Growing up in my family was similar to the military. Up at 6:30 a.m.,
breakfast at 7:00 a.m., at the bus stop at 7:30 a.m., school at 8:15 a.m., catch bus
back home at 3:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m. practice instrument, 5:30 p.m. dinner, 6:00 p.m. do
the dishes, 6:30 p.m. homework, 8:30 p.m. choose clothes for next day then free time
until time for bed at 9:30 p.m.
It was a well oiled machine and everyone knew the schedule. There
was rarely chaos in the morning. Could be why I grew up to be such an organized adult
writing checklists for others.
If your child is going to a new school, walk or ride the route prior to the first day of school and make sure they know how to get to the classroom
Put your child’s name on the back of everything
Go through your child’s closet with him/her and donate items they can no longer wear
Toss out old school papers and workbooks
Tip: Restrict yourself to one container for each child to keep what’s most important to you
Have extra school supplies handy; stock up on school supplies during sales
Organize your child’s important papers (immunizations, emergency contact sheets, etc.)
Tip: Set up easy to access files for each child
Create a homework center
Create an area where children can pick up backpacks, lunches and other school supplies each morning on the way to school
Make lunches the night before
Lay out or choose clothing the night before
Pack the backpack the night before
Create a family calendar
Tip: Transfer all appointments, activities, etc. to this calendar so the whole family can refer to it
Put your school’s website in your favorites
Create special boxes for papers that need to be signed and for notes to be read
Tip: Tell children that any paperwork that requires your signature or any notes that you must read should be placed in these boxes as soon as they get home from school
Set up laundry rules so that uniforms, gym clothes, etc. are cleaned and returned when needed
Tip: Mark a separate laundry basket for these types of clothing
