Get Inspired to Set Up a Back-to-School System

Month by month, you should experience more calm as a result of following these organizing tips. The back-to-school rush can disrupt the flow and the organizing systems you’ve worked hard to put in place unless you include your child in the process.

This month, get inspired to establish a back-to-school system.

It’s almost time for the kids to head back to school, which means it’s the perfect time to set up a system that will work for keeping their rooms and backpacks organized throughout the school year.

If your child’s room looks like it’s been occupied by the Tasmanian Devil for the last couple of months, it’s tempting to tell your child to, “Go clean your room.” It seems simple enough, but it can be overwhelming for a child who doesn’t know where to start. It took a long time to create the state of disarray and instructing them to organize it in one day can be stressful.

Avoid a complete meltdown by giving your child sections to work on each day and be flexible with the outcome you have in mind. Your child’s brain might not work the same as yours, which means your idea of organized might not work for them.

Before you get started, ask your child these questions:

• What is this?
• Where would you look for this?
• Why do you need it?
• Where should it go?

Your child’s responses will help you determine where to put items in their notebook, backpack or bedroom and increase the chance they’ll be able to quickly find those items when they need them again.

As a family, you can help by establishing one place in your home where you keep supplies needed to do their homework. If you don’t have a desk, put together a portable box or container for your child to store supplies for doing their homework. Keeping those items in one place means your child isn’t searching for things they need which saves time and frustration. Try to establish a place that’s free of distractions for completing homework, so they can focus on what they need to get done for school.

Now is also the time to develop an efficient morning routine. Start by waking your child up at the same time every morning. Instruct them to pack their backpacks as soon as they’re done with homework the previous night and place it somewhere close to the door they’ll leave though on their way to school. Set out the clothes they’re going to wear the night before.

A smooth morning routine and organizing system that makes sense for your child makes all the difference in creating sustainable habits during the course of the school year.

Inspired Action:

Encourage your child to be part of the organizing process from the beginning, starting with the initial evaluation and conversations. Inspiration to organizing your child’s room might strike when you least expect it, which means they’re probably not expecting it either. Start on the same page by choosing a set date and time for you and your child to start walking through the process. Use the questions above and take notes based on your child’s responses. It will help you stay focused on what is being said and indicate to your child that what is being said is important. Develop a step-by-step plan with action items your child can cross off as the items are completed.

Inspired Thought:

Resist the urge to do it all by yourself. Giving your child a say in how his or her room is organized gives them ownership of their space and helps establish an organizing style that grows with them into adulthood.