Seven helpful ways to help your middle schooler get organized

As a parent, life may seem like a continual struggle to get your middle schooler organized. Here are some organization strategies provided by Parentsoup.com that can carry over to school work:

Don't insult your middle schooler. Eliminated phrases like "You're so disorganized!" "You are such a slob!" "This room is a pigsty!" "You are such a procrastinator!" Instead, build your child's confidence by recognizing the areas where he or she is organized.

Avoid prejudgments. You can't tell if your student is organized or not just by looking at his space or notebook. Ask what works and what doesn't. You may be surprised by what you learn.

Respect your student's own way of thinking, goals and attachments. Maybe you'd group shirts by short and long sleeve - but your child prefers to group by color or style. You might be a morning person, while your student is a night owl. As long as a system works, support it.

Keep your middle schooler focused from he inside out. If your son or daughter asks "should" questions (Where should I put this? How should a categorize this? Should I throw this out?) turn the question around by asking, "Why do you this?" or "What are your instincts telling you?" If you do share your opinion, preface your remarks by saying, "Well, what would work for me is ... but you may find a better way for you."

Pace your student. Help your child mastermind and prioritize a list of all the areas he wants to organize (notes books, lockers, desks, his room). Encourage him to focus on one area at a time and complete it before moving on to the next. One organizing project per semester is more than enough.

Reinforce your child's commitment. If your student gets overwhelmed or discouraged, remind her of the reasons for wanting to get organized. Remember, middle schoolers must get organized for their own reasons, not just to please you. What are they trying to get out of it? What's the payoff for them?

Teach by example. Reorganize a common area like the front hall closet, kitchen or bathroom. Let your student experience the freedom to ease that organizing brings, then offer to help in his room. That will help him organize his stuff like his book bag, locker, desk, etc.

Helping your child master the skills of organization can actually offer a means by which the two of you can build a relationship - or strengthen an already existing one. If your student has invited you to help him get organized, consider it an honor and proceed with care.

Most important, be patient, encouraging and confident in your child's ability to succeed. Don't expect instant results — becoming organized is a process, mastered and refined over a lifetime. But do remember that organizing and time management are life skills (not talents) that can be learned and will not only help your child do better in school but do better in life.