Hey everyone! I’m seriously out of ideas here. My 10 yo son is amazing but keeping his stuff organized? Not so much! His backpack is always a disaster, his desk looks like a tornado hit, and his room… don’t even get me started. I’ve tried rewards, punishments, chore charts, and even organizing his things with him, but nothing seems to stick. I’m just tired of constantly picking up after him or reminding him a thousand times. Any tips?
Hey Naomy, I feel you! My oldest is also very disorganized. What has worked for us is setting up a daily reset routine, just 5-10 minutes before bed every night to tidy up his space. It was hard at first but over time he got used to it, and now it’s just part of his night routine. We also use a “reward jar,” where he gets a marble for each day he completes his reset without reminders. Once the jar’s full, he gets a reward (his choice within reason). It took a whilebut he started to enjoy seeing his progress. Maybe that’s something you can try?
I hear you, Naomy. I’ve read that positive reinforcement can be super helpful. Instead of focusing on the mess, I started commenting on even the tiniest improvements my kid made. Over time, I saw a change in how he approached his space, and he actually seemed to like the praise. Kids can be tricky but sometimes those small wins add up to bigger changes. Try sticking to one thing to see if actually works for you.
Oh boy, I have a mess tornadotoo! I’ve just come to terms with the fact that my kid’s room will look like a Lego explosion at all times. But seriously, I do sometimes think that as they grow, they’ll figure it out. You’re definitely not alone in this struggle!