Flourish Organizing

My Child Forgets Items in their Locker!

12/7/2021

People are forgetful. This is part of life. But when your child is forgetting items in their locker or at home, it is time to help them with some skills for remembering!

You can help your child by setting up a locker support system. Checklists are great tools and can be very helpful! They keep important information in place and allow the brain a 'break' from remembering the full list.

(Note: The same process is helpful to adults too! Make a list of what you need to take to work, to the soccer game, to pack for a weekend get-away, etc.)

Create a Checklist
Help your child to create a checklist for their locker. This means creating a separate list of items that they will need to get at each locker visit.

If they go to their locker once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once to pack up to leave school at the end of the day, then they will need three separate spots.

Help! My child keeps forgetting their homework!

11/9/2021

We are now solidly into the school year. The Back to School purchases are opened and being regularly used. The school routine is back in swing, and things are starting to settle down. However, this is also the time of year that patterns start to emerge...
“I forgot my homework.”
“I left my book at school.”
“My lunchbox is still at home!"
You may feel exasperated and frustrated. So how exactly can you help?

Navy backpack with a pink stripe. Two small pencil bags visible.

The first thing that many parents try to do is rush in to fix the immediate need: go get the missing item. However, this usually is an inconvenience to the parent without being an inconvenience to the child. Think about it: the child gets their needs met without having to do much of anything except cry out for help. At the same time, mom or dad has to leave work, home, appointments, etc. to drive extra trips to drop off that item. While this solves the immediate need, it does not help solve the actual problem, and it does not encourage growth in the child. Instead, you can be supportive and acknowledge their feelings ("I can see that this is really hard for you.") without solving their problem for them ("I'm sorry that you forgot your homework, but I won't be able to go get it for you."). This may mean a late grade at school or a few tears. This is ok. The uncomfortable feeling that they have is how they learn, take responsibility for their own actions, and are motivated to change their behaviors.

Back to School Desk Organizing!

9/7/2021

It's that time of year! Students are getting back to school!

Kids can get SO excited about going back to school, seeing old and meeting new friends, picking out their outfits, and purchasing new school supplies. They crave both the newness and also the consistent routines.

This is the time of year when we get organized: desks, school supplies, backpacks, lockers... it can be a bit overwhelming. Where do we even begin?

Here are some resources to help you get started with organizing your desk!

Choosing a New Year's 'Word of the Year'

12/31/2020

Disclaimer: Flourish Organizing may receive commissions from some links.

Years ago, I heard about this idea for choosing a word for the year instead of making New Year’s Resolutions. As someone who thrives in environments with clear rules and boundaries, I always made goals for the year. However, I also felt frustrated... I found myself making the same resolutions each year and also never quite living up to them. It felt like I was in a never ending state of being “not good enough” and asking myself “Why can’t I succeed at this?”

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From the desk of Laura

My Child Forgets Items in their Locker!

Help! My child keeps forgetting their homework!

Back to School Desk Organizing!

Choosing a New Year's 'Word of the Year'

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