| The lazy days of summer are behind us and | | | | conducive to concentration and focus. |
| another school year is in full swing. It's | | | | Considerations for setting up the child's |
| once again time to handle the deluge of | | | | workspace should include lighting, noise |
| school papers that flow in and out of our | | | | levels, space to spread out, privacy, |
| homes. For students and parents alike, | | | | availability of supplies and anything else |
| getting an organized start to the new school | | | | that adds to the structure. Stock drawers |
| year can make the difference between having a | | | | with basic supplies your child needs, which |
| successful school year or not. Follow these | | | | will keep him/her focused on completing |
| seven simple steps and you and your child | | | | school work instead of the distraction of |
| will have the best year yet. | | | | searching for a needed school supply. |
| | | | |
| 1. Establish family ground rules relating to | | | | 5. Establish a system and tools to help your |
| school year daily schedule, such as bedtime, | | | | child be organized at school as well. It is |
| homework completion, TV watching, computer | | | | critically important for children to develop |
| surfing, and socializing. Establishing these | | | | organizational skills at an early age. |
| expectations at the beginning of the school | | | | Accordion folders or binders with pocket |
| year communicates the parent's priorities and | | | | folders labeled for each class can be an easy |
| commitment from the start. Children need and | | | | organizer system for your child to keep |
| want these boundaries to feel safe and | | | | papers corralled at school as well as home. |
| secure, whether they know it or not. | | | | Once your child is old enough to use a locker |
| | | | at school, equip him/her with locker |
| 2. Establish a Command Central for processing | | | | accessories that allow subjects to be |
| children's paper - incoming and outgoing. Put | | | | separated by, perhaps, morning and afternoon |
| an end to the school paper chase by | | | | classes. |
| establishing a zone for processing school | | | | |
| paper - incoming and outgoing. This area, I | | | | 6. Don't overload children with |
| call Command Central, is where parents review | | | | extra-curricular activities. Today's school |
| and process action papers (permission slips, | | | | children are overscheduled and stressed. A |
| lunch money, homework sign-offs, etc.) for | | | | balance of academics, activities and down |
| quick turnaround. Adopt a simple "In/Out box" | | | | time is necessary for academic success and |
| where you will process paper (preferred | | | | mental health. Make every effort to have |
| location: in or near the kitchen) and | | | | dinner together as a family and avoid outside |
| instruct your children to place papers for | | | | activities that distract from this important |
| mom's review in her Command Central In box. | | | | family ritual. Ask yourself what's more |
| Completed paper is then given to children for | | | | important, your kid's skills or their sanity? |
| return to school. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Establish an age appropriate chore routine |
| 3. Establish a zone for the daily backpack | | | | to keep your children engaged and accountable |
| pickup/drop close to the door where your | | | | to the family unit. With every family member |
| child enters and exits each day. After mom | | | | pitching in to help the household run |
| has processed the papers that need to go back | | | | smoothly, more time is freed up for fun |
| to school, she can then return them to this | | | | family activities when the work is done. |
| zone for the kids to return to their | | | | |
| backpack. This simple strategy will greatly | | | | Establish these simple yet powerful routines |
| ease the morning rush. | | | | and you and your children will be on the road |
| | | | to school year success and beyond. |
| 4. Set up a desk or workspace that is | | | | |