Why Planning, Organization & Time Management Matter in Everyday Life — and How ABA Can Help

Brigid McCormick
Sep 8
2 min read

Children are drawing at a table in a pastel-colored room. A teddy bear is in the background. The mood is focused and playful.

If you’ve ever tried to run a session with a client who can’t find their favorite toy, can’t remember what comes next, or melts down when the timer runs out, you’ve seen executive function challenges in action.

Planning, organization, and time management aren’t just “school” skills—they’re everyday survival skills. They help children navigate routines, complete tasks, and manage transitions without constant adult intervention.

1. Planning

Planning is knowing what needs to be done and figuring out the steps to do it.For a child, that could mean deciding they want to build a LEGO tower and gathering all the pieces before starting. In ABA, we can break planning into teachable units—modeling, prompting, and reinforcing step-by-step thinking.

2. Organization

Child placing paper on fridge; girl organizing toys on shelf with clock; woman and boy at table with timer, papers, and colored pencils.

Organization is the ability to keep track of materials and information. It’s not just about tidy shelves—it's about being able to locate the blue crayon when it’s needed for the drawing or putting homework in the right folder so it actually makes it to school the next day. We can target organization by teaching sorting systems, using labeled bins, or practicing “clean up and reset” routines.

3. Time Management

Time management means matching the time available to the task. For example, knowing a game will end in 5 minutes and adjusting expectations. Tools like visual timers, countdowns, and task segmentation can make time feel more concrete for kids who struggle with it.

Why This Matters in ABA

When children can plan, organize, and manage their time, sessions flow better, learning happens more consistently, and generalization is easier. These are skills they can carry into school, home, and the community.

ABA Strategies for Building These Skills

Visual supports: schedules, checklists, and labels
Structured practice: breaking skills into small steps with clear reinforcement
Timers and countdowns: making time tangible
Natural environment teaching: practicing skills in context