importantly, when your
• Get a launching pad. Put
your children that they
child needs to start
need to fi ll it up before
a bin or box by the door
they can unload it as they
working in order to
your child will exit in the
walk out the door.

complete the assignment.

morning or a spot that she
Placing this in a public
walks by multiple times
• Use labels and signs.

family area that the child
each day — maybe even
Labels and signs are an
walks by repetitively
near the kitchen island.

eff ective way to conquer
each day introduces an
At night, all materials
chaos. Because visual
organizational tool into
that need to go to school
reminders are far
his everyday environment.

the next day, such as the
superior than verbal
This means the chances
binder, backpack, lacrosse
ones, try placing sticky
of gett ing into the habit
stick, etc. should be put
note labels near your
of planning ahead are
in the launching pad.

child’s launching pad
high. It also helps hold
The next morning, your
or homework desk
your child accountable for
child launches into a new
when you want to
completing his work, since
day in an organized way!
remind him of something.

multiple members of the
When you make a verbal
Seeing the launching pad
family can view his tasks.

correction, after about
every day will signal to
12-15 words, your child
has tuned you out. So
Get a launching pad. Put a bin or box by
instead of saying, “Did
the door your child will exit in the morning
you clean out your
backpack yet?” place a
note on their homework
desk with a reminder,
not an order.

With these strategies, you
can help your child kick off
the new year with bett er
study and organizational
habits that actually last.

And the best part? You’ll
soon no longer have to nag
them about staying on top
of their studies.

Ann Dolin is a former Fairfax
County teacher and current
founder and president of
Educational Connections
Tutoring, serving the
D.C. area.

IStock/Getty Images Plus/BongkarnThanyakij
or a spot that she walks by multiple times
each day — maybe even near the kitchen
island. At night, all materials that need to go
to school the next day, such as the binder,
backpack, lacrosse stick, etc. should be put
in the launching pad.

12 January 2019
washingtonFAMILY.com



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