How to Help a Teen Get Organized

Teens are notorious for being disorganized and messy. For many teens, dealing with biological and emotional changes and the challenges of adolescence is difficult enough without having to worry about keeping messes in order, rooms clean and study materials neatly arranged. You might take your teen's behavior personally, feel frustrated when his room looks like a disaster area or experience anger when he doesn't seem to prioritize his responsibilities in a way you like. Although it might seem like an impossibility, you can help your teen become more organized and obtain a greater sense of control over his life.

Things You'll Need

  • Study materials, such as pens, paper, pencils and a calculator
  • File cabinet with hanging folders
  • Labels for folders
  • Sticky notes

Instructions

    • 1

      Arrange a quiet study area for your teen that is free of distractions, KidsHealth advises. If your teen has trouble completing her homework on time or doesn't seem motivated to study, a lack of a well-organized study space might be partially to blame. If possible, provide a private space where your teen can devote her entire attention to her homework and other school assignments. Make sure it's well-stocked with whatever materials she needs, such as paper, pens, pencils and a calculator.

    • 2

      Collaborate with your teen to write a list of daily and weekly tasks that must be accomplished. Prioritize those tasks that are most important. Your teen might have a completely different list of priorities than you do, so you may need to compromise and rearrange the list as necessary. But by working with your teen in the process of selecting and prioritizing tasks, instead of simply dictating a list of chores or responsibilities, you teach her the skills necessary to stay organized and help her obtain a sense of empowerment over her life.

    • 3

      Establish a weekly schedule of household chores, extracurricular activities and other responsibilities. Write down every task, hour by hour, that needs attending to, including school and activities outside of school. Include at least half an hour a day to de-stress, relax and unwind, suggests adolescent health educator Nancy Brown, Ph.D., in an article for the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. In addition to the list of daily and weekly tasks, a written schedule can be a useful way to help your teen plan for her day and feel less overwhelmed.

    • 4

      Set aside time to help your teen declutter her room. While your teen's room might look like a mess to you, it might seem like total order to her. Yet that doesn't mean she should live in a pigsty. In an article for ABC News, organizer Peter Walsh points out that disorganization and clutter results in decreased productivity and difficulty making proper choices. Set aside a date to go through her old clothes and belongings together. Decide what goes and what stays -- you won't agree on everything, but if you can compromise 50 percent of the time, you'll have made significant progress.

    • 5

      Purchase a file cabinet or a storage box with hanging folders to help organize papers and notes. Create labels for each folder based on school subjects and other personal documents.

    • 6

      Suggest that your teen use sticky note and organizer apps on her smartphone, if she prefers using digital means of organization, or encourage her to use paper sticky notes as reminders of important tasks that need to be accomplished.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How old do you have to be a young preteen?
      There isnt a hard and fast rule for what age defines a young preteen. Its more about the individual childs development and maturity.Generally, young preteens are considered to be around 9-11 years old. However, its important to remember that:* Ever
    • What Inspires Teenagers?
      From succeeding in school to acting in a more socially conscious way, teens often need a spark of inspiration to ignite a sense of ambition or creative ingenuity. Role models such as an adult -- including teachers or parents -- along with other teens
    • At what age is a child considered teenager?
      While theres no official, universal age, 13-19 years old is generally considered the teenage years. Heres why its a bit blurry:* Puberty: Physical changes associated with puberty usually begin around age 8-13 for girls and 9-14 for boys. This period