1st Edition

The Organized Child An Effective Program to Maximize Your Kid's Potential—in School and in Life

    Are you sick of nagging your child to write down homework assignments? Is his or her backpack a black hole that eats up papers, books, and gym clothes? Organizational skills problems aren't just frustrating--they get in the way of school success and wreak havoc at home. Fortunately, help is at hand. This unique resource stands out from other books because it is based on a scientifically tested program that works. Learn how you can teach your 7- to 13-year-old specific skills to:

    *Organize school materials and toys.
    *Track assignments.
    *Improve time management and planning.
    *Overcome brain "Glitches"--mischievous creatures that trip kids up.
    *Create and follow effective routines.

    Concrete examples, tips for strategically using praise and rewards, and practical tools (you can download and print additional copies as needed) help you implement each step of the program. Maximizing your kid's potential starts now--here's how.

    A Greater Good Favorite Parenting Book of 2018

    Mental health professionals, see also the related intervention manual from Gallagher et al., Organizational Skills Training for Children with ADHD: An Empirically Supported Treatment.

    I. Understanding Your Child’s Disorganization
    1. Organization and the Executive Assistant in Your Child’s Brain
    2. From Parent to Coach: Taking on a New Mindset to Get Your Child Organized
    3. Discovering Your Child’s Organizational Strengths and Weaknesses
    II. Laying the Foundation for Change
    4. Overview of the Skills-Building Program
    5. Prompt, Monitor, Praise, Reward: How to Motivate Your Child Down the Path toward Organization
    6. Building a Connection between Home and School
    III. Organizational Skills for School Tasks
    7. Tracking Assignments
    8. Managing School Materials
    9. Time Management for Schoolwork
    10. Planning for Long-Term Assignments
    IV. Putting the Last Pieces in Place
    11. Managing the Glitches at Home
    12. Putting It All Together: Making Organizational Skills Part of Your Daily Routine
    13. When Your Child Needs Additional Help
    Appendix: Creating Your Own Planner
    Resources

    Biography

    Richard Gallagher, PhD, is Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and of Psychiatry at New York University (NYU) Langone Health. He is also Director of Special Projects at the Institute for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Behavior Disorders at the Child Study Center of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. Dr. Gallagher is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who has been treating and evaluating children since the 1980s. He is coauthor of Organizational Skills Training for Children with ADHD: An Empirically Supported Treatment (for mental health professionals) and The Organized Child: An Effective Program to Maximize Your Kid's Potential--in School and in Life (for parents). Dr. Gallagher codeveloped (with Howard B. Abikoff) the Organizational Skills Training program and codirected the research that serves as the basis for both books.

    Elana G. Spira, PhD, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Child Study Center of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at New York University (NYU) Langone Health. She is coauthor of Organizational Skills Training for Children with ADHD: An Empirically Supported Treatment (for mental health professionals) and The Organized Child: An Effective Program to Maximize Your Kid's Potential--in School and in Life (for parents), and participated in developing and testing the Organizational Skills Training program. Dr. Spira specializes in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD and behavior disorders, and currently sees patients through the NYU Child Study Center’s home- and school-based services in Westchester and Lower Rockland County, New York. She is Director of Research and Evaluation at Westchester Jewish Community Services, a leading social service agency in Westchester County, New York, and Adjunct Lecturer at the NYU Silver School of Social Work

    Jennifer L. Rosenblatt, PhD, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Child Study Center of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at New York University (NYU) Langone Health. Dr. Rosenblatt has extensive clinical experience working with children and adolescents, and currently sees patients through the NYU Child Study Center’s home- and school-based services in Westchester and Lower Rockland County, New York, where she specializes in the treatment of ADHD, organizational skills problems, and other learning and behavior challenges. She participated in developing and testing the Organizational Skills Training program.

    "This unique book is different from others about organizational skills because it relies on research-based strategies that work. The authors are pioneers in the field. In a supportive, reassuring style, they arm you with the knowledge you need to help your child get and stay organized. Highly recommended."--Ellen Braaten, PhD, coauthor of Bright Kids Who Can't Keep Up

    "The perfect resource for parents of children who struggle with organization, time management, homework, and studying. Unlike most approaches that focus on training you to manage your child's problems, this book helps you promote your child's independence. It is extremely clear and well written--and is based on compelling evidence."--Thomas J. Power, PhD, ABPP, Director, Center for Management of ADHD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

    "Within the first few pages of this book, it seemed like the authors were describing my 10-year-old exactly. I felt a sense of relief as I realized that they understood the issues and had solutions. We have some work ahead of us, but with concrete steps and practical strategies in hand, we are already seeing improvement. We are ready to say goodbye to the days of forgotten textbooks, missed homework, and lost lunchboxes!"--Christine C., parent, Trenton, New Jersey

    "Provides incredibly valuable tools. Not only will you get step-by-step information for implementing the authors' approach, but you also will gain a better understanding of how your child thinks."--Steven W. Evans, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Co-Director, Center for Intervention Research in Schools, Ohio University

    "This book provides many tools I can use with my son now and in the future. I particularly like the 'Glitches'--they give me an approachable way of explaining to my son why he might misplace something or forget an assignment, without making him feel like a failure. The authors do an excellent job of helping parent and child work as a team to beat the Glitches."--Jennie M., parent, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
    -Parents of children with ADHD or other executive dysfunction conditions will find this evidence-based program instantly usable, extremely clear, and sensitive to both the child's self-esteem and the adult's likely frustration….The authors build trust in what might seem like an inflexible step-by-step process by bringing real-world experience to their suggestions….With this excellent workbook, Gallagher, Spira, and Rosenblatt will provide hope and motivation for the burnt-out caregivers of 'hopeless' disorganized kids. (starred review; a 2018 Best Book)--Publishers Weekly, 2/12/2018ƒƒHelp is at hand for parents of children who forget to write down homework assignments, misplace their backpacks, and cram for tests at the last minute in this step-by-step guide to tackling some of the most common challenges….Chock-full of extras (such as a downloadable appendix), this guide will be valuable for parents who need support in this area.--Library Journal, 1/2/2018