My kid’s gifted but always forgets stuff for school – my tips help stay organized, you need a special lunchbox & folder
A MOTHER has revealed how she helped her gifted yet scatterbrained daughter become more organized with just a few easy changes.
She shared the daily habits that make it easier for her child to keep track of her belongings, including important paperwork, lunch boxes, and jackets.
Redditor Nitenicole opened up about her daughter while responding to a post from a father whose 10-year-old son was "super smart" but struggling with forgetfulness.
She explained that she has a "kid like this," noting that it is "an organization issue" and "not a discipline issue."
"[My daughter has] been in gifted since first grade, has been reading at the top end of the Lexile for a few years, wins writing contests, science fairs, spelling bees, and plays an instrument," she said.
"She also needs to write her name on everything that goes to school and she has four lunchboxes — name and phone number written in Sharpie outside.
"She's gotten much better about jackets and lunch boxes."
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Nicole first suggested getting a backup supply of school items that are easily lost.
"Get more than one lunch box," she advised the dad. "Get one that can attach to his backpack.
"Get him an 'important papers' folder and tell him to just put all his paperwork he gets throughout the day into that.
"Then remind him at night to go through it and sort things into subjects and give you anything you need.
"Help him build the habit, have him do homework in a common area, get him to pull everything out of the backpack every day."
She also recommended giving children gentle reminders to aid them in learning how to be more organized, rather than punishing them right off the bat.
"Remind him to sort things into the right folders and notebooks, and then remind him to put them away," she said. "Do it in the same order every time.
"Remind him to write all of his assignments and activities and due dates onto a calendar.
"And for a few weeks, check behind him and make sure the dates are actually right. My daughter is great at transposing numbers."
She said that when it comes to raising a child, it's about guiding them instead of scolding them.
"You can't just tell him to try harder, you have to help him come up with really basic, simple habits that will carry him through," she wrote.
"An extra 10 to 15 minutes of unloading the backpack, sorting the paperwork, [and] putting everything away will make a world of difference."
Nicole's advice resonated with one school teacher.
"I'm a middle school teacher and I think your suggestions are absolutely spot on. I've recommended these things to many kids over the years," they said.
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"One thing I would add would be checklists. On the door he leaves from, have a list of what to take. In his locker or binder, have a list of what to bring home.
"Checklists for any procedure he tends to forget. Also, have a family calendar in a common area you can review with him regularly."