The end of summer is in sight. Early mornings will return with alarm clocks and rushed breakfasts before heading out the door to school. It’s time again for finding the time in all of your activities for getting homework done. All of this bustle can cause stress.
One way to help reduce stress is to get and stay organized for the school year. Here are some tips for entering the school year with a calmer demeanor.
Create a Storage Area.
There are plenty of places to create storage without having a specific room for it.
Use a cleaned out coat closet, shelves in your laundry room, or corner of your mudroom. This space isn’t for you. It’s for your kids to store their backpacks, jackets, sports and music equipment, and other items that they use for school. These things need a place that is not in the middle of their rooms or your living area.
Create a Plan for Each Week.
Don’t simply go over this in your head, but write is out so that you don’t miss anything. Posting this plan on the side of the fridge or on a memo board in your kitchen – maybe even in a wall of your pantry – helps your kids learn how to keep up with what they are responsible for doing during each week. There are plenty of products you can purchase for this or perhaps you and your kids want to get creative and make a weekly planner out of a cork board, push pins and foam squares.
Create a Homework Station.
It will help your kids do their homework assignments more quickly and efficiently to have all of the things they regularly use handy in one place. Whether you have nooks with folders, cubes with baskets or a cabinet or shelves, create a place that is just for their homework needs.
Parents Get Ready First.
It can completely remove stress from your preparation process and enable you to help you kids with their process if you are ready for the day before you get them up. It’s amazing the difference this can make.
Include Process in Plan.
Another helpful tip is to create an iterative process for getting ready in the morning- yes – a morning routine. It’s important and can take stress right out of everyone for a calm start of each day.
Talk About It.
Don’t assume that everyone has read and completely understands the posted schedule. You can talk about it without being bossy and actually make the process fun. Some kids may even enjoy making it a little beat-the-clock competition. That’s the great things: you can create a scenario that fits your family habits and personality.
Help Them Take Organization to School.
If your kid is old enough to have a locker, help him/her make a plan to organize it. Get a locker organizer or shelves if that is appropriate. An organizer with big cubbies or pockets for books and notebooks and small ones for pens and pencils. Even special places for personal items. This will help them keep up with their work and their classes better and feel better about themselves because they aren’t always looking for what they need or rushing from here to there.
Find a Way to Code It.
Whether you use a rainbow of colors or just a few of your kid’s favorites, select some that will help your kid group things together more quickly and stay ready for classes in the midst of busy days.
Putting It Down on Paper.
If you kid is old enough to do so, get an agenda or student planner for him/her to write down homework assignments, projects, deadlines, and teacher comments and suggestions. Even on a day when there isn’t any homework, it’s suggested for the student to write “no homework” in their planner. This will reduce or eliminate surprises/excuses for not knowing about and completing an assignment.
They Can Help.
Don’t straighten up and pick up after your kids because you think they are too busy to do it themselves. Have the kids help. They can hang up their jackets and backpacks, organize their homework, and straighten up after they’ve completed their assignments. It gives them a sense of taking care of themselves and being responsible.
Don’t Get into a Morning Wardrobe War.
Preparing the night before eliminates the potential for a morning wardrobe war. Don’t pick out your kids’ clothes for them, but help them to make good choices for the next day. Include everything that must be chosen (shoes and socks, too) or you open the door for the war when the decision must be made at a moment’s notice.
Stick to Bedtimes.
It’s sometimes difficult to get kids to follow a schedule and get into bed at bedtime. This is important because well-rested kids are easier to get along with and are much more ready to learn.
Use the Weekend.
Clutter doesn’t help kids stay organized. Help your kids maintain their weekday schedule by decluttering on the weekend. Clean out backpacks so that this week’s wrappers, crumbs and completed assignment sheets don’t get in the way of next week’s progress.
Replenish Supplies.
It’s also difficult for your kid to stay organized and on top of things if their supplies run out. Use the weekend to make sure that everything they need is in their backpack. Your kids can help with this too by looking in their backpacks and letting you know what they need to complete the next week. This helps to eliminate the possibility of a Wednesday night dash to Walmart for glue stick or paper.
Plan What They’re Eating for Lunch.
Don’t let lunch get boring or unhealthy because you didn’t plan lunches. Plan it so you can have everything in your refrigerator and pantry to make nutritious and interesting lunches that your kids will enjoy and will give them energy for the entire day.
Don’t worry that you’re “planning” the fun and excitement out of your kids’ days by doing this. With kids, you’ll never be without drama or excitement. A plan simply gives you hope for lowering your stress level and theirs and increasing their potential for learning during their school day.
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