ABC's of Getting Kids Organized and Ready for School
* Designate a space for the child to do homework where there are no
distractions, and keep the necessary supplies nearby in a cupboard or
portable caddy. Schedule homework time in the afternoon or after dinner
so there is no last-minute rush to deal with it in the morning. (As far
as timing goes, each child is different - some need downtime right
after school; others would be happy to get their work finished and
"over with" as soon as possible.)
* Watch the weather report and
choose appropriate clothes the night before. Have the clothes hung on a
closet door or other designated spot, so kids can dress themselves
without searching for a matching sock or favorite shirt.
* Purchase
multiples of often-used school supplies, then store them in a central
"supply closet" so there is no need for a last-minute trip to the store
for something like glue or markers.
B is for Boxes, Bags, Baskets & Backpacks
* Routines are essential to keeping the clutter contained. Kids should
come home and place their "stuff" where it belongs right away - which
parents should help designate using anything from a shelf to a box,
basket or cupboard. Having "homes" for stuff makes it easier for kids
to comply when you say, "Put your stuff away!" (Where is "away"
exactly?).
* An OUT box and IN box for each of the kids and parents
may be just what's needed to keep papers in order. Homework goes IN
when kids get home, and OUT when they're finished. Permission slips go
IN to a parent's box to be signed and then put in the child's OUT box.
Every morning the child needs to take items from his/her OUT box,
rather than searching all over the house or asking a parent during the
morning rush.
* A basket or cubby system with each child's name
on it can hold accessories such as hats or gloves. You can even
designate a special hook with a child's name for their jacket and
backpack to go. (Remember too that a hook or rod placed at the younger
child's height lets them hang their coats/jackets themselves, giving
them wonderful training and accountability for taking care of their
things.)
* Kids can be clutter magnets especially when it comes
to artwork or special assignments that you or they want to show off or
save. Contain the paper in a box as cheap as an unused pizza box that
can hold lots of large artwork. Or you can purchase special acid-free
porfolio style boxes, which are made to hold items long-term. Either
way it's best to go through the saved items every quarter and (if the
child's old enough) have him/her pick and choose his/her favorites to
save.
* The same is true for graded papers. Instead of hanging
every masterpiece or "A" assignment on the refrigerator, designate an
Award Wall of some kind with a space for just one or two items to
display. Rotate the winner every week or two, and put the old one in
the pizza box, portfolio or trash (it's hard to toss, but good to
practice now and then!).
* Weekends are a great time to have kids
clean out their backpacks. This is a great time to discard forgotten
trash (such as a smelly banana peel) and prevent the pack from being
overloaded. Moms can join in the fun and clean out their purses at the
same time!)
C is for Coordinating and Communicating
* A well-managed family is one where each family member can be
accounted for so it's essential to have a one-stop family calendar with
EVERYBODY's activities, whether it's a field trip, babysitting job,
school play or business dinner for mom or dad. When you see everyone's
comings and goings on the same page, you can more easily coordinate
pick-up's, drop-offs, dinner plans and more.
* The family
calendar might also help you see when things have become "overly
scheduled" in which case maybe it's time to "schedule" a day off for
Family Night At Home.
* Another way to keep things coordinated,
especially in families with multiple kids is to make sure you
color-code school supplies for each child. Rather than stocking up on 6
red notebooks, consider getting 3 red and 3 blue, so child #1 and child
#2 can get the notebook that's theirs without even reading the cover or
looking inside.
* Color-coding can also be used for accessories,
such backpacks, gloves, hats and scarves... pick the same color (e.g.
green) for the child each time, or at the very least, just be sure
every "twin" item is "different" and can be identified for each child
(e.g. purple and pink hats; striped and dotted gloves).
* Best of
all, communication is essential to keeping kids organized. Get them in
the habit of telling you what you need to know about upcoming events,
tests and projects. Like many other things, being organized takes
practice, so accept that some things will fall through the cracks now
and then. Just remember that kids are students and it's their job to
make some mistakes and learn from them!
About the Author
Diana Allard is a home organizing consultant and owner of Efficient Spaces Organizing Services, LLC in Wayzata, Minnesota. She works with clients in their homes and home offices to help them maximize space and minimize stress by decluttering, rearranging and reprioritizing the stuff that matters. Information on these services, plus weekly tips and product ideas, can be found at www.EfficientSpaces.com
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