Set An Example

• Be well organized yourself. Show children through your everyday activities and chores how to be organized. Explain, in terms they can understand, what you are doing to be organized and how that is helpful to everyone. Explain how everything should have a place and that everything should be in its place--such as clean dishes belong in the cabinets and dirty dishes need to placed in the sink or dishwasher. Ensure that bath time is always on time, as are meals and bedtime, so they understand a schedule.
  
  

Start Early

• Begin showing your children early in their life the importance of having organizational skills. Keep nurseries neat and tidy. Show your toddler where his toys belong and explain why it is important the toys are put back in "their special place." By placing the toys in their places, children will know where to find them, won't be tripping over them and will have more room to play.
  
  

Lay Down the Law

• Set age-appropriate rules regarding organization. Ensure children understand that there are consequences when they do not follow the rules and become disorganized. Make sure younger children know that certain privileges, such as a trip to the park or television time, will be taken away. Let them discover ways to get back on track by themselves.
  
  

Provide Proper Tools

• Give children schedules and lists to follow that will help them with their organizational skills. Lists should include the chores they are required to do, as well as homework and school projects they need to complete. As they mature, allow them to set their own schedules and write their own lists of things that must be done, within your guidelines. Be careful not to over-schedule children with too many activities and chores. Never let children become so busy they no longer can enjoy being children.
  
  

Offer Help

• Give children all the help that they need to improve organizational skills. Ask them questions about how they would handle certain situations and listen to their answers. Give them input on how they can better handle those situations. Keep your child from becoming overwhelmed. Should that happen, step in and give them as much help as needed.
  
  

Rewards

• Give your children age-appropriate rewards for getting organized and staying organized. Toddlers may respond well to special snacks or additional television or computer play time. Older children would appreciate an increase in their allowances or extended curfews. For staying organized for longer periods of time, bigger rewards such as having a party, a day at the zoo or dinner at a favorite restaurant might work well.