Study skills are crucial for your child to be successful in his or her academic career, but they alone are not enough to make your child a straight "A" student. To get the total package, your child needs both study skills and organizational skills. You can help your child learn and master simple organization skills at home, from an early age.



One of the best ways to become a great organizer is to develop and follow a great routine. Once you have home routines down, your child should do the same with school routines. For example, if your child knows that he always has to come home from school, grab a snack, and then do homework and study until everything is completed, and that he is not allowed to do anything else until this is done, he will accept this routine, and after a while, do it without even thinking about it. Routines make even busy adult lives easier to handle.

For your child to be well-organized and prepared both at home and school, you will have to supply them with the essential items they need, pencils, paper, highlighters, etc. Make certain that you are familiar with your child's class schedule, and the supplies needed, so that you can help with whatever your child may need. Even if your child is a teenager, they still look to you as a role model, so if you practice organizational skills in your own life, they are much more likely to do the same.

As your child grows older and more mature, you should talk about the importance of setting goals, and help them set some goals that they can achieve, so that they can become more familiar with the process. You should also make certain that your child knows what your expectations are, as far as grades, homework, studying, and around the house chores. Don't just tell your child to do something one way, give them several options to choose from, or if there are no options available, explain to them the reasons why the task should be done in this manner. Your child will be much more open and willing to try something if you explain it to them, rather than just demand that they do it your way.

It is also important that you let your child know up front what will happen if they don't do as expected. If they bring home a report card that states homework isn't being done, or if grades start falling, let them know what privileges they will lose, and for what duration. You don't want to put too much pressure on them or be unwilling to compromise, but they do need to know that you will follow through with the consequences, if they don't do what is required of them. Your child again, may not like you, but if he or she has to go a semester with no cell phone, or no parties, they will think twice the next time they decide to skip their homework. For some children, actions are the only way to get their attention so that they listen to you.

Teach your child that organization can help make their life better, and that they will be able to do more things that they enjoy, if they plan a good routine and stick to it. You have to stick with it as well, and don't give in just because your child begs to stay home from school today, or doesn't want to do that science assignment. It works both ways!