Many parents and educators may have realized that often, it is boys who struggle more often with academic tasks like organization and time management. In addition to research that suggests that boys brains develop differently than girls, other variables may be contributing to this problem.
In her book, That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and in Life, Ana Homayoun describes five areas that interfere with boys organization and time management, and, ultimately, with their academic success.
Multi-Tasking is Hard for Boys
During the time when they are developmentally least able to handle it, schools and parents expect boys to juggle a mind-boggling amount of tasks and responsibilities, and to do it all in an organized fashion. Additionally, since this often comes more easily to girls, it can be discouraging for boys to be constantly reminded and reprimanded for something that seems to come so easily to so many other students.
Obviously, those boys who are not organized and unable to efficiently juggle all of their responsibilities are usually the same boys who are doing poorly in school. It is usually not a matter of how smart they are, just how “together” they are.
Helicopter Parents Help Too Much
Parents struggle with how much support to provide and when to pull away and let boys try things on their own. Some parents are over-involved, which denies boys of the opportunity to try (and either fail and learn something for next time, or be successful). Parents who are ultra-organized types may also have a hard time grasping why and how their sons can be so disorganized, and boys may read this as disappointment. Boys who continually believe they are letting their parents down are at a higher risk for giving up altogether.
Overuse of Technology
These days, many kids have TVs in their rooms, and many spend additional hours on the computer or playing video games. Parents may be unaware of how unhealthy this is for kids, or maybe they are unable to provide alternatives for their kids.
Another concern is that kids may become used to the fast pace of technology and then have difficulty sustaining attention on their schoolwork. Because it does not offer the same kind of stimulation they have become accustomed to, they may find it difficult to focus.
Sleep Deprivation
Many kids are staying up way too late and then getting up early for school. Overscheduled with homework and numerous activities, some students may not get to bed until late at night.
Other kids may watch TV, chat online with friends, or play video games into the wee hours. The addictive quality of the media kids are consuming may make it easy for them to stay up into the wee hours without realizing it. Unfortunately, sleepy kids can’t learn properly!
Poor Decision Making
People are always telling teens that their choices now impact their future later. However well-intended this warning may be, it may backfire. Boys may be so worried about making the wrong choice, and the negative impact the result may have on his future, that he becomes paralyzed with indecision.
Boys can become paralyzed by choices because the stakes are too high, or because they are simply unable to properly evaluate the possible consequences of their actions. Boys often have trouble planning ahead, a critical component of predicting cause and effect. Unable to articulate this, boys often give an answer of “I don’t know.” This sounds as if they don’t care, but that is not usually the case. The answers may seem so clear cut to an adult, but not to them.
Knowing what contributes to boys’ difficulties can help parents and educators mitigate these factors. Working together with boys, adults can be a great source of support in assisting boys to reach their full potential.
Source: That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and in Life by Ana Homayoun, Penguin Books, 2010.
Susan Carney - I have been working as a middle school counselor with 6th and 7th grade students for the past thirteen years. I received a BA in ...
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