Why some kids have messy backpacks
- Quick tip 1Make a daily backpack routine.Make a daily backpack routine.
Create a schedule of when kids should prepare their backpacks for school or home. Use tools like picture schedules and checklists to help them with the task.
Most people would agree: A book bag or backpack that’s overflowing with things that are randomly thrown in is messy. Do kids with messy backpacks not see the mess? Or do they not care about it?
For some kids, messiness is a choice. There are things they’d rather be doing than cleaning up and getting organized. If it’s up to them, they’re going to do the stuff that’s interesting and fun. Having to sift through a mess is a chore. But if they need to get it together and clean up, they have no trouble doing it.
For other kids, organizing a backpack (and keeping it that way) is a real challenge. Messiness isn’t a choice. They simply have a hard time staying organized. That’s because cleaning up a messy backpack involves a bunch of steps. And it requires skills like staying focused and planning.
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When messiness is a choice
When messiness is not a choice
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About the author

About the author
Gretchen Vierstra, MA is the managing editor at Understood and co-host of the “In It” podcast. She’s a former educator with experience teaching and designing programs in schools, organizations, and online learning spaces.
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Reviewed by
Bob Cunningham, EdM serves as executive director of learning development at Understood.