End of the Year Clutter from Pre-K to 18

The end of the school year is upon many of you, and the clutter
starts to come into the house by the bag fulls.  Here are some of my tips to keep items that really are keepsakes, and not letting it all get out of
control or shoved in a closet.

1. Think about what your family kept of yours growing up, was it a lot
of stuff? Did you want it? Did they not keep any and you would have
wanted it? This thought process can eliminate several pieces of paper
that aren’t really “keepsake worthy.”

2. Think about how often you will revisit or look through the items. Can
it be kept in a smaller notebook, 3-ring binder? Do many of the items need
a bin to go into because they are large?

3. I would discard the papers that are worksheets, handouts, copies,
etc, unless they show off some wonderful “new and improved” child. Ex.
First time he/she wrote their name, First time he/she scored a 100,
etc. This simple act really cuts down on the amount of paper that you
are saving.

4. Label the binder and/or bin with the year and name of the child so
it can easily be “revisited” in the future.

5. Throw away ALL half used pencils, crayons, and supplies that come
home unless you REALLY think you will use them. If you KNOW you will
purchase brand new ones the following year, there is no reason to have
these old ones laying around, taking up space.

…I hope these tips help to get you started on a fun, clutter-free
summer.