About a third of the young clients I work with, take a stand against using the traditional planner/agenda.  It seems to be an ongoing battle between parents and children almost like trying to squeeze a round peg into a square hole. Children will complain that they forget to use it, they don't like it, and they'd rather use another method.  Parents, on the other hand, want their children to use the planner that the school usually chooses for the student body.  Many parents have some difficulty understanding why their children cannot use a planner.

If your school does not issue homework planners, then head to the local office supply store or go online to find a planner that will meet the needs of your child.  Remember, your child is using this planner, not you.  You can guide your child to the type of planner for his organizing style, but you cannot force him to use the one you want him to use.

 Some new planners are very ornate with many different sections on a page.  For example, on the bottom corner, there could be a quote of the week.  Many of the school issued planners also have boxes sectioned off for subjects. The planner should have easily visible lines with about ¼” space between them.  Make certain that the subjects that are listed next to the boxes can be read clearly. 

  Some students view assignment books as instruments of torture.

 Here are some helpful hints when purchasing a planner for your child:

     For the visual children, look for color inside, but not so gaudy that it is distracting to the child.  The more elaborate and vibrant the outside cover, the easier it will be to locate.

     For the spatial and chronological children, look for planners that display the week on a two-page spread. We happen to like this type of planner for all children.  It will also help them with time management skills as they learn how to plan out their week.

 For some children, the assignment book is perceived as a way to torture them.  “Why do I need to use this again?” We can usually find an answer to your child’s concerns, so wipe the sweat off your brow.

 If your child’s concern is that he does not like the bulky size of the planner, you can purchase a smaller sized planner (similar to the ones given out in high school).  They usually have three days listed on the left page and four days listed on the right page with Saturday and Sunday in much smaller boxes. 

 If your child uses the excuse, “Well, I just lose them anyway,” then ask her a few questions to get to the root of the problem. Is it that she isn’t organized enough to find it? Or, is it that they haven’t been working for her—so why bother keeping track of it? Ask:

• If you had to design your planner, what would it look like?
• How would the days be laid out?
• What would be the size of the planner?
• Do you like to use Post-its?

 If she can answer these questions, search the office supply stores or Internet for a planner that is similar to her answers.  Try http://www.successbydesign.com/Default.aspx We particularly like Success by Design model 2045D.   If she still refuses to use an agenda book, there is another solution—Post-its™ in a wallet.

Some of my disorganized kids have difficulty using a planner.  For my tech savy kids, the use of technology in school and or keeping organized is very attractive.  For my tech savy high school kids, who have difficulty using a planner for recording assignmnets, I suggest using their cell phones to keep track of assignments.  As long as the school allows the use of cell phones and the child is not getting distracted by it, then I would try using it to record assignments.

In this technological advanced society we live in, educators are starting to allow and take advantage of students cell phones.  I that many colleges have enforced the use of cell phones in mass notifications, which I think is a fantastic strategy when alerting students of emergencies.  I would think as more educators are using cell phones in the classroom, wireless carriers may supply more phone applications that are more educational and can be used by all students

An interesting segment on the Today Show on What your teens are keeping from you. Many parents are concerned about the actions of their tweens and teens, especially in wake of cyber bullying, sexting, facebook, and just having the use of the internet.  This video discusses where to draw the line on invading your child's privacy.

I spoke about the clocks for disorgnaized kids a few months ago ( it may be longer than that actually).  Many parents of the children I see, will discuss the difficulty their children have waking and getting dressed in the morning.  The results often lead to missed school buses, moms driving kids to school, and most of all, hightened tension in the house.

For parents who are trying to wean their kids off  from relying on them to wake the kids up in the morning, these are great clocks to use.  If you are still waking your high school senior up in the morning, it's time to pull back and let him wake up by himself.  Remember, you won't be with him at his college dorm when he has to be more independent.

High school students will be selecting their courses soon for next year.  Some schools require that the students meet with the guidance counselor or dean to choose their classes.  My advice- review the course selection guide the high school provides BEFORE the student meets with the guidance counselor/dean.  This will allow the student to be prepared for the meeting with questions about courses, teachers, and requirements. 

Remember to select competitive electives.  Colleges do not want to see a student taking basket weaving if he/she is not planning on majoring in it in college.  It's all about making the student the most competitive and attractive college candidate around!

Many schools have children use graphic organizers to help organize their thoughts especially when wrtitng an essay.  Since the graphic organizer is a visual tool, the visual learner will especially benefit from it.  The eduplace offers an array of different graphic organizers for students.  It’s worth taking a look at the site, even just to familiarize yourself with these organizers.  I've used these graphics for many of my disorganized children who have difficulty getting their thoughts onto paper.  With some coaching and practice, students can utilize these techniques;spend more time writing their creative stories and less time feeling frustrated!

Easy to use

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As students return to school, let take a moment to look at some of the strategies that have been productive and non productive in helping your child become more organized.  

If you’re having some questions about whether or not the strategies have been effective, take a look in the backpack.  Does it still look like a bomb went off in it or has your child made some progress on organizing the papers and books in the bag?  If you notice some improvement, even if its only a slight improvement, praise your child for being successful in getting organized.  "Wow, Joey!  I can see your really trying to be more organized.  I know it's difficult for you to do, so you feel very proud of yourself."  Kids will thrive on that feeling of success which will motivate them to continue getting organized.

Reach out to the teachers to get some input about your child's organization at school.  I still have many parents who will say to me that they don't contact the teachers about this topic because they don't want to bother them.  Listen. The teacher has over 20 kids in the class. He/she will not always remember to contact you about certain issues with your child unless YOU bring it to the teacher’s attention.  If you think your child has an issue with organization, then it is your responsibility as the parent to notify the teacher about this and formulate some strategies to help your child.  It is the rare teacher who will not help your child become more organized.  Remember, the teachers are your eyes and ears on your child when they are at school.

For the child who is using the Post it calendar and is also a visual organizer, do not place the calendar FLAT on the table. Either post it on the wall or place the entire calendar in a napkin holder or anything like that, so the calendar is facing the child. Placing the calendar upright will allow for a much easier view.

As I have said before, many disorganized kids can feel very lonely and isolated.  Just this past week, I had another new client express that she has been trying to keep her disorganizing habits a secret from her parents.  She like many other kids, thought that in time her disorganization would turn itself around. Unfortunately, it never did.

Parents may have an inkling as to what is bothering their child but may not know how to address it.  In my book, we give some strategies on how to approach your child about becoming more organized.  Parents Magazine give some great tips on how to communicate with your child.  Bottom line is that  your child just wants to be understood and feel connected.