Why Kids Have Messy Backpacks and Book Bags

ByGretchen Vierstra, MA

Quick tip 1
Make 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.
Quick tip 2
Sort and group supplies.
Sort and group supplies.
Sort supplies into clear categories. For example, put pens, pencils, and highlighters together. Then have kids pick a pocket in the backpack to store these items in. Labeling or color-coding pockets can help kids remember what goes there.
Quick tip 3
Do regular backpack check-ins.
Do regular backpack check-ins.
Staying organized takes time and practice. Set aside time each week or month to check in on the status of the backpack.
Quick tip 4
Talk about the benefits of a neat backpack.
Talk about the benefits of a neat backpack.
Some kids don’t see the point of having a neat backpack. Explain why organization matters — and why it helps them: “When your backpack is neat, you can find your homework and get started right away. That might give you more time to play later.”
Quick tip 5
Praise the effort.
Praise the effort.
Even if kids don’t keep their backpacks perfectly organized, praise the effort: “The backpack is neater now — I like how you used your pencil case to organize small items.” This kind of specific feedback encourages kids to keep trying.

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

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.

Reviewed by

Bob Cunningham, EdM serves as executive director of learning development at Understood.

ByGretchen Vierstra, MA

Quick tip 1

Make a daily backpack routine.

Make a daily backpack routine.

Quick tip 2

Sort and group supplies.

Sort and group supplies.

Quick tip 3

Do regular backpack check-ins.

Do regular backpack check-ins.

Quick tip 4

Talk about the benefits of a neat backpack.

Talk about the benefits of a neat backpack.

Quick tip 5

Praise the effort.

Praise the effort.