complain that you nag them or are intrusive, let them know ahead of time when you will be checking in. For example, you could say, “Every day at 4pm I will ask you what your homework plan is for the night. I’ll check in again to see what you have accomplished at 8pm. The conversation should only last one to two minutes. I am always here to help you if you need it.” Discuss this plan with your child to see how they feel about it, and take their input into consideration. In addition, you can also schedule social-emotional check ins with your child to see how they are feeling, and to brainstorm solutions.  

• Start building a routine: While they can sometimes be difficult to stick to, routines can help children feel grounded and in control of their environment. Routines can also be a huge help to children with executive functioning difficulties. Break routines into steps and put them in writing. For example, if your child has a hard time getting ready for school in the morning, break the routine down into small steps, make it into a visual, and place it on the child’s bathroom mirror or door so they see it as soon as they wake up. 

• Personalize the space: Help your child find a place to do homework, and allow them to personalize it. Declutter, but if possible, make sure that your child has the supplies they need within this space. This can be a great place to showcase goals, achievements and schedules. You can also create a daily homework to do list with the expectation that your child fills it out and shows it to you each day. This can assist your child with planning, prioritization, initiating tasks, and building a routine.  

• Practice and Praise: Practice routines and behavioral expectations with your child, especially in scenarios that are likely to cause conflict. This can also be especially helpful for children who have difficulty regulating their emotions. Allowing children to practice behaviors can relieve anxiety and uncertainty when scenarios actually play out. For example, if your child has a hard time starting homework each night, which often leads to an argument and meltdown, practice what a peaceful homework routine looks like. Praise, praise, praise your child when practicing the expected behaviors, and especially when it happens authentically. Children’s behavior is often shaped by our reactions to it. Provide genuine and specific praise as often as possible. For example,  “I love how you sat down and filled out your homework to do list as soon as you got home! Great job!!”

• Now, enjoy the rest of summer and praise yourself for being proactive!

Check out Kristen’s recent article, “Executive Functioning: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers”. To schedule a free fifteen minute consultation with Kristen, click here.