Time management for students doesn’t have to be high-tech. Some of the most organized people rely on sticky notes and dollar-store pocket calendars. If a Blackberry isn’t in the budget, help your teen try these tips:
- Get it in writing. If your school hasn’t provided one, your kid can buy a low-tech paper planner at a discount store. Choose one that has enough space to record both weekly key assignments and activities and month-at-a-glance pages to help kids keep track of long-range deadlines.
- Free planning programs online. Google Calendar, for example, can be synced to a cell phone, sends event reminders, has an offline access feature, and allows family members to look at each other’s schedules.
- Use a multi-subject binder for all classes. This prevents loose papers from getting crumpled at the bottom of backpacks and eliminates the frantic “where did I put it?” searches.
- Show your child how you stay on track. If you have a planner or system that works for you, sit down with your kids and show them how to use it. Brainstorm together about which pieces they might borrow for their own scheduling system.
- Check out your kids’ planners from time to time. It helps you keep track of what’s coming up—you might not want to schedule an out-of-town trip the weekend before the science fair project is due—and it lets you monitor how well your kids’ system is working for them. Consider adding a few of your kids’ major deadlines to your planner or your calendar, if they need extra help keeping track. And having extra pens or pads of paper in your car if you drive your kid to school can occasionally save a disorganized morning from turning into a disorganized day.
Source: Samantha Moss, author of Where’s My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide