Disorganised and messy

[CardiCorgi]

Does anyone have any tips on organising their pre-teen? DD's room is a tip and she's lost her completed homework again.
I go in and nag her to tidy up but to be honest I sound like a broken record and I am pretty sure that all she hears is "blah blah blah".
Being messy is one thing, but losing marks in school because of it is another.

I'm a messy person and it's really really hard to not be.
I'd start with the important things like homework. If she doesn't have to bring all her books to school every day, then she should have a place that they always go - a brightly coloured box, near where she does her homework. Build up from there for other important things, but make sure everything is easy to do. My DD leaves her wardrobe open all the time and we ended up taking the doors off. It's easier for her to put stuff away. Lids can be a barrier for me. I'd set the thing on top of the lid rather than lift it to put it in.
I know it sounds ridiculous that doors and lids can be a barrier, but if it's the case for your DD itll be easier all round to just accept it and organise with that in mind, trust me!

I was that messy teen, and it took me years to find organisational skills, I was also never helped to find systems, just told to do it and I remember the complete feeling of overwhelm. Equally though I probably wouldn't have listened, at that age you don't want to be told. My daughter is now the same, I bought her the book 'a smart girls guide to getting it together' so she could take ownership herself and it has really helped. She disappeared for several hours one weekend, we were all banned from her room, and honestly, it was amazing after! Has it remained that way? Of course not, BUT it does get re done every now and again, she has systems in place, mich less stuff is lost.

*much less

Thank you for the book recommendation. 👍🏻

Thanks for the book recommendation!

I know I need to help her find her own system and not impose mine on her, but if it is affecting her school work, then it is a problem.

We have boxes for school work, it just doesn't always find its way in there.

I was absolutely not like this at her age, but she's also a lot more creative than me.

Dd loves the book and was so absorbed in it that she forgot to pack her school bag...
I'll report back when she's had some more time.

Oh no! I feel bad now! Well over here we have got that exhausted and desperate for half term feeling going on, things are definitely slipping. Looking forward to time to reset and get back on top of things.