---
title: How to teach your grade-schooler organization skills
description: Ready to help your grade-schooler get organized? Here are seven simple ways to teach your child organization skills.
slug: how-to-teach-your-grade-schooler-organization-skills
author: Amanda Morin
reviewer: Ginny Osewalt
published: '2019-10-16T12:00:48.783Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3Wnmeem1vG4HUORooQhApf/4aedd3f8889cfa37551885f05c07720a/G983388698.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-teach-your-grade-schooler-organization-skills
lang: en
---

# How to teach your grade-schooler organization skills

Many kids struggle with basic [organization and time management](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/organization-challenges-in-children). You may need to work with your grade-schooler on these skills.

Here are seven ways to teach your child organization.

## 1. Recognize “wants” vs. “needs.”

- **Goal:** Sort out and prioritize what your child *wants *to do vs. what your child *needs *to do.
- **Example:** Your child does homework first. Playing with friends comes later.

## 2. Take one out, put one in.

- **Goal:** Keep messes from becoming overwhelming.
- **Example:** Your child has to put away what’s already out before taking out something new.

## 3. Categorize, label, and sort.

- **Goal:** Keep things neat and orderly.
- **Example:** Your child looks at toys, groceries, or homework to figure out which things go together.

## 4. Picture the day.

- **Goal:** Know the order or events in the day.
- **Example:** Your child plans out the day by drawing a picture of the day’s schedule as a comic book.

## 5. Make daily checklists.

- **Goal:** Keep track of what needs to be done.
- **Example:** Your child lists out things to do, checks off what’s finished, and transfers unfinished items to the next day’s list.

## 6. Keep a family calendar.

- **Goal:** Plan for the future.
- **Example:** Your child checks the calendar nightly to know what’s happening tomorrow.

## 7. Break big projects into smaller steps.

- **Goal:** Make big projects easier to manage.
- **Example:** Your child breaks a science project into steps — first coming up with an idea, then listing materials needed, and then gathering supplies before doing the experiment.

Get more help by exploring [low-cost, simple tools to help with organization](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-low-cost-organization-tools-for-kids). Try [visual schedules to help your child with everyday routines](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/download-sample-picture-schedules-and-visual-planners). Watch a [quick tutorial on how to organize your child’s backpack](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/two-minute-tutorial-how-to-organize-your-childs-backpack).

---

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