But here are some tips to help curb the amount of clutter:
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• Encourage kids to put away games and toys before taking out new ones. Kids don’t typically like this tip — they prefer to have all of the fun stuff at their fingertips. Volunteering to help them quickly clean up the old before getting out the new will help your kids to temper their emotions and learn patience.

• Help kids take 5 minutes before bedtime to spruce up their rooms. Putting away all the items from the day, including dirty laundry and worn shoes, develops the skill of follow-through. Completing tasks is not a skill that comes naturally. It is one that must be nurtured and encouraged. Teaching your kids to finish the day by resetting for tomorrow will help them to finish doing the dishes when they’re older. —And who doesn’t want their kids to be able to wash, dry, and put away the dishes one day?!

 

• Provide kids with toy boxes, colorful bins, and shelves for their books and toys. When we like our storage solutions, we’re more likely to use them. The same is true for little ones. Purchase easy to use solutions that allow kids to toss, dump, and pile their belongings. It won’t look like Pinterest, but it will develop the habit of using storage containers rather than leaving piles of items all over the floor.

 

• Give each child a memory box where they can keep treasured items. This is one of my favorite tips! Kids need to know that there is a safe place for the things they love, but they also need the healthy boundaries of a box. You can read more about how to create your child’s memory box here.
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• Set a good example by maintaining your own bedroom space. Kids learn how to organize from what they see occurring in their own home. Take the time to set the right example. Simply follow the same tips you’ve read above.

Need help tackling the clutter? Check out our in-home services here.

This post originally appeared on The Good Life.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase one I'll receive a small profit with no additional cost to you whatsoever. Thanks for supporting our site. Click here to learn more.

Like most parents, you save your kids’ stuff: their artwork, tests, poetry, notes.

You save it because you enjoy it. Or because your child was so proud and you want to remember the look on his face and the sound of his voice. Those mementos are visual reminders of exciting times.

But those mementos are growing a tad cumbersome. The piles aren’t looking so neat and tidy. Maybe the memory box isn't working for you, and you’d prefer to SEE the art, the graded papers, and the handwritten notes.

(panic ensues)

You really want to get on the ball and scan those projects or maybe photograph them and print them into a photo book, but who has time for that? Not you. Nope. You spend over half your day just driving the kids to school and extracurricular activities. Then there’s the grocery shopping and meal prep and budgeting. Yeah, that's a definite no.

(defeat)

The point is, dealing with the piles is LOW on the priority list. In fact, it’s so low, that you’ve just come to terms with the fact that those piles will continue to grow and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Until now! Click on the video below to see what I mean!

ARTKIVE is every busy parent’s solution to the piles! They send you a LARGE, postage paid cardboard box to corral your pile as well as a form to list out all your kids’ precious artifacts. When you send it to ARTKIVE, the good folks professionally photograph each item and upload it to an online database. You can stop there if you want, and simply save those items to an external hard drive OR you can organize those images into a hardback photobook. The best part? They’ll dispose of the originals for you so that you don’t have any guilt!

You can save $15 when you use code DECLUTTER at checkout!

Each kit (or cardboard box) holds approximately 200 pieces and is priced at $39. You can include more than 1 child’s artwork within each kit. ARTKIVE will automatically offer to send you a USB of all your images ($25) as well as return them ($20). If you aren’t interested in either of these, simply click the green checkmark next to each option at checkout to decline.

Each hardback photo book contains up to 200 images of art or keepsakes. To determine the cost of your book (billed separately), use the slider at the bottom of this page.

Now, I’m not going to lie. The books are pricey. Could you come out cheaper by doing the work yourself and ordering through Shutterfly, yes. 100% yes. Here’s an ordering scenario just in case you’re interested:

• ARTKIVE Box Service: $39
• Choose 5 artifacts from each year of schooling (Kindergarten-12th grade) that are professionally photographed and cropped: $153
• Total: $192

So why in the world am I telling you about this concierge service? Because this is a worthwhile investment if you’re just too busy to get it done on your own. For $200, it’s taken care of. You don’t have to manage those piles any more! Plus, once you place your first order, ARTKIVE will send you a referral code that you can share with your friends. They’ll save $20 off their order and you’ll earn $20 in ARTKIVE credits!

But if you did want to save some money, you can simply have ARTKIVE digitize the files. At checkout, use code DIGITAL (instead of DECLUTTER), and 40% will immediately be taken off your total.

Or, simply download the ARTKIVE app and upload all of your own photos, that can be organized into books at a later date.
 
