I was in Wal-Mart and the Dollar Tree last week doing some shopping when a group of kids and parents caught my attention.
They were standing among the giant displays of Back to School items—you know, the piles of fresh boxes of crayons with the perfect tips and the stacks of blank notebook paper and spiral notebooks— all talking about the start of the new school year.
It was cool to hear how excited the kids and parents sounded about everything; a few even made comments about how fun it is to start fresh with new supplies.
That’s when it hit me: while most of us think of resolutions as being a January type of thing, for parents, the new year really starts when our kiddos head back to school.
In other words, this is the perfect time to adopt some new resolutions that will make the school year go smoothly—not just in the first few hectic weeks, but throughout the entire year.
With that in mind, check out the following back to school resolutions that will help you to start the school year off on the right foot—clutter-free, organized and feeling confident:
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Tame those backpacks
When kids come home from school, they often plop their backpacks on the floor or hang them on the back of a chair, which usually causes the chair to tip over backwards. Designate a backpack area in your home where they can be stored or hung safely. Of course, on the East Coast where I grew up, we usually had mud rooms right by the front door that were perfect for this kind of thing. Here in the Valley of the Sun, we can attach strong hooks to the door that leads into the garage, or add a bench with cubbies in a laundry room—wherever it makes the most sense for your family. Giving your kids a specific place to put the backpacks will also eliminate those panicky moments in the morning when they call out “Mo-o-o-m!! Where is my backpack!! I can’t find it!”
A Place for Important Papers
If your kiddo has ever missed a field trip due to a permission slip that went AWOL, this tip will really help. Buy a beautiful flat basket that you love, and place it in the kitchen or family room. Let your kids know that ALL important papers must be taken out of their backpacks and placed in this basket—this includes school picture order forms, permission slips, volunteer requests and the scads of other paperwork that requires your attention and/or signature. This way, vital papers won’t be floating all over the house, getting lost under the couch or chewed up by the family dog.
A Calm and Quiet Place for Homework
Many kids prefer to do their homework anywhere but their own bedrooms. If this sounds familiar, set up a homework station in a quiet area of the home—it can be the formal dining room table you usually only use at the holidays, a corner of the family room or wherever you like. Stock the area with cups and baskets filled with plenty of pencils, pens, paper and other materials your kids will need. This way, all of the homework, books, and school supplies will be contained in one space instead of being scattered all over the house.
If you would like to learn more tips about back to school organization and/or need help setting up these important areas, I am always available to help you—give me a call or email and I’d be happy to come by to assist!
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