No matter how organized you keep your home in the summer, once the kids go back to school, things often become chaotic—especially if you have children of all different ages. Trying to keep track of everyone's homework, play rehearsal, T-ball games, and SAT prep is no easy feat.
But there's one mistake that parents—even those who are typically organized people—often make when getting ready for the school year: They don't set their kids up for success when it comes to staying organized.
Fortunately, there's a way to avoid this, according to the three professional home organizers whom Parade consulted: Cynthia Kienzle, founder of The Clutter Whisperer; Ann Dooley, founder of Simple Joy with Ann and a Master Level Certified KonMari Consultant; and Liora Seltzer, founder of What U Keep, LLC and a certified KonMari Method professional organizer.
"In general, my rule of thumb is that organizing products should support your systems and be convenient for everyone who is using them," Seltzer tells Parade. "The best thing to do is to map out your morning routine, getting ready for school, and figuring out which areas need support."
Keep reading for Kienzle, Dooley and Seltzer's best tips and product recommendations for keeping kids organized this school year.
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According to Kienzle, Dooley and Seltzer, before the school year starts, you should set your home up with the right organizing products and systems. And most importantly, you must teach your kids how to use them.
In fact, there are a few products and methods that professional organizers agree can help children stay organized, save time and even reduce stress.
How to Keep Kids Organized When Going Back-to School
Beyond buying any organizing products, Kienzle, Dooley and Seltzer have a few general tips for getting kids ready for the school year before summer ends.
"Before heading back to school, gather everything they need to play a game of dressrehearsal," Dooley tells Parade. "Work with your kids to map out the sequence together: backpack on the hook, shoes in their spot, lunchbox in the kitchen—then make it a game. Time them putting everything away and challenge them to beat their own record. Do the same for the morning routine: how fast can they get ready to walk out the door? The fun is in the repetition, and the repetition is what builds the habit."
2. Archive last year's school books and clothes
Kienzle recommends starting the "new school year with a clean slate" by archiving all of last year's notebooks, workbooks and binders before summer ends. Then, allocate a special place to hold the current year's books.
Similarly, Seltzer feels "summer is a great time to have a reset for the year." You can do this by going through old school papers "and only keep the ones that are special," and reviewing last year's clothing and making sure everything fits.
Once the school year starts, a nightly reset can help keep things smooth the following morning—and you can get your kids in the habit of this during the summer.
"Before bed, clear their desks and set out anything needed for the next morning," Dooley says. "Let them choose a song that gets their feet moving. A two-minute reset means no last-minute searching in the morning. The workspace is clear, everything is ready, and the next day starts calm instead of chaotic."
Professional Organizers Say These 7 Products Organizing Products Are Worth Buying for Back-to-School
As long as you explain how these products work to your kids, they can help keep kids organized all year long.
1. A desk or dedicated work station
Jordi Salas / Getty Images
According to Kienzle, having a dedicated work station is the best way to keep your child organized and on top of their assignments during the school year. For older kids, this should be a "desk with storage and a comfortable chair that is free of distracting trinkets and "zoned only for schoolwork."
For younger kids, having a clear area in the dining room or kitchen where they can do homework is sufficient.
The most important thing is that the space is conducive to working. "The homework station should be neat (even if the rest of the room is a mess, it’s important to do homework in a clear and clean area)," advises Seltzer.
Kienzle adds that having good lighting at your children's work stations is vital, as proper lighting can help improve focus and prevent eye strain.
2. Magazine holders
Noah Saob / Getty Images
To help keep kids organized, Seltzer recommends having a magazine holder (or another bin) labeled with each child's name at their work station. Try and get your children in the habit of putting all their schoolwork in their dedicated bins when they get home.
3. A shared calendar
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Seltzer is a big fan of having a shared calendar for the entire family where you can keep track of homework assignments, tests, swim meets, birthday parties and more.
"You can use an erasable calendar, paper calendars, or fancy digital calendars on the wall," she says. "Whichever works for your family, do your best to update it!"
4. A foyer drop zone
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Kienzle, Dooley and Seltzer all agree that having a "drop zone" by the front door is key for smooth mornings.
For one thing, a drop zone can ensure that "items don’t migrate to other parts of home," says Kienzle. She also believes a drop zone can save "time and stress in the morning when getting ready for school."
How intricate your drop zone will be depends on the size and shape of your foyer, but in general, each child should have their own dedicated hooks for coats and backpacks, as well as a cubby for shoes. Seltzer also suggests a catch-all tray in your drop zone for shared items that kids might need to grab on the way out the door, such as snacks and umbrellas.
Or, if you have a spacious entryway, Dooley recommends making things simple with a one-stop "hall tree" that features hooks, shelves, a bench and shoe storage.
5. A school supplies station
IKEA
"Kids are more likely to put things away when there's zero friction involved," explains Dooley. "When even opening a desk drawer can feel like 'too much,' a pegboard mounted by theirdesk with hooks for scissors, clips for a multiplication table, and small baskets forpencils and supplies provides visual cues and quick access."
If you don't have room for a pegboard, or if your kids do their homework at the dining table, Dooley suggests a "caddy with dividers to keep supplies handy while it can easily be moved to get ready for dinner."
6. Simple lunch boxes and water bottles
ingwervanille / Getty Images
Having an A+ lunchbox can help keep kids organized and nourished, says Kienzle. Personally, she is a fan of a freezable lunch bag paired with a bento box.
Additionally, Seltzer encourages parents to make sure little kids can easily open lunchboxes and reusable water bottles on their own. She also recommends keeping all lunchboxes and water bottles "in one spot in your kitchen where everyone can access them and they’re easy to retrieve in the morning."
7. Closet hanging organizers or clear bins for clothes
Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
To save your kids (and yourself) the daily headache of picking out clothes for school, Dooley advises encouraging children to plan their outfits out in advance.
"On Sundays, let the kids pick out complete outfits down to the socks for each day ofthe week," she advises. "Kids can get dressed independently, and it’s especially helpful if they need a specific type of clothing for sports on a certain day."
Dooley suggests buying a hanging closet organizer for this task, and labeling each shelf with a different day of the week.
Kienzle also recommends planning out school outfits a week at a time, as this "saves time and stress from scrambling around last minute," and "helps to ensure a thoughtful, polished look."
That said, if picking out clothes for the entire week each Sunday is too much, Seltzer says you can just have kids pick out their outfits the night before school. Have one clear bin labeled for each kid, where they can stash their clothes for the following day. "Do not leave picking out an outfit for the morning!" she advises.
Dooley also recommends keeping a hamper in children's rooms to keep dirty clothes off the floor, as well as adding "a hook on the inside of the closet door to hang up clothes they’ll wear again."
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Sources:
Cynthia Kienzle, professional home organizerAnn Dooley, professional home organizer and Master Level Certified KonMari ConsultantLiora Seltzer, professional home organizer and certified KonMari Method professional organizerHence then, the article about i asked 3 professional organizers about the biggest back to school mistake parents make they all said the same thing was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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