A+ in Organization

It doesn’t seem possible that the school year is about to begin. Where, oh where did the summer go? Like it or not, the school supplies are out and it is time for you to get ready. Soon, your counter and table will be piled high with papers, and your floor will be covered with backpacks and shoes. But does it have to be like that? We believe that with a little bit of preparation you can handle the barrage of items and information that come with the beginning of the school year! If you begin setting up now and spend a few minutes each day, you’ll be ready by the time the wheels on the bus stop at your house.

​The Necessary 411: Designate a place where all the important information will be kept. If you’re a tech-savvy family, you might choose Google calendar or an app like Cozi. For more traditional folks or those without a smartphone, a calendar and notepad on the refrigerator or wall will work just fine. With either system, the rule is to keep it simple enough to be maintained. The necessary items are a calendar with enough space to write appointments, practices, parties and major assignments; a list of important numbers such as the schools with teachers’ names, extensions and emails, and a place to keep things that need to be handled (permission slips, lunch money, etc.).

A Place for Everything: If you’re tired of saying “Put your backpack away, make sure there is simple place to store it. It takes about three weeks to develop a new habit, so stay on top of it for a while and you will be glad you did! If you have the space, install cubbies, shelves or hooks for backpacks and jackets; a bin for shoes, hats, and mittens.

Inspect Your Inbox: You can teach your child responsibility and make your job a little easier when you create an inbox (Many teachers do this as well). Keep a pen, envelopes, and paper nearby. Build the time into your routine for you child to put his or her papers into your inbox. This is especially helpful when you have more than one child in school, so you aren’t digging through backpacks on a daily basis. Sort through the entire box every day. Record new dates on the calendar immediately. Sign permission slips and write checks as needed. File important papers and recycle the rest. Those things that need to return to school should be given back to your child so they can put it away immediately.

Dealing with the Deluge: Every parent knows what a tremendous amount of paperwork, assignments, and projects come home every day. Before you know it, you can be buried. Be prepared with a filing system: a basket with a few clearly-labeled folders should do the trick. A simple system would involve a folder for current classroom news, one for handbooks and other reference items, and one for each child. Keep only what you may need later or sentimental items. Consider scanning or taking a picture of artwork or 3D projects; you can create a book later that your child will enjoy reviewing. Have a system prepared for items you want to keep, label them and put them away once they are no longer on display.

Proper Preparation: Have easy snack and lunch items on hand. If you prepare portions of veggies, fruits, crackers, etc., even a Kindergarten child can pack his own lunch. Prepare as much as possible the night before for smooth sailing each morning.

There are many things that you can do to keep your home in good working order as the school year begins. Though you may have to put a bit of work in now, you will save time in the long run! Visit our Pinterest boards for details on how to “pull off” some of the above ideas and keep an eye out for new ones. We would love to have you add your ideas as well! Email your name to spowderly@paramountmortgage.com and we will add you as a guest pinner.

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