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