Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/467488
www.FredParent.NET • • • • 17 • • • • • • • 17 • • 17 Malia Jacobson is an award- winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades. SCHEDULE SYNC If anyone needs a well- ordered schedule, it's a teenager: between aca- demics, after-school jobs, and extracurricular activi- ties, a teen's daily routine can be incredibly hectic. Parents can help teens learn vital organization skills to manage a busy schedule; just make sure teens are the ones doing the organizing to keep the focus on skill-building. "Collaborate with your teen to develop organi- zational strategies. Their buy-in is important. Teens are more prone to follow through with strategies if they've been a part of the decision-making pro- cess," Meadows says. When it comes to bedroom clean- liness, teens can set their param- eters while upholding certain fam- ily guidelines; the floor must be visible, for example, and any food wrappers or dishes need to be cleaned up daily. Visual cues can help a scattered teen stay organized, so invest in a white board or a large write-on calen- dar for a teen's bedroom. And use teens' love of all things tech to teach self-management skills using apps with daily schedule reminders, homework calendars, and task timers. Once teens clean up their act, Meadows says, praise consistent progress. "The best way to always be organized is to stay organized!" Teen Years 13-18 Malia Jacobson is an award- winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her