- Problem: Your child doesn’t take care of study materials.
Before you begin do the following:
Observe your child. Be as specific as possible when naming the problem.
Take notes. Write down the problem. List everything that you try and the results of your effort.
- Desired Outcome:
Your child will understand the importance of taking care of their materials. Talk with your child and your family about the desired outcome. Make your desired outcome specific for your child. Write down the goal / desired outcome. Post the outcome where it can be easily seen.
Remember: If you don’t think ahead, your family won’t move forward.
- Possible Actions: Read the possible actions below. Decide which ones would be most effective for your child. Focus on the outcome behavior.
What actions can you take?
*First, observe your child as he/she handles study materials. Are the materials organized? Is there a place for everything?
*Next, make organizing materials fun for your child. Incorporating art into your child’s organization and study times can be very creative and enjoyable. Find a time when you and your child can organize your child’s art supplies and study materials.
With this in mind, discuss and plan with your child the best way to organize your child’s materials. Accordingly, some children are amazed at how many different types of materials they actually have.
*Many children enjoy art or creating things.
What types of organization would help and motivate your child?
Look for materials in the recycle bin.
Search, with your child, for containers for crayons, markers, pencils, etc. boxes to hold glue bottles, paper punches, ink pads etc. Let your child decorate and create labels for the containers. This will create ownership in the materials so that they are easily located and not lost.
*Which shelves are reserved for your child’s study materials? Room for books and art/drawing supplies as well as extra room for any ongoing craft projects. Your child can make labels for shelves.
Then talk to your child. Compare familiar jobs.
* Begin by talking to your child about how you care for things. Putting lids on items that we use in the kitchen and putting lids on paint, markers etc. preserves the materials in containers. Washing dishes and cleaning counters makes them ready for the next time we want to use them. Washing paint brushes, putting our books and materials away will get them ready for the next time we want to paint or read etc.
*What will your child do with any scraps that are left over from school/study projects? Talk to your child before starting projects about recycling paper scraps into the recycle bin.
Then teach your child how to plan ahead.
*Teach your child to clean up. We are not finished when our projects are done. It’s like baking a cake. When we bake a cake, we need to clean all bowls, dishes, counters etc. before we are finished. When we build a birdhouse, we need to clean up all wood scraps, nails, paint etc. before we are finished.
In this situation, you may want to make it a family rule. You clean up all messes that you make. Then all materials are ready for the next time we need them.
Some children need more guidance.
*First help your young children clean up until you can wean them gradually from this process. You will be teaching them how to clean up, and the importance of cleaning up.
*Next, build periodic checks of your child’s materials into your schedule. Include your child in these checks. Make a list of items which need to be purchased or items on a child’s birthday wish list etc. Which materials are running low and need replacement? Look for items that need repair. Which library books need to be returned on time?
Remain positive.
*With this purpose in mind, praise all positive behavior. Including helping parents put away things such as: dishes from the dishwasher, folded laundry, handing out desserts to visiting relatives etc.
*You should seek help for your child, if your child is breaking his/her materials on purpose and or showing uncontrolled aggression. It is especially important if these behaviors occur in multiple settings, home, school, church, with friends, or siblings.
- Follow-up along the way:
Periodically review and reflect on your child’s progress. What is working? What is not working? Adjust your actions accordingly to meet the needs of your child. It’s important to recognize the attainment of a successful goal completed, however you will notice small achievements along the way. Recognize these smaller successes. It will encourage your child to keep trying and let your child know that he/she is on the right path. It will also motivate your child and make him/her more receptive when new goals are introduced.
5.Follow Up: What to do after you try your selected actions:
If your actions were successful, keep using them. However, continue to monitor your child. You can use these actions as preventative measures if your child has a set back.
If your child is unsuccessful, seek help from school your family doctor etc. Take your notes with you. Let those helping you know what you have tried and the results of your efforts. This record can go a long way to getting your child the help that he/she deserves.
Go here to find more information about problems and solutions for children who experience problems with rules and family expectations