Backpack, backpack! No, I’m not singing along with Dora the Explorer. I’m mimicking early morning cries of children who can’t find their belongings. You may also hear similar sentiments coming from adults, such as, “Keys! Where are my keys?”
Every household has gear that its members need to be able to find as they begin a new day, from purses and jackets to sporting uniforms and science projects. Getting gear organized is a good way to make mornings more peaceful. No one has to run around searching for things at the last minute, if these items have a place and are kept in their appropriate places.
If keys are always returned to the same spot, they won’t get lost. If an area is set aside for backpacks and jackets, your kids can grab them on the way out. Try to place this area close to your station for school notes and add an area for homework or projects, so these things won’t get lost or forgotten.
A great way to organize these and other necessary items is to set up an area near the door that is most often used to leave and enter. A set of pegs or a rack for coats, purses, and backpacks is a good idea. Beneath the rack, you may want to add a bench with storage for other items, an umbrella stand, or even some simple crates to contain bulky items.
It’s a shame for a child to have points deducted for turning a project in late, even though it was finished on time, simply because he or she forgot or couldn’t find it. Kids also lose points if they don’t dress out for P.E. because they forgot their gym clothes. You’ll also spend less time driving to school to drop off sporting equipment before practice, or dropping off lunches, if things are kept handy so kids can take stuff with them in the morning.
Clean up the Hall or Entryway in Style