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

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

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.

If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.

Partied at: Fridays Five Features, Beautifully Creative Inspired, Funtastic Friday, Pretty Pintastic, Inspiration Spotlight, Share It One More Time, Share the Wealth, Small Victories, Sundays Down Under, Happiness Is Homemade, Simply Sundays, Making Your Home Sing Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Inspiration Monday, Mix It Up Monday, Much Ado About Monday, Motivation Monday, Mommy Monday, Manic Mondays, Meetup Monday, Something to Talk About, Anything Goes, What'd You Do This Weekend, Making a Home, Tuesdays At Our Home, Hip Homeschool Hop, Tutorial Tuesday, Homework Creative Party, Let's Be Friends, A Little R and R, Dream Create Inspire, Worthwhile Wednesdays