Clutter cramps your style. Your kids have probably felt the pinch too. Instead of jumping into their homework, how often do they waste time finding their mechanical pencil and scratch paper? Rather than getting down to the business at hand, they get stuck at the starting line.

Find a work space they can count on. Make sure they have the necessary tools close at hand. Nothing fancy, just some room to spread out, a place that will always be open and ready when they need it. Be sure they have proper lighting and comfortable chairs as well.

Even an organized person can become buried in paperwork. You get reading material in the mail, print off Web pages, and people send you more. Soon, you have too much to read. It’s called “information overload.” Divert the flood by focusing on the projects most important to you and your children. Help your kids decide what paperwork is worth exploring and what needs to be trashed.

Help your kids come up with their top ten goals. For example, if your kids want straight As, they’ll need to study faithfully. That means setting aside certain hours for homework and cutting down on goof-off time. Let goals set their schedule and your kids can accomplish anything. Be sure you include important spiritual objectives, like Bible reading and prayer, in your to-do list as well.

Your children have more choices than you did at their age. Being organized means making the most of many opportunities and avoiding diversions that morph into procrastination. Hone down the best options from the good so they can succeed at what’s most important to them.