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Amber’s Home and Office Organizing Blog index

A Successful School Year

Timely Organization Tips for Your Student

I think it’s fair to say I have organized my fair share of kids, teens, and collage age students. I think my youngest was a five year old boy. He really couldn’t make a decision to save his life. He was very cute, but just didn’t have the decision making cap on just yet. Then I’ve seen eager eight to ten year olds really embrace and come to understand the organizing process. And finally, the teens and college students- most of the time, they are polite and try to please mom and dad. They normally are suprised to see how easy cleaning up their bedroom can be when they are working alongside their mom.

However, the majority of the time, I’m working with moms who are managing backpacks, lockers, bedrooms, mudrooms, and kitchen islands full of school paper, memorabilia and schoolwork from teachers, staff, fundraisers, etc.

5 Tips to Help Moms Manage School Paper Hotspots

1. Determine your top five hotspots. Where does the school paper land and where does school paper get shoved? Backpacks? the mudroom cubbies? The kitchen table?
2. Think maintenance, not solutions or perfection. Organizing paper isn’t always about the end solution; usually it’s about maintenance. So for example, it’s great to have a paper system with pretty folders and files, etc. but if you’re not maintaining and getting through your hotspots, it doesn’t do you any good.
3. Set up structure for your kids. If you’re kids are old enough to help you, they should be. I’m not saying they have to do everything but definitely teach them organization by giving them a part in the maintenance. For example, perhaps they empty their backpack paper into a tray with their name on it, instead of handing it you when you’re on the phone as they come through the door. If you’re thinking, my kids won’t do that. Well, then here’s my frank answer (& please don’t be offended): then you’re not enforcing it and teaching it.  
4. Set up a routine for yourself. When and how often are you going to tackle these hotspots? Most moms do some sort of tackling. So what’s working? Perhaps you’re really good at cleaning out the backpack of paper every night. Or maybe you’re good about sitting down each Friday to clean out the week’s worth of school paper. Start a new routine for the hotspots you’re not good at getting to. Now ask what’s not working? And why?
5. Don’t let lack of time be an excuse. Part of being a student is managing homework, paperwork, art projects, etc. Part of being an adult and having a family is managing paper, whether it’s mail, school paper, or bills. If you’re too busy to take 15 minutes a day to process loose paper lying around, something has got to give.

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