When we talk to parents about educational concerns for their teenage children, a surprising number feel that the most serious problem their children have is a total absence of organisational skills.
Needless to say, coaching a teenager to become organised is often challenging (and frustrating). We know that children, particularly teenagers, like to decide things for themselves. No amount of influence (or coercion) or threats will make a difference. Simply telling them to do something will often elicit a shrug or, if you’re lucky, a grunt, right?
Even as adults, the desire to become more organised often tops many a new year’s resolution list so if you’re one of those people, then considering how to coach your children (or your students) to better organisational skills is quite the challenge!
In the last 20 years, much research and discovery has occurred in the development and function of the brain. The reason your child or student isn’t able to organise themselves, the way we’d like them to, is because their prefrontal cortex (often referred to as the executive function) isn’t fully developed until their mid 20’s.
But don’t despair, all is not lost.
The good news is that the human brain is a pattern-recognition engine. Coaching your children and students to plan ahead, develop routines and establish consistency will enable them to start developing good organisational skills. With practice, these elements become routines that the brain will automatically run through it becomes effortless.
We have the tools to help them achieve this.
Using a planning tool that starts with the setting of goals, plots their daily and weekly routine and encourages them to negotiate their time on a weekly basis will help students get on track. With consistency their routine develops and good organisation becomes second nature.
The A2 wall planner from Red Tick Education is a tool that is easy to use and enables a student of any ability to gain control of their time and build their confidence as they develop their own routines and negotiate their way through their workload and social commitments. It assists them to establish some balance.
You can order a generic planner if you require only a family set. Just go to our contact form and enter your request in the Inquiry/Comment section and we will get back to you.
If your school requires a customised planner go to our contact form and enter your request in the Inquiry/Comment section and we will get back to you to set up your requirements.
To make the most of the Laminated A2 Wall Planner we recommend use of our digital products. Check out “Better Learning Habits” here.