Simply Put, Helpful Tips to Get Organized for Back to School
By Meighan Meeker
By now your children's summer break is nearly over and it is time to get ready for back to school. Below are some simple tips to help you organize key areas of your household.
Kitchen: Keep a calendar in that includes each family member. Consider color coding activities and appointments. Find an area nearby where each person can have their own coat hook, cubby for large items such as a backpack or shoes, and a basket for important schoolwork or papers requiring a signature or response. As you find items cluttering your home put them in the appropriate cubby for each child to be responsible for putting away.
Children's room: Give your child two small bins, and if old enough, ask them to sort their laundry by light and dark colors. Review their clothing and other items in the room and get rid of things they no longer wear or need. Gather artwork, photos, awards and report cards into a bin labeled memorabilia and find a place to store – try to be disciplined and only save what is truly special and important.
Playroom: Sort through videos, dvds, games, books and toys. Donate anything that is no longer age appropriate. Keep pieces to games and puzzles in zip lock bags inside the box to minimize lost contents. When considering purchasing equipment for a new sport, wait to see if your child is truly interested before making any major investments or commitments. If possible, try to borrow items needed from friends or neighbors until you are confident it is something they enjoy and want to pursue. Get rid of outdated computer games, electronics and components.
Storage: Put all storage in labeled clear plastic bins. Organize them by category such as: holiday items, sports, photos, household items, etc. Clearly label memorabilia and photos by event or family member. Store on shelving units against the wall so the contents are easy to find and access. Keeping items in plastic bins versus cardboard boxes helps preserve contents from water damage, dust and mildew. Donate anything that you have not used recently or forgot you own.
Make your children part of the process to show them both the benefit of getting rid of things to create more space in your home as well as the value of donating to others in need. Reward their efforts to motivate them to continue these habits throughout the year.
Meighan Meeker is a Stapleton resident and owner of Simply Put Organizational Solutions for the Home, LLC. Need help developing solutions to ensure your household, scheduling and projects run smoothly? For more information: email, meighanm@aim.com , or call, 303-321-2692.
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