From the Desk of Aly B.
MARCHing on Our Way to Better Organizational Skills
As I pulled off the calendar page exiting February (after celebrating February 29- Leap Year, this year) and leading into March, I perused what special dates and events would be coming before us. I usually do this every month because I am a planner (of sort) and like to get (as they say) “my ducks in the row”. As I looked down the calendar I saw things like International Women’s Month, Daylight Saving Time, St Patrick’s Day, First day of Spring, Easter (this year), and a ton of other celebrated events/tribute days/birthdays and more. Much too many to list here. And I wondered, “How do we keep all these dates organized? How do we keep our lives organized? And when do we start teaching organizational skills to children?”
Organizational skills are an essential life tool. At Growing Sound Play and Learn our mission, in cooperation with Growing Sound Music, has always been about getting kids ready for school and ready for life. Growing Sound Music does it through songs. We do it through play. Infants and toddlers learn to start organizing through stacking, grouping, and sorting. Preschoolers learn to start organizing through daily routines, color coding, and introducing memory aids. School age children practice coming up with step-by-step checklists including tasks in the classroom and at home.
Organization is an essential executive functioning skill that has a profound impact on development and learning. Executive functions are the self-regulation skills we use every day to plan, manage, and organize our lives. These skills can be used internally or externally. For example, externally they help us to clean our house or workspace. But internal skills help us organize thoughts and ideas so we can explain them logically. The skills we introduce in childhood continue to develop as we move into our adult lives and support our abilities to set and ultimately accomplish our goals.
So, if you’ve been thinking when is the best time to start teaching organizational skills to young children? The answer is NOW; this year, this month, this day, this minute. It’s never too early, it’s never too late. And it might just be fun too!
Our current top suggestions to help introduce organizational skills include:
- Rainbow Blocks and Towers (Birth-Age 2)
- Mini Turtle Stacker (Birth-Age 2)
- Garden Memory and Matching Game (Ages 3-6)
- StoryTelling Game for Children (Ages 3-6+)
- Silly Sentences (Ages 6-8)
- Sologic Game (Ages 6-8+)
Make a list...get going...get organized. You'll be happier.
Of course, if you ever want to drop us a note you can do so via email, or through our contact page. We welcome your feedback, comments, collaborations, and encouragement. info@gsplayandlearn.com