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Back-to-School Organizing Tips
by Stacey Agin Murray
How do you know it's Back-to-School time? Some would say it's when the
stores fill the shelves with pencil cases and notebooks. Others might
say it's when that infamous Staples commercial starts to air--you know
the one. The background music plays the holiday favorite, "It's the Most
Wonderful Time of the Year..." Moms and dads are dancing down the
school-supplies aisle as their children's sad faces follow behind.
Back-to-School season marks the start of a new year for many kids and
their parents. It's a time to start fresh and create some new habits for
the school year. Not sure where to start? Sharpen your pencils and take
notes of some tips for making the next school year more organized for
you and your child.
Review
Think about your kids and how the school year progressed last year. Were
papers lost? Homework not finished until 10pm? Were the kids always
prepared for their school day?
Take out a piece of paper. Fold it in half--on one side write 'Last
Year' and on the other side write 'This Year.' In the 'Last Year'
column, jot down what tasks/events/projects did not go smoothly. In the
'This Year' column write how changes can be made for the new school
year.
Example
Last Year: Missed the bus/carpool often
This Year: Get kids up 15 min earlier. Pack lunch after dinner. Park
packed book bags at door. Have a family meeting to discuss how to make
the new school year more organized and productive time. Work together to
create systems as well as rewards for staying organized.
Supplies
Take advantage of Back-to-School sales and stock up on supplies. By
winter break the tips of most glue bottles have become clogged and by
spring break you've run out of loose leaf paper. Store these extra
supplies in a box/container in your child's closet or desk.
Create a home for supplies that your children use on a daily basis
(scissors, pencils, paper, etc.). Have younger kids decorate a coffee
can for their crayons/pencils--let teens pick out colorful containers
for their desk/study space. This will give them a feeling of
ownership--they'll be more likely to take good care of their belongings.
Emphasize to your children that time spent searching for supplies is
time that they could be outside playing or talking on the phone. Being
organized will allow them to accomplish more in the same amount of time.
Inventory your children's school supplies 3-4 times a year. Supplies are
used, borrowed, easily lost or broken. If you know what supplies you
have and what you need, you'll never be caught short before a big
project is due.
Homework
Designate an area for homework such as the child's desk or a kitchen
table. Keep their supply box/container close to their work area for easy
storage and retrieval.
Get into the habit of doing homework at the same time and in the same
place every day. Getting children into a routine will help to keep them
organized.
Organize time spent doing homework. One way is to encourage your kids to
tackle the tougher subjects/assignments first. They'll be relieved to
finish and have enough energy left to complete the easier assignments.
Paper
Create an area for incoming/outgoing papers. This could be a box where
the children empty their book bags of notes from the teacher, school
newsletters, trip slips and any other paper a parent has to see.
Purchase a small file cabinet or box for temporary storage of papers,
old exams, etc of that semester. Label hanging folders by subject. At
the end of the year go through the papers with your child. This will
enhance their decision making skills and organize their papers at the
same time.
Even little ones who cannot read yet can start getting organized. Write
their name on a box or plastic container. Have your child decorate it
and put pictures of themselves on it. Tell them that it is a special
house for their artwork, coloring books, etc. and any papers that come
in from preschool or daycare.
Preparation
Prepare the night before for the next day. Preparing items the night
before makes for a less stressful morning for both parent and child.
Some things you can do 'the night before' are:
fix/pack lunch and leave in refrigerator
pick out the next day's clothes
pack book bag with all books, papers, necessities for the next day after
homework is finished.
Set out plates/bowls for breakfast
Make sure to include your child in the preparation process. It may take
them longer to complete a task but they will benefit in the future
through 'learning by doing.'
About the author
Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized
Artistry, LLC, transforms mess into masterpiece with patience,
organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For a free e-list of Top Ten
Tips for Organized Living, or to order your copy of 7 Steps to an
Organized Wedding Thank You Note please visit her web site at
http://www.organizedartistry.com
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