What Can Help Improve Organisation?

At Home

• Try and keep regular routines. Learning takes time so doing the same tasks often will help your child remember and organise.
• Break down big tasks into smaller parts and help them prioritise things which need to be done first
• Ask your child to repeat instructions back to you
• Try working backwards – if  your child is struggling to start a task, start at the end and do the steps backwards.
• Work together and talk about the stages of the task, for example, cook together. This is a great task to teach the following stages. Start with making the list, go shopping and then follow the step-by-step cooking instructions
• Use a whiteboard or chalkboard to write a diary/notes to remember
• Try organising their bedrooms using coloured boxes/containers. Let them help and choose a place for their different items
• Try giving chores which require sorting and ordering. For example, grocery shopping, sorting out holiday pictures into an album, organising the airing cupboard and group items, emptying the dishwasher or putting items away in the correct places.

At School

• Your child may need written instructions to help remind them – try to bullet point a list or just word prompts or a picture. This could be printed out and kept in their pencil case or pocket to refer to
• Cue cards can be used to break down the sequence of activities. For example clear the desk, collect equipment needed, put the date at the top of the page
• Visual timetables
• Colour coordination of timetable and school books
• Transparent purses and pencil cases let them see the contents easily
• Ensure they finish one task before starting another
• Your child may find attending homework clubs useful.