Children With Organizer -- How They Love the Details

The StrengthsExplorer theme of Organizer can manifest itself in many different ways. Children especially talented in this theme enjoy scheduling, planning, anticipating and organizing. If your child is an Organizer, it could mean they like physical order (a clean room or desk), but it could also shine through in a child who has a well-rehearsed plan for how to spend the weekend or what to wear tomorrow. This talent theme describes a person who truly loves details, and loves tinkering with and configuring them until they're just right.

If the StrengthsExplorer theme of Achieving is about accomplishing the plan, then Organizer is about creating the plan. Discoverer might pull all the pieces apart; Organizer will pull them all together.

This might be the trickiest StrengthsExplorer theme to spot because it can show up in so many different ways. And the variance isn't just in how different Organizer kids display the talent, but can be internal and involve the parts of their lives where they choose to care more about order. Don't write off the assessment as being wrong just because you can't spot this one from your limited perspective in the kid's life. Maybe you have a middle-schooler whose locker is a disaster but who still has a strong need and ability to adhere to a schedule. Or perhaps your kid's room is messy, but they have an enhanced awareness of deadlines and timelines.

To spot Organizer, you can look for signs of this talent in action. Children with this talent like to create order in their world. They'll likely pay attention to sequence and schedules, curious about what has come before and what's happening next. They likely have fun anticipating future events and how these events fit into the day or the month. They enjoy making something perfect -- they see their ability to improve the order or display of something and will jump in to do just that. You may notice this theme showing up as rule-following or giving importance to sequence and systems.

This is a great example of how these younger talents differ from strengths. As we mature, Organizer might grow into Maximizer -- the ability to make something good even more perfect. But it could also be more about the executing of order -- Discipline. There are certainly hints of Strategic -- what if? If then? Then what?

Consider aspects of your life where order is important. If "order" is foreign to you, consider habits you have, or things you are always sure to do. How does each habit make your life easier? That's what's beautiful about these kids. They can notice and create that in lots of different places and spaces.

Words to describe and affirm Organizer:

• Structured
• Orderly
• Neat
• Detailed
• Planner
• Systematic
• Rule-follower
• Mapmaker
• Anticipatory
• Specific
• Efficient

To enhance Organizer talent once you've spotted it, be an explorer before you're a treasure hunter. Cast a wide net for the places, spaces and activities in which your child finds the greatest need for and delight in order, and once you've found them, let the child take the lead in making improvements and building habits.

Here is a list of questions that can aid in your exploration:

• What did you organize? How did you bring structure to it?
• What is something you love to have just perfect?
• What's the best routine of your day?
• Who could benefit from how you like to organize? Where would you start with them?
• If everyone in our family/classroom followed one rule, which one would you most like it to be?
• What did you notice about your schedule today?
• What's easier when you're organized?
• If you had any helper, who would you want to help you organize?
• Whose habits or structure do you admire?

It's important to affirm the talent you notice. To do this, value your child for the consulting abilities they could bring to your family's or classroom's organization. Ask them what they think could benefit from an organizing makeover, and empower them to lead the charge. Help your child learn from other Organizers. Consider pairing them with another child at least 2 years older, and watching the skills the older child has that can accentuate your kid's talent.

Take the conversation beyond appreciation and into investment -- what resources might your child use in their organizing? (storage boxes, drawer inserts, a daily planner … )

GODOIT Challenge

Grow: What can you do this week to help invest in your ORGANIZER child?

1. Check the box

• Select one specific family (or classroom) occurrence, and turn it into a list for the week. Make it a list you can check off in a really fun way -- colored markers, stickers or access to an app your kid doesn't normally get. Every day, revisit the list together. Plan something special when it's all done!
• Ideas: meal plan, chores, supplies you need to gather, scavenger hunt in the neighborhood, 10 ways to help out Grandma, 7 people to hug

2. Create order from mess

• Ask your child to identify a problem that needs solving with order. Could be a person who needs help or just a junk drawer that needs tidying. Give your child full permission to follow their instincts on how to execute, and celebrate once they are finished.

  • If age-appropriate, ask the kid to do a brief and debrief (share plan and results)