A Parent’s Guide
Does your child frequently lose their belongings, forget to turn in their homework, or miss assignments? If so, they are not alone! Many students, especially those with ADHD, struggle with organizational skills. As students move through school, the academic and organizational demands only continue to increase.
By learning effective systems and tools, your child can develop stronger organizational skills that will help them thrive as they progress through school.
In this article, you’ll learn how to improve organizational skills for students with ADHD, including practical research-based strategies to help your child become more organized and build their overall executive functioning skills.
Why organization skills are important for students with ADHD
Organization involves more than just a clean room or neat backpack; it’s an important skill for school success. When students are well organized, they can:
- Manage their homework assignments and due dates
- Improve their time management skills
- Build independence and self-sufficiency
- Feel confident about their abilities
For students with ADHD or executive functioning difficulties, organization can be particularly difficult, so learning the right tools and strategies can be even more important for them.
How can you help your child with ADHD improve their organizational skills?
1. Create a consistent homework routine
One of the best ways to help your child improve their organizational skills is by setting up a consistent homework routine. For some students with ADHD, every homework session might look different. Some days they might do their homework right after school, and on other days they may wait until after dinner or late in the evening to start their assignments. Setting a consistent homework schedule is key.
How can you help your child establish a homework routine?
- Create a set homework time each day. This could be right after school, before dinner, or in the early evening - wherever works best for your child.
- Select a quiet workspace that is free of distractions.
- Make sure your child has all necessary supplies in their workspace.
- Refill the supplies as they run low to prevent your child from wandering around looking for more materials.
Creating a consistent homework routine can help minimize distractions, reduce procrastination, and improve your child’s overall executive functioning skills.
2. Use an assignment planner
Many students think they can remember all their assignments and neglect to write them down. Inevitably, however, that leads to forgotten homework and missed projects.
Using an assignment book can minimize these missed assignments and help your child become more organized.
What to include in an assignment book:
- Daily homework assignments given by teachers
- Long-term assignments and projects broken into smaller steps, with each step entered into the planner
- Due dates for projects and homework
- Reminders about upcoming obligations
Students can use any of these options:
- A physical assignment book
- A printable checklist to use each day
- A digital planner (usually better for older students)
The key is consistency! Remind your child to use their assignment book every day. They should write down their homework assignments, check them off once they are done, and put them in the right place to be turned in the next day (or turned them in electronically if applicable).
Many students have weak executive functioning skills, including planning and organization. Learn more in our guide to executive functioning coaching for kids at Can Executive Functioning Coaching Help My Child? - Knowledge Plus Tutoring
3. Organize school notebooks by subject
Many students, especially those with ADHD, have messy backpacks and folders. Setting up an organizational system can help.
A system that works well for many students is:
- Designate one folder or binder for each subject.
- Select a color for each subject, like green for science, blue for math, etc.
- Select one day per week to be a “clean out my backpack day.”
- On that day, they should clean out all the loose papers and materials they don’t need to carry with them on a regular basis.
Setting up this type of system makes it much easier for your child to find what they need when they need it and to stay organized.
4. Break tasks into smaller steps
Many students feel overwhelmed by lengthy tasks, especially ones with multiple steps. As a result, they may avoid starting the task or become easily frustrated by it.
Help your child to break down longer tasks into smaller, more manageable bits. Instead of telling them to just “finish their book report” or “complete their math project”, try helping them break long tasks into steps, like the following for an oral presentation:
- Brainstorm information on the topic
- Create an outline or web diagram
- Design a poster or digital slides
- Practice the presentation
By learning to break large tasks into smaller parts, your child will strengthen their planning skills and minimize their stress and frustration.
5. Build time management skills
Being able to manage time well is an important skill for school success. To help your child develop stronger time management skills, teach them to:
- Estimate how long a task will take to complete
- Compare the estimated time to the actual time it takes
- Use timers to set work time windows and stay focused using those timeframes
- Take short, structured breaks after a set period of working
Building effective time management skills can strengthen your child’s overall executive functioning skills and performance at school.