Have more questions about ARTKIVE? Check out their FAQ.

Tip 1: Check for Mates
Waiting until the last minute to find out that your favorite pair of gloves doesn’t have a match is awful. It’s even worse when it’s your kid’s favorite set. Save yourself some drama, and check for mates ahead of time. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got a hat and scarf for everyone in the home. Sure, you won’t use them every time you venture out, but keeping them together will spare you the pain and suffering when you need them most.

Tip 2: Store at the Door
There is nothing more frustrating than having to run back through the house to find your leather driving gloves that you think you left on the kitchen counter. Instead, keep them in a bin near the door. I LOVE the three drawer container from Sterilite available at Amazon, Walmart, and Target. It tucks nicely into a narrow coat closet and can be rolled around when you temporarily need it elsewhere. The drawers can be labeled to hold items for each family member or by size. We use two of our drawers for “Adult Cold Weather” and “Child Cold Weather.” (Here's the label maker our coaches use if you're interested in making ALL KINDS of labels!)

Tip 3: Prep for Wet
When snow actually shows up, it’s helpful to have a few beach towels in reserve. Lay these on the floor near the entrance so that snowy friends can peel their accessories off in one central location. This will also help to contain any mud that gets tracked in….because we all know the upstate is infamous for red clay. Storing these towels in the third drawer of that Sterilite container is just plain genius. Your pets and floors will thank you for such considerate preparation. It’s also a great idea to invest in a boot tray OR repurpose an unloved cookie sheet to contain those wet boots to one central area. If you’ve got a collapsible garment rack or a door casing that can hold a few hangers, you’re even more of a winner. Simply lay a dry towel below to catch any drips while your wet stuff hangs to dry.

Tip 4: Keep the Dryer Free
Kids love coming and going in the cooler temps, particularly when that white stuff is coming down. Help them to stay warm by tossing their wet accessories in the dryer between trips. Yes, I know, some of you are cringing. I cringed too….because only my clean stuff belongs in the dryer! However, a dry happy kiddo is more valuable than a dryer. To help alleviate my fears of “contamination,” the next “clean” load that goes through the washer/dryer system is the winter coats and snow bibs. If the dryer is going to have anything in it from drying unclean winter gear, at least it’s only getting onto my freshly laundered winter gear. (Side note: I’ve never actually had anything gross transfer, but I thought I’d throw it out there just in case anyone is worried like myself!)

Tip 5: Wash and Restock
This last tip is the most often neglected. Don’t forget that in order for an organizational system to be successful, it must come full circle. After the winter accessories have been used (and washed, if necessary), return them to their rightful place. Everything, including those winter accessories, should have a home. While it may just be temporary, like in a Sterilite drawer system for winter, it deserves a resting place. Homes for accessories allow everyone to find exactly what they need when they need it. And winter is no time to doddle, because, baby, it’s cold outside!

This post originally appeared on The Good Life.

Can you believe that fall is right around the corner?! Who is excited for crisp winds and scarves?!

Right now is the perfect time to do a quick sweep for these 10 things:

1. Tattered Towels
The sun, salt, and chemicals can be tough on our beach towels. Grab those that have seen better days and repurpose them as emergency spill catchers (*two is more than enough), donations for pet shelters, or simply toss them into the trash. The end of summer clearance is bound to have some soft, fluffy beach towels to replenish your stash at the perfect price.

2. Faulty Flip Flops
You know which ones I’m talking out. The ones that are loose, squished, and seriously uncomfortable. Old Navy will have a new pair for less than $3 next spring.

3. Opened Snacks
If you’ve got kids, and it’s summer time, you’ve definitely got a problem with opened packaging. The lazy days of summer encourage noshing….and on a variety of foods. Take a pass through your pantry and locate all opened chip and snack bags. If they’ve gone stale, toss them. If they’re still in good shape, reseal them or parse them into individual sandwich bags to speed up lunch prep this fall.

4. Mismatched Tupperware
Speaking of lunches, you’re going to start packing those again. Set aside ten minutes to match up all the lids and bins so that you can toss any orphans. Plastic containers are fairly inexpensive, so don’t fret if you find yourself tossing 16 lids wondering where their matches went. You’ll be glad you don’t have to deal with leaning tower of lids come November!

5. Travel Trinkets
What brochures, maps, or other tchotchkes did you pick up during your summer travels? Are you finished with these? If their purpose has past, it’s time to recycle those papers and donate those random magnets your kids just HAD TO HAVE.

