A planner helps only when it is used to decide what happens next. One reliable system, reviewed at a consistent time, is more useful than several calendars, apps and lists that compete with one another.

Start with the school system

If school provides a planner, homework diary or online homework platform, use that as the main system. Ask school how tasks and deadlines are recorded. Use a separate planner only when there is no school system, or when school agrees it would help. A paper wall planner, the phone’s own calendar or a free to-do app such as Microsoft To Do all work, as long as you stick to one.

Build one weekly plan

For a younger child who needs substantial support, choose one fixed time each week. Put school deadlines, activities and equipment on a visible plan. Together, choose when each longer task will begin.

Where less help is needed, let the child lead: read the deadline, decide the first action and place it on the plan. The adult checks for one missing step rather than filling in the whole week.

Use the same place for the plan, such as a wall, family noticeboard or physical planner.

Work backwards from longer deadlines

For a longer task, record the final deadline and the steps that must happen before it. For a younger child, the deadline, the first step and one check partway through are enough.

For example, for an essay due Friday:

• Monday: read the question and gather sources;

• Tuesday: plan the argument;

• Wednesday: draft;

• Thursday: edit and submit.

Turn each entry into an action. “Science project” is a topic; “find two reliable sources” is a next step.

Add one checkpoint where the work can still be adjusted. A checkpoint the night before submission is too late to be useful.

Keep the review short

At the agreed time, check:

• what is due;

• the next action;

• what equipment or information is needed;

• whether the plan still fits.

Avoid repeated reminders throughout the day. Prompt them to consult the system instead.

Hand over gradually

Begin by planning together. Next, let the child or young person draft the plan and ask one clarifying question. Eventually, review only longer or unusual tasks.

If deadlines are still repeatedly missed, check whether tasks are being recorded, estimated realistically and broken into actions. Share this specific pattern with school rather than adding another planning tool.

Talamo has no commercial relationship with any of the organisations named here. We suggest them only because we think they could be useful to families.