Dip your

toe in the planning water. Encourage children to use a school planner

to keep assignments in order. Parents should review the planner with the

child often, and talk about upcoming assignments and exams. In order to

make things less stressful, have your child list upcoming activities in

the planner as well, such as a football game or birthday party.

Begin each

morning the night before. Pack book bags, lay out clothes, prepare

lunches and review assignments due the next day so that children and parents

have little to worry about as they leave in the morning.

Set aside

"homework time." Set aside time each night for homework

so that it becomes routine. Be considerate of your child's homework time

used by parents as well, to pay bills, write correspondence, etc. Designate

a work area for the child, such as a desk in the child's room, or a dining

room or kitchen table, where the child can spread the work out with little

distraction.

Allow "down

time" each night. Just as adults need time to unwind from a hectic

day, so too do children. Set aside time after homework for children to

relax. Encourage productive relaxation such as reading a book for fun.

It's also a good time for the entire family to catch up on the day's activities.

The family

that plans together... Designate a "check in" station in

a common area in the house for everyone, such as the kitchen. Lay out

a daily planner or calendar and mark significant events coming up, such

as doctor's appointments for parents and children. Encourage children

to stop by the "check-in" station each morning and evening to

update themselves on what might be going on that week. Also, encourage

children to write in their own significant events (with parents' approval),

such as practices, school plays, and birthday parties. This encourages

responsibility and organization, and children see that their responsibilities

are as significant as those of their parents.

The keys to

staying organized are planning in advance and developing a routine. By

staying ahead of the game, both children and parents can be prepared for

what is coming up, and can be better prepared to handle those situations

that have a tendency to pop up at the least convenient time.

For more information,

please visit www.ataglance.com.

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