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It’s that time of year again.
Four tips to help you prepare.
1. Keep a box of school supplies for homework handy.
Carts on wheels with various sizes of drawers are great systems and can easily be stowed away.
Include: lined and unlined paper, pencils, pens, markers, rulers, erasers, graph paper, glue, pencil sharpener, scissors and anything else your children might need to complete their homework.
Check the box weekly to see if any items need to be added or replaced.
2. One Catch all bin for each person
Give each person their own bin or basket; place them in a central location like the front hall closet, a shelf, or a cubby.
Include hats, mitts, sun glasses, keys, phones, purses, wallets, etc.
Recently a client told me that her husband came home and dumped all the contents of his pockets each day onto the kitchen table. We gave him a bin which was then placed in a convenient place for him (off the table) and in the he mornings he collects his coffee money, keys, and off he goes.
If you do have to pick up the basket and move it the worst scenario is that it’s a bin, two or three and not the twenty items that have been dropped throughout your home.
When you find an item ask your child to place it in their bin. It helps them to create the habit and soon it will become a daily routine.
3. Before you go clothing shopping…Make a list.
Take inventory of what the kids have from last year that still fits, is in style, etc. Purge and pack. Those summer clothes not needed next year can be recycled now. Pack up the others into a bin and store. No, I’m not rushing the seasons…but as the days and evenings cool down and school starts they will need fewer summer shorts and t’s so purge and pack.
You now know what your children need and you’ve made room in the closets and drawers for the new clothes. Take your list and have fun shopping.
4. Time Management
If you want to manage your time more effectively and keep it simple for your family a centralized calendar with all activities, events, and appointments scheduled works.
You can buy an academic planner that will take you through the school year.
If you use technology there are lots of applications available for smart phones that will let you sync everything to multiple computers so everyone who needs access to it can see and get their reminders.
Magnetic calendars and white boards or a combination of the two can also work well. If you want this out of sight but easily accessible, choose the inside of a cabinet or pantry door that the calendar can be attached to and voila out of sight.
Looking for more suggestions or have questions
leave me a comment below and I will reply. |
