Friday, October 16, 2015

How to Trick Your Teen or Preteen Into Getting Organized With a Planner

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Teenagers and preteens don't get enough credit.





Many of them are wonderful human beings. It's not their fault that the lack of sleep, stress of school, and hormones all collide at once.

You can help the teen or preteen in your life minimize the stress. How?

Obviously, the same way that you minimize stress - with a planner!

Introducing teens to a planner needs to be done carefully, with appropriate expectations.


Don't Expect Them To Eschew Electronics

Kids are tech savvy, and it just makes sense to most of them to set smart phone alarms.

Let the youngsters in your life know that setting alarms is just fine. For them, a planner is a supplement, not the only tool.

Perhaps alarms for appointments go in the phone, but their class schedule and homework lists go in the planner, since they can't use the phone in class.

Make the Planner Fun


A planner makes a great Christmas gift or surprise for getting good grades. If the planner is a gift, rather than a mandate, you will experience less teenage surliness.

(Whatever you do, do NOT let them know that you think planners are cool. Nope. Trust me.)

This 2016 Engagement Calendar/Planner is perfect for a preteen or teenage girl.




It's colorful, small enough to carry in a backpack or purse, and allows them to customize it without getting overwhelmed. It comes in a variety of designs. And it's approved by my niece, age 13!

Add some fun accessories, like colorful, erasable ink pens. Stickers are great, too.


Introduce Them to Giftie Etcetera

I have some great blog posts for new planner users, (ages 13 and up, please).

Consider making them a page for their new planner with the following links:

http://www.giftieetcetera.com

http://www.giftieetcetera.com/2015/10/i-bought-plannernow-what-do-i-do.html


http://www.giftieetcetera.com/2013/11/5-rules-for-using-your-first-planner.html

Even better, share these posts on their Facebook wall or tweet it to them. Honestly, that's where they might actually read it.

Leave Them Alone

Unless they ask for help, don't bug them about using the planner. Do understand, though, that being an unorganized mess to the extent that it is causing stress and failing grades is an ASK.

Even then, give guidance, not directions.

Remember when you learned to use a planner?

You only did so by doing it and seeing the positive impact on your life. Someone telling you to do it - even me telling you to do it - is NOT how you learned.


Etcetera.

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8 comments:

  1. The first planner that I ever used consistently my best friend got me for Valentin'e day when we were in 11th grade. I've been a planner addict ever since. :)

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  2. She is sitting next to me, I show her the post... she smirks at me... I guess I can try getting her one for Christmas, that might do it. Thanks for the idea.

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  3. I have two grand daughters who announced after the first two weeks of school this term, "I need a way to keep all of this stuff from school straight!". Neither one of them has a cell phone (their parents' decision).

    They called me and asked to come for a visit after school (with their mom's approval, of course). When they got here, they asked about what kind of planner would be a good fit for them. I had links on the computer, so I showed them the possibilities. The younger of the girls opted for a spiral-bound planner. The older one mumbled something about a Filofax... I did not buy a FF for a child. I did locate one of my binders and order inserts for it so she could see if it would be a good "fit".

    Their mother uses a planner, but felt helpless to explain it all to the girls. When the girls got home, they immediately entered homework assignments and project due dates, then did their homework. They had dinner with me before I took them home.

    For now, the older girl is using the ends of sticky notes for her tab labels while she decides how to set up her planner. I printed out some inserts for her and she is thrilled at how well they are working for her.

    School started in August here and it is now October and their "planner habit" has "stuck". Happy girls! Happy Mom and Dad! Happy Grandma, too!

    Dianne in the desert.

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  4. This is great! My daughter asked for a planner for her 12th birthday. The boys are a little more reluctant. I'm trying encourage my oldest to use it to track his school work this year. Hoping that gets him in the groove. :)

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  5. I may hook my daughter up with one for Christmas. Perfect way to start her 16th year of breathing

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  6. I think it is great that you have written about encouraging teens to use planners. It will certainly help them now and in their future. Thanks for linking up with us at #AnythingGoes

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  7. I don't have a teen yet but I will in a couple years and I'm scared...LOL These are great tips! Thanks so much for sharing at Share The Wealth Sunday!
    xoxo
    Lisa @ Fun Money Mom

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  8. #AnythingGoes is great because of you! Thank you for continuing to support this Link Party with your talent and creativity.

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