Getting Organized for the New School Year.
By Troy L Parrish.

At the time of this writing it is the end of July and thoughts of returning to school begins to enter the minds of parents, teachers and children alike.  This time of year evokes thoughts of the cooler air, new blue jeans and school supplies as well as the start of a new year (even though the calendar says the year really starts in January!)   Of course there is still a fair amount of summer left but the need to begin to prepare is certainly on the horizon.  If you are like most parents, you have decided a t one point in time or another to be more organized and prepared than the preceding year.  Somehow, what we genuinely mean gets lost in the shuffle of being busy and overwhelmed, even in the "leisure" months of summer.   Well, you have some time to get it together for the upcoming school year.  Hopefully there is some useful information for you to use here to help you on your way to a more organized school year.

In researching the topic of organization there are a number of elements associated with getting children organized that show up repeatedly.  Along with the frequent repeaters there are also some tips that are offered by various organization professionals.  Without further discussion, here's the list:

•  Use lists.  This takes on several forms.  The first form is the list that we use to help remind children of the schedule as well as their responsibilities.  The items on this type of list involve such things as brush your teeth, clean your room on Tuesdays, do homework and the likes of these activities.    The second form that this takes is the use of planners and organizers for the family and for school work.  An excellent planner for the family is the master calendar that resides most likely in the kitchen.  This helps to keep track of all activities and helps to avoid oversights and scheduling conflicts.  More on the use of planners for school work a little later on.


• Have a Home for Everything.  Most of us know the adage: "A place for everything and everything in its place."  As adults we recognize the difficulty associated with not having a regular place for things.  As a consequence, things get set down and misplaced creating at times minimal annoyance and at other times a mini crisis.  Keeping things in their place helps keep spaces neat and cuts down of time wasted searching for things.  Children need to learn to manage their things by putting them away when they are done.  Sure, this requires training but it beats the clutter and chaos.  One other thing that may need to be considered is the amount of stuff you have exceeds your space.  Either create more organized storage or get rid of some of the unnecessary stuff.  Most professional organizers note that while this may initially be painful, in the long run the benefits will far outweigh any discomfort you may have.


• Establish a Routine.  Sometimes the busy lives we lead dictate our schedule and are consequently a constant hindrance to our intention to have a routine.  Most parents however, recognize that children respond well to routines and seem to struggle a little more when those routines are disrupted.  This is particularly true for those children who struggle to regulate themselves.   Keeping a daily schedule that is predictable goes a long way toward being more organized and keeping children flowing with the family plan.


• Prepare Ahead of Time. Taking a few extra minutes the night before or on the weekend to do tasks that are otherwise squeezed into busier times can make a huge difference in terms of staying organized and keeping the sense of being a little out of control at bay.  Laying out clothes or breakfast the night before or preparing several meals on the weekend to be used during the week can be real time savers and seem much easier when you are not as tired and pressed for time.  Getting to bed a half hour earlier and getting up 10 to 15 minutes earlier can make the morning routine run far more smoothly and give you remarkable relief from the morning stress related to the rush usually experienced.


• Don't Procrastinate.  Whether it is the procrastination of getting you and your family organized or putting things off because you are too busy or tired.  If you don't find time to do it now, when will you find time to do it later?  The things that get put off often pile up and undo our organization plans.   Teaching your children to take care of responsibilities before they play will serve them greatly in their lives and will keep you from having to be the one responsible for keeping them on task.


• Take 20 to 30 minutes a day as family to tidy up.  This can make a huge difference in the sense of cooperation among family members as well as keep the housework manageable, and a tidy home usually makes everyone a little happier and calm.


• Tips for Schoolwork organization.

1. Designate a study place.  Just like there is a need keep things in their place, there is a need to have a place that children associate with study and school work.
2. Set a designated study time.  It doesn't have to be right after school but it should certainly be before your child become tired or will not have time to resolve problems before bedtime.
3. Keep track of what is going on with your child's schoolwork.  Make sure that you keep tabs on how your child is doing with their work, both at school and at home.
4. Train your child how to use organizational materials and strategies.  Don't just assume that they know how to use these tools and strategies, they need to be taught and encouraged to use these tools as well as follow up to ensure your child is getting the most out of what you are providing.
5. Provide a place for completed work and school supplies.  A place for your child to put his work after finishing for you to review helps with motivation and accountability.  Keeping all the school stuff in the same place every day makes sure he is prepared for the next day.
6. Keep an organized notebook and backpack.  Just like an organized home is helpful to productivity, an organized notebook and backpack makes a more efficient and productive student.  This should be accomplished by a combination of training as well as regular practices of organizing school work.  You may need to occasionally help your child straighten up their notebook and backpack.
7. Use a planner.  Just about every site I visited suggested that students make good use of planners.  Planners can help your child stay on top of his work and help you know what is being required of him.  It can also be a mechanism of staying in contact with a teacher.  The important facts in using any planner are: Make sure that you are teaching your child how to use the planner and educate yourself on how you can make the most of the planner you provide for your child.

 With some effort and a little time you can be enjoying a more organized year.