OWL: Organized.  Wise.  Loyal. The child that gets home from school and sits down to do their homework before they can relax.  The same child who honors their commitments over the spontaneous art of having fun.  Welcome to the world of OWL’s.

Have you ever heard of a child who thrives on boundaries, structure and routines? Rule-bound, orderly, and responsible, an OWL’s sense of security comes from knowing exactly what is expected of them. They thrive when they understand their role in the “system”–whether this be at home, school, in the community, or at work. Their connection to people is based on consistency and authenticity–others doing what they said they would and keeping promises and commitments.

Routine is very important to an OWL child. Their energy will be highest when they know what’s going to happen and when. Their ability to remain calm and perform well is based on having everything in its place: their personal belongings, their priorities, and their calendars and schedules.

To best support your Owl, here are a five important tips and tricks:

1. Do what you said you were going to do.
2. If there’s a plan in place and its going to change, give them as much notice as possible.
3. Respect their need to know the details – anticipate that they’re going to ask what’s going to happen next, because it’s part of their sense of security. The more you can anticipate that question and lead with the plan, the better.
4. Be fair.  Owls play by the rules; whether this be in a board game or expectations around running of the household.
5. Owls will ultimately shoulder the burden for things that aren’t getting done by other family members, so be thoughtful about the division of labor and make sure that the Owl doesn’t end up doing the “Lion(s)” share of the workload.

To find out if you have an OWL in your midst, take the assessment here (for teens & tweens) and here (for your little people).