Organizational Keys to Kindergarten: Getting Ready for School Days

This week I was helping a client get organized before her daughter starts Kindergarten this fall. This can be such a big transition for a family, and may even be harder for the parents than the child! A child starting school for the first time can mean a whole new set of organizational demands for a family. Now there are backpacks, papers that have to go back to school, and even bus schedules to contend with.

Here are 3 key organization challenges to plan for, before back-to-school:

• Where will the backpack go? Is there a hook or cubby where your child can put her backpack each day? My daughter started putting her backpack in a basket in elementary school and this still works for her in high school. Having a designated spot helps you - and your child - know where to go each morning for the backpack.

• Where will the jacket/coat/shoes go? You may have this set already, but if not, consider hooks that your child can reach. As your child starts school, you want to build their independence not only at school, but at home.

• Where will the papers that come home from school go? This can be a huge challenge for families. You’ll need to find a spot for the school work/artwork to go (recycle some!), and a place for papers that you need to send back to school. And don’t forget about papers that come home that you may need to reference again. A desktop file can be a great way to keep these papers sorted.

If your family is feeling overwhelmed with back-to-school set up or routines, I’m here to help! Contact me today.

Backpack Storage

Problem: Your child's backpack ends up all over the house...in the kitchen, in the living room, near the shoes, but never in the same spot. 

Solution: Give the backpack a "home," a set storage place where it goes every day once it is unpacked. Yes, every day. This is a routine even young elementary school students can master. Even if you don't have a dedicated mudroom, you can find a place for the backpack. 

Backpack storage ideas:

• Give it a "drop spot" by using a basket placed on the floor. My 8th grader has been using this basket for her backpack since Kindergarten. Even when we were in the midst of a long home renovation project and the basket was relocated to a new spot, it was a visual cue for where to put her backpack.
• Use a hook, at the correct height for your child to reach. 
• Stash it in a cubby. Many homes have built-in cubbies, but make sure your child can reach it.

Organizing for Homework

Does homework cause stress in your house? One way to help is to create a homework bin in your kitchen, or wherever your child does her homework. Making it easy for your student to find the supplies she needs will go a long way in reducing homework anxiety and stress.

When my daughter was little we had bins for arts and crafts supplies in the kitchen since that's where we tended to do crafts. Over time the bins evolved into a homework supplies bin. This week my daughter cleaned out her bin. 

Now she's got a bin with what a middle-schooler needs: pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, extra loose leaf paper, book covers, and the all-important index cards.

Help your student by identifying what supplies they need regularly to do their homework, and then find a spot to store them. Even a single bin or basket can help keep supplies contained. Keep the bin stocked so your student will be ready to tackle homework!

Sorting in process, lots in the recycle bag!

Finished bin