School is back in session!
The kids are busy with after school activities and your schedule is packed again. Especially in the fall, it’s easy to let things in your house get disorganized. But before things get too far out of hand, we’ve got some great ideas to keep your household running smoothly straight through the end of the year.
Create a calendar:
The start of a school year means lessons, menus, sports practice, school functions, scout meetings, projects and more. Keeping everyone on track and on time can be difficult, but if you have a family calendar, it’s a whole lot easier.
Assign each family member a color and put everyone’s schedule in a central area, like on the fridge, or near the phone, where you, and the rest of the family can check it daily. This makes it easier for each family member to know what everyone else is doing, and you stand less chance of accidentally getting double booked, or forgetting someone’s lessons or practice entirely! (Hint: You can even take advantage of Google’s online Calendar too. Click on the image for more tips)
Make a place for the mess:
The house will stay a lot cleaner if the kids have a place to put coats, boots, backpacks and sports equipment the moment they come in the door. Organize a mudroom or hall closet with specific spaces for each child, and have them put their own things away, saving you time and effort.
Plan ahead:
Planning ahead can make things run a lot more smoothly later. Choosing outfits the night before, making weekly dinner menus and packing sports bags straight out of the dryer can help save time and keep your kids days running more smoothly.
Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links). Teresa Ward, President of Teresa’s Family Cleaning and New York State’s Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year is often considered Long Island’s foremost authority on cleaning homes and businesses to create a cleaner and healthier environment for all. Our highly sought after, award winning weekly newsletter provides timely cleaning tips and other important Long Island information and charitable events for homeowners, businesses and not-for-profits. Visit us at http://www.TeresasFamilyCleaning.com to sign up and receive your copy today!
The mud room with all the bins is a great idea!
Ladies thank you for the positive replies, and glad to hear that these tips are helping or Will help. Feel free to add additional tips that you have tried as well… it’s great to share info that can make our lives run just a little less hectic. <3
Those bins for the kids to put their things in are awesome! What a great idea to label them to help them out!
It really does help the kids, now if only the “adults” could be this organized… may have to make two…
I really need to get more organized
I usually do lunches, and clothing choices the night before. Anything that helps to make me life easier is great!
Ohhh I soo need this.. I LOVE the “GOOGLE” coat rack/organizer… SOO need this for my kids..hahah.. we haven’t found our “ORGANIZATION” for back to school yet.. WHAAAA pulling out my hair and hope your tips will help my family.. thanks for sharing
These are some great tips. My boys are not in school yet but I am sure this advice is going to be useful once they start.
I use google calender for everything and I have my account set up with my smart phone, laptop and kindle so I never miss anything no matter where I am at or what device I have with me…
Planning ahead and keeping a calendar helps my husband and I with keeping track of our hectic schedules even though we don’t have kids, so I’m sure your tips make a world of a difference for those who do have children!
These are all excellent tips that I need to apply to our daily schedule!
I love Google’s online calendar, my must have for sure!
Thanks I can pass this on to my Daughter my grandson is 10 and they sure could use these ideas! I always try to tell her plan ahead it makes it so much easier
School is back in session http://t.co/0Y0Wvonq