6. Weekly organization check-ins
Strong organizational skills don’t develop overnight. Encourage your child to set up a weekly organizational check-in day to do the following:
- Remove papers from their backpack that they don’t need to carry with them on a regular basis
- Clean out their folders
- Check for upcoming assignments and plan accordingly
- Refill supplies that are running low
By being proactive and setting up a regular check-in day, you can prevent organizational difficulties from getting worse.
7. Develop stronger executive functioning skills
Students who struggle with organization or have ADHD often have weak executive functioning skills. These skills include:
- Planning
- Organization
- Time management
- Prioritization
- Task initiation
- Self-monitoring
Executive functioning coaching for kids can help your child build these key skills and can make an immense difference in their academic performance.
8. Use positive reinforcement
Poor organization and executive functioning skills can not only affect your child’s grades at school, but it can bring down their self-confidence. Praise even small progress that you notice and compliment them on their efforts. Try the following ideas:
- Use language like, “Great job turning in all of your homework today!”
- Set up a reward system for consistent use of an organizational system
- Give additional free time after your child successfully completes tasks
Positive reinforcement helps build motivation and self-confidence.
When should you consider hiring an executive functioning coach?
Executive functioning coaching for kids can help your child tremendously in developing stronger organizational skills. You may want to consider individualized executive functioning coaching if your child:
- Often loses their homework assignments and materials
- Forgets to turn in their assignments
- Has trouble starting schoolwork and other tasks
- Is easily overwhelmed by school tasks
- Struggles to manage their time effectively
If you notice these challenges, your child may benefit from working with an executive functioning tutor in Florida who specializes in these skills.
Learn more about finding the right executive functioning coach in Florida in our guide to ADHD coaching for your child at ADHD Tutoring Near Me: How to Find the Right Tutor for Your Child - Knowledge Plus Tutoring.
If your child is struggling with organization, ADHD, or executive functioning skills, our Florida-based tutoring program can help. At Knowledge Plus Tutoring, we specialize in one-on-one tutoring and executive functioning coaching to help students develop organization, time management, planning, task initiation, and other executive functioning skills. Contact us today to see how we can help your child succeed.
Closing thoughts
Teaching your child with ADHD systems and strategies to build their organizational skills can make an immense difference in their academic performance. In doing so, you will help them feel confident and achieve long-term success
Frequently Asked Questions about Organizational Skills for Students with ADHD
How can I help my child with ADHD stay organized?
Many students with ADHD struggle with organization and executive functioning skills. Teaching them concrete strategies for building their organizational skills and encouraging them to use these strategies consistently and follow through with them can help them immensely.
What is the best planner for students with ADHD?
The best planner for students with ADHD is the one most suitable for your child. Some students like physical assignment books while other students - especially older ones - prefer digital planners. Any planner can work; the key is using it consistently.
Does my child need an executive functioning coach?
If your child is struggling with skills such as organization, planning, time management, task initiation, and homework management, they may benefit from an executive functioning coach. At Knowledge Plus Tutoring, we specialize in executive functioning coaching.
How long does it take to build organizational skills?
The process of building organizational skills takes time, but the length of time varies based on each student. Some students respond quickly and start using new tools and systems consistently - showing rapid performance improvement - while others need more time.
Should I organize my child’s belongings for them?
You should try not to organize your child’s belongings for them. You’re much better off teaching them tools and strategies to build their organizational skills and helping them only as needed. The goal is for them to become independent and self-sufficient.
Dr. Emily Levy, the executive director of Knowledge Plus Tutoring, holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has been helping students with ADHD and organizational challenges through one-on-one tutoring for twenty years. She frequently speaks at national educational conferences and appears as an educational expert on podcasts. She is the author of the Strategies for Study Success, Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham, and Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook programs, all of which are used by students and schools nationwide.
