Staying organized
Get tips and strategies to help you or your child stay organized. Find out how executive function challenges and ADHD can cause trouble with organization and time management.
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Tips and strategies
- Quick tipSort 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 tipGive things a place.
Take advantage of shoeboxes, baskets, and plastic tubs. Label them to note what goes where: school or work papers, office supplies, toys, etc. This makes it easier to keep things neat.
- Quick tipUse calendars and checklists.
Digital or paper calendars, planners, and checklists can help kids remember to turn in homework. Have kids choose a tool that works best for them. Then teach them how to use it.
Podcast
ADHD and messiness (Jeannie’s story)
Jeannie talks through the executive function challenges she faces when she tries to tidy and clean up.
Downloads
Picture schedule - getting readyPDF
Picture schedule - cleaning roomPDF
Picture schedule - study hourPDF
Picture schedule - evening routinePDF
More resources
All articles
- I think my child has ADHD. Now what?
- 6 low-cost organization tools for kids
- 6 steps to help high-schoolers with ADHD create a time management system
- Classroom accommodations for executive function challenges
- 5 ways ADHD can affect you at work
- Can processing speed ever improve?
- ADHD and messiness
- Teacher tip: 5 ways to use slow processing speed accommodations at home
- 10 steps to a more organized college application process
- Why certain school records are important to keep
- How to teach your middle-schooler organization skills
- Messy room? How to help your child keep it neat
- 7 color-coding tips to get your child organized
- Do kids outgrow executive function challenges?
- Executive function strategies for your child
- Lost: My son’s mittens. Found: A system to help with executive function
- How to declutter your CPU desktop screen
- 5 steps to kick-start school-year routines for kids with ADHD
- How to help your child break up a writing assignment into chunks
- 5 simple strategies for note-taking
- 4 ways kids use organization skills to learn
- How to teach your grade-schooler organization skills
- 10 tips to help get your child organized
- 4 reasons your organization tips aren’t working for your child
- Why messiness can make kids anxious
- 5 oddly specific ADHD strategies that help me work
- Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your child after high school
- Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your middle-schooler
- Executive function challenges and learning: 6 ways to help your high-schooler
- ADHD tips from my college years
- Sample letter: Requesting your child’s school records
- 3 surprising skills ADHD affects
- Little goals can be better than big New Year’s resolutions
- 5 tips on organizing your child’s records in a three-ring binder
- Everyday challenges for people who struggle with executive function
- What to bring to an IEP meeting
- 6 steps for breaking down assignments
- 9 tips for talking to your child’s teacher about executive function challenges
- Learning and thinking differences that cause trouble with time management
- Tools and tips to help your teen get organized
- 8 ways to use virtual assistants as assistive technology
- 8 ways to make school morning routines easier
- 5 things I wish people knew about parenting a child with executive function challenges
- 5 common myths about executive function challenges
- How assistive technology can help kids with note-taking
- Spring cleaning roundup: Ideas for getting and staying organized
- The 3 areas of executive function
- 2-minute tutorial: How to help your child get used to a combination lock
- 2-minute tutorial: How to color-code your child’s school supplies
- Download: Bedtime checklists for kids
- Download: Backpack checklist
- Download: Goals calendar for kids who struggle with planning
- ADHD and managing money
- Why kids don’t hand in their work (even if they did it)
- Understanding why kids struggle with organization
- Video: Apps for teens who struggle with organization
- Organizational coaches: What you need to know
- How to organize your child’s dresser drawers
- A day in the life of a child with executive function challenges
- 2-minute tutorial: How to organize your child’s backpack
- Find the common denominator in your life
- My daily routine as an artist with ADHD
- 2-minute tutorial: How to organize your child’s locker
- Why some kids have messy backpacks