Parents: Get Organized for the School Year
How do parents get organized for back-to-school time?
Andrea McIlwain of Des Moines, IA, echoes the sentiments of most moms and dads: “Honestly? I don't! There’s always a lot of last-minute scrambling.” This working mother of two loves reading tips on staying organized, “but I really have trouble sticking with any particular plan.” Sound familiar?
Bill Bliesath, who is known as The Organizing Guy, says the problem is timing. “Too often we get wrapped up in the fun of summer and put off getting ready for back to school. We also forget the things we thought of at the end of the school year that we wanted to buy and do for the next year.”
Here are some tips to help McIlwain and other parents get organized for back-to-school time.
Start Early
“From homework to birthday parties to karate practice, it’s never-ending,” says Barbara Reich, the New York–based author of the book Secrets of an Organized Mom. “Parents need to plan ahead by arranging carpools and signing up for after-school activities in advance, and reestablishing bedtimes and other routines before school starts.”
Make a Master Calendar
Keeping one calendar for everyone’s activities (including yours, moms and dads) cuts down on confusion and puts some of the responsibility for scheduling back on your kids. “A large wall calendar works well,” says Bliesath, who works in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. “It’s usually kept in the kitchen, where everyone can see it. Buy one that has enough space for each day’s activities and assignments.” Each night, transfer new items to an online calendar like Google that works across platforms and can be shared on multiple digital devices, like your tablet or mobile phone, and accessed remotely. Or get your kids their own planners.
“Put the weekly schedule together during the weekend and discuss over dinner Sunday night,” suggests Bliesath. “It really helps to get the details ironed out. With good planning and communication comes great peace of mind!”
Establish a Routine
Cut down on the chaos by establishing daily and weekly rituals, like laying out clothes or making lunch the night before, and do some test runs before school starts. Inventory school supplies weekly and keep a running list. “This means no last-minute runs to the store or panics trying to get homework done,” Reich says.
Label Everything
Clearly labeled school supplies and other items reduce arguments and make cleaning up faster and easier — all you need is a label maker. “For instance, put a label on the kitchen stapler, so everyone knows where to return it,” suggests Reich. “And on chargers — no more fighting about whose charger it is!” Label drawers, shelves and storage boxes, too, so it’s clear what goes where. While you’re at it, put your kids’ names on sports gear and backpacks.
Getting organized for back to school not only cuts down on your stress, it also sets a valuable example for your children.
“Parents need to show their children how to be organized by modeling that behavior themselves throughout the house,” Reich notes. “Keep in mind that this takes less than 10 minutes a day. Kids and parents today are busy — they don’t have time to be disorganized.”
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