Back to School: Let’s Get Organized!

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • October 19, 2020

Written by: Kathryn Ring, OTR/L, Tiffany Thomsen, OTR/L, and Eva Patel, OTR/L

A little girl is standing in front of a blackboard with drawings on it.

Why are organizational strategies important?

We all have heard of the saying, “Time is money.” A famous quote by Benjamin Franklin reads, “ “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”

Tying the two quotes into our days, some of us feel like we are always running out of time. By the time we receive a chance to breathe, it is dark and time to hit the bed. It is now time to introspect, identify a need, and act on it! Together, we can do it! It is important to stay organized to make the most out of our child’s education, hobbies, work-life balance.

How organized are you?

We ask that you answer 10 question quiz from Marcia Ramsland. If you score anywhere from 10-69 points, we ask that you continue reading the blog and pass it on to friends who may benefit! https://organizingpro.com/how-organized-are-you/

A notebook is open to a page that says ' sunday ' on it

How can I help my child stay organized? 

Part of a child’s learning experience with being in school is using a planner to stay organized with assignments. With school being virtual, children will be provided with their schedules already created for them. It is important that we continue to promote organizational skills as this is a critical skill that will carry throughout the lifespan. Having children participate in an organizational strategy whether a checklist or filling out a calendar or planner as part of their virtual school experience will help children to see the big picture of their day/week/month and allow for a sense of control, ownership, and responsibility for their learning

What are some effective organizational strategies? 

A person is typing on a laptop with a calendar on the screen.

Family Calendar: Post a weekly calendar for the family in a common area of your house that includes all schedules including adults and children. Include specific meeting times and subjects for all the learners.  Also include special events and activities for the family (ex. Friday is pizza night!). This will provide information for all the family members to help everyone to feel calm and have a sense of control.

A person is pointing at a checklist on a white board.

Checklists : Help your child to create daily checklists of their assignments. As they complete each assignment, use a visual such as a checkmark, sticker, or a happy face following the completion of each assignment. If the child has a regular routine, you can place the list inside a clear protector and use a dry erase marker to check off tasks as they are completed. This will allow the child to feel a sense of accomplishment and control over their day. 

A little girl is playing with a board that says break time

Visual schedules : Visual schedules can be helpful for younger children or children with reading and writing challenges. Ask your therapist to assist in creating a personalized visual daily schedule. This will ensure all children with varying abilities are successfully participating in organizational strategies at their own level. 

A school year calendar with a pencil on it

Academic Planner/Calendar : If able, continue to teach your child how to keep track of their assignments in a planner or calendar.  While there are digital options, handwriting their assignments can actually help their memory. A fun and helpful method to organize assignments is by color coding and selecting a specific color for each subject. For example, math is blue, language arts is red, reading is yellow, and science is green. Your child can write their assignments down with a colored pen/pencil according to each subject’s assigned color. This provides a visual cue and can help a child plan for working towards due dates. Say a child has a science project due on September 30, they can schedule time in their planner  each week using the selected color to” work on the project”. On the due date, “Science Project Due” should also be written in the selected color. 

Have you tried some of these organizational techniques? Do you have any other favorite ways to organize? Share with us in the comments!

The post Back to School: Let’s Get Organized! appeared first on PPT4Kids.

By Aimee Brueck October 22, 2025
Continuing education is essential for pediatric therapists to stay current with best practices, support licensure renewal, and deliver the best outcomes for their young clients. But with so many CEU options online, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time, and your budget.
By Aimee Brueck October 10, 2025
At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we know that every child’s feeding journey is unique. Some children may struggle with sensory issues, oral motor delays, or behavioral challenges that affect how they eat. That’s why feeding therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, instead it involves a blend of specialized approaches tailored to each child’s specific needs.
By Aimee Brueck September 18, 2025
Choosing the right pair of shoes for your child isn’t just about style, it’s about supporting their growing feet with the stability, comfort, and structure they need. Whether your child has orthotic needs, sensory sensitivities, or simply needs reliable footwear for school and play, finding pediatric therapist-recommended shoes can make all the difference.
By Aimee Brueck August 25, 2025
This is a lesser-known eating disorder compared to anorexia or bulimia. It is known by its English acronym ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). ARFID is characterized by very limited eating, either due to avoidance of certain tastes, textures, colors, smells, or an intense fear of the consequences of eating (such as choking or vomiting). ARFID is not related to body image or a desire to lose weight. ARFID affects the child’s social life—it’s not simply a phase of being a “picky eater.”
By Aimee Brueck August 25, 2025
Esto es un trastorno menos conocido como la anorexia o la bulimia. Esto es conocido por sus siglas en inglés como ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). El ARFID es caracterizado por una alimentación muy limitada, ya sea por la evitación de ciertos sabores, texturas, colores, olores o por un miedo intenso a las consecuencias de comer (como atragantarse o vomitar). ARFID no está relacionado con la imagen corporal ni el deseo de adelgazar. EL ARFID afecta la vida social del niño, no es simplemente una etapa de "comer selectivo"
By Aimee Brueck August 7, 2025
Children grow quickly, and with that growth come unique physical needs. Whether it’s posture, mobility, or muscle support, some children benefit from an extra layer of help to move, play, and thrive confidently. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we offer Turtle Bracing : a lightweight, flexible orthotic solution designed to support growing bodies in motion
A child is sitting at a table drawing with a marker.
July 31, 2025
July brings warm days, end-of-summer excitement, and for many families, the first signs of back-to-school prep. If your child is heading to kindergarten this fall, now is the perfect time to start building their confidence with handwriting. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we use the Handwriting Without Tears program to support early writers in a fun, low-pressure way that’s grounded in child development and occupational therapy expertise.
By Aimee Brueck July 18, 2025
A new school year means fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils and a renewed focus on writing. But for many kids, handwriting isn’t just a subject, it’s a foundational skill that impacts how they learn, express ideas, and feel about school.
Two little girls are running on a basketball court.
July 3, 2025
July brings long sunny days, school-free schedules, and endless opportunities for play, but for many families, it’s also a chance to focus on something essential: physical development through movement. Summer play isn’t just fun; it’s foundational. It helps children build strength, coordination, and confidence especially when it supports gross motor development .
A family is laying on a blanket in the grass reading a book.
June 19, 2025
As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, summer invites children to explore, play, and grow. But with screens so easily accessible, it can be tempting to turn to tablets or TVs for entertainment. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, we believe summer is a golden opportunity to engage kids in meaningful, screen-free activities that support their development —in both body and mind.