How to promote organizational habits in children

Organization and order are values that make life easier for us at home, as well as at work, at school, and in any other situation. Therefore, it is very important that parents help their children to put their room, their books, their school supplies, their clothes, toys, etc. in order. The World Association of Early Childhood Educators (AMEI-WAECE) offers, to the readers of Guiainfantil.com some tips to encourage organizational habits in children.

Educate children for order

Education for order has to start at the time of the children's birth. The first years of life are very important to inculcate order because the little ones are more sensitive to this value. The child under three years of age usually enjoys order, in fact it becomes a need that helps him maintain some control over his environment and provides stability.

With this age you know that everything has its place, tend to maintain order and have fun if the activity is presented as a fun game: sort by sizes, shapes, colors, kinds of toys, types of clothes, etc. After three years it is necessary to internalize the habits they have acquired in their previous experiences.

Activities that promote order in children

1. Clearly establish what is the place of each thing and not change it. In the room, the books can be placed on shelves at your fingertips and the toys in boxes or drawers. Para 2. For the care of the clothes a place is established to deposit the dirty clothes and an order for the closet and the cobbler, that the small one must maintain. For clothes that you have used but do not yet have to wash, you can use a hanger located at your fingertips.

3. Help you at the beginning. Ordering together can become a pleasant playful activity, in addition the child will feel that his parents support him.

3. Whenever the child uses something from the house, whether it is his or she is not his, ask him to put it back where it was.

4. Tell stories and narratives in which the protagonists suffer the negative consequences of their disorder or benefit from the results when they are ordered.

5. Establish routines. It is convenient to repeat the daily activities systematically and with an established order. For example, when waking up: getting up, going to the bathroom, using the toilet, doing body hygiene, going to breakfast, brushing teeth, taking backpack or school bag (which should always be in the same place and the small he will have prepared it the night before) and leave the house. When returning at noon and entering the house: greetings to parents, change clothes (if appropriate), wash hands, help set the table and sit down to eat. Also routines can be established at bedtime, in body hygiene, to go play, etc. These routines of chained actions serve to internalize the order in the way of life and the child makes them without effort, without being scolded by forgetfulness and increasing self-confidence because he knows what he must do at all times.

6. The child is part of the family and must assume responsibilities according to their age and ability. In addition to other tasks that the parents assign, you can collaborate in activities of the order of the house. When general cleaning of a bedroom, kitchen or bathroom, the child can help sorting and placing the objects of each room; When you clean the dust from the library books you can help by sorting and sorting the books; help separate the different garments before doing the laundry, fold the laundry once it has dried, distribute it in the rooms once ironed, etc.

Attitude of parents so that children are organized

It is important that parents contribute so that children acquire habits of order and organization. They should:

1. Mark some realistic and progressive objectives, always adapted to the age and capacity of the boy or girl.

2. Be patient, things do not go to the first attempt and are refined with practice.

3. Fix only an affordable target for a given time. For example: place the toys for the first fifteen days. When the child is doing it regularly, add a new goal such as placing clothes and shoes. Recon 4. Recognize the small successes rewarding with praises: Very well, you are doing it perfectly! The room is very neat! I am proud of you! Affective gestures can be valuable rewards. It is also important to recognize intimately the effort and progress of the adult.

5. Be an example. Remember that you are his model. It is important that the child knows that no one is perfect, neither their parents, and that perfection is not required. When parents make their own mistakes, they are offering the child a very valuable lesson in acceptance, understanding, tolerance and love.