One of the best things we can teach our children is to be organized. This will help them learn to take care of the important things first, get in a routine and make good use of their time. As a family you can sit down and look at the areas of life that cause you the most stress. Often this can be fixed with a little communication and a plan of action.

This will reduce the stress levels around the home. Your child may not need every area of their life on a detailed schedule, but some of the bigger things such as homework, sports and helping out around the house would greatly benefit from a schedule.

One way to help your child get organized is to decide what areas should be addressed first. This will teach your child the value of time and that work comes before play.

Create a routine and stick to it. Teach your child to create a routine such as what he/she should do once they are up and getting dressed for school.

For example, my son’s daily routine during the school week is:

1. Make his bed

2. Brush his teeth and wash his face.

3. Get dressed for school.

4. Eat breakfast.

5. Grab his backpack, give mom and dad a hug and off to school he goes.

This routine has helped us ensure he is out the door and will arrive at school on time.

It is very significant that once you have established a daily set of activities that you and your child stick to them. While there are times when you will need to be flexible, you should always stick to the routine whenever possible. Over time, your child will be able to see and understand how this keeps everyone’s life running a little smoother.

A big key to keep your child encouraged in their daily routine is to discuss their success. Pat them on the back for a job well done. This will keep them focused and interested in doing a good job when they realize mommy and daddy notice their efforts.

Keep the lines of communication open with your child, as it is vital, that your child can talk to you about their daily routine. Stay involved with your child as they will still need your help and support along the way. Find out what is working well and what can be done better as a family. Make adjustments as needed to ensure no one person is being overloaded.