6. Old Toiletries
You pulled them out of your travel bags and passed over them while on vacation. Now it’s time to toss those travel sized soaps you never use and expired sunscreens. Grab the crunchy tube of toothpaste and the weird scented shampoo too. Don’t forget the warped cotton balls and funky tissues you shoved down into the makeup bag.

7. Dried-Out Art Supplies
Tis the season for school supplies. Why not let go of the orange, yellow, and green markers that remain from that original 10 pack and replace it with a new, fresh set? You know you’re going to need those colors for homework during the school year so go ahead and toss the old and worn crayons and paints too.

8. Stinky Lunch Boxes
Hopefully you’ve checked the lunchboxes from last June. If not, you might just want to toss those fully zipped! Pick up a new lunch box to replace the broken, tattered, or just plain stinky one from last year. If you’re up for it, try tossing the stinky one in the washer to remove the smell and stains. It just might save you a few bucks!

9. Unloved Apparel
Remember this spring when you bought those adorable shorts? You had such great intentions, but in the end, you never wore them outside of your bedroom because you preferred another style. Donate those fancy pants to your local Goodwill and bless someone with a brand new pair for a fraction of the price. Rummage around the rest of your closet and drawers to see if there are any other gently worn pieces that you can take with you.

10. Forgotten Books + Magazines
How’s that stack of reading material you piled up to take to the pool? Did you chisel away at the tower during that 10 hour drive? Take a good look at what remains. Is it a book you’re still interested in reading? Has the paper passed its prime? Return or recycle items that you just won’t get to now that fall is approaching.

Tell us what you tossed in the comments below!

This post originally appeared on The Good Life.

Over-the-door, clear shoe organizers have about 24 pockets. Their intended purpose is to corral pairs of shoes so that you’re not looking all over the house or under the laundry for that one mischievous flip-flop. But these organizers can do so much more! Below are my top ten uses for these inexpensive, lightweight, slim-line storage solutions.​

Number 10: Direct Sales Stock + Marketing
Direct sales companies are famous for samples and branded marketing. They send no shortage of tiny things to pass on to potential customers. Your business cards, postcards, brochures, samples, and stock must be organized so that you’re always aware of your inventory levels and have the ability to quickly assemble a hostess gift at a moment’s notice.

Number 9: Action Figure + Barbie Heaven
Some toys are just a pain to keep track of…..but you need to in order to avoid the classic kid-meltdown. If your kiddos are like mine, the Barbies, action figures, and all their accessories easily get mixed in with Legos and Lincoln Logs during epic story tales. In order to set the scene for tomorrow’s imaginative play, return the action figures and their accessories to a central location. Clear shoe organizers allow kids to spot the items they need and easily access them. They also help with quick cleanup so that Malibu Barbie’s sunglasses don’t go missing!

Number 8: Cleaning Supplies
Store your supplies in easy to see sections on your shoe organizer. Keep dusting products next to the dusting rags or Swiffer refills. Keep your laundry stain remover near your dryer sheets. You’ll always know what you have and what you need to buy more of.
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Number 7: Make-Up + Toiletries
The back of your bathroom door is a great place to keep stock of all the make-up and toiletry items you use on a daily basis. Never lose track of your eyeliner, tweezers, or deodorant again! This space is ideal for toothpaste, cleansers, moisturizers, foundation, eye shadows, lipsticks, glosses, as well as hair brushes, gel, shears (for that quick trim), and curling irons (….but wait until those are cool before putting them back).

Number 6: Sewing + Crafts
Keeping track of your sewing notions is infinitely easier when they each have their own home. Threads, needles, thimbles, and buttons can find their permanent place in a shoe organizer. Stash your different types of glues and craft scissors in the next set of pockets. Make room for scrap fabrics, paint brushes, paint bottles, crayons, colored pencils, and scrap paper too.

Number 5: Seasonal Accessories
Got a coat closet? Keep your seasonal accessories just as easy to grab in a shoe organizer. Assign one row to each person in the home. Keep track of your sunglasses, hats, chapstick, gloves, scarves, sunscreen, and bug spray to avoid the last minute run-around. Pet items like leashes and waste bags are a great addition.

Number 4: Snacks + Lunch Items
Can we all agree that shaving a few minutes off lunch prep is genius?! Particularly if you wait until the morning-of to pack! Juice boxes, granola bars, chips you portioned out into Ziploc baggies, fruit cups, plasticware, and napkins can all be stored on the inside of your pantry door, next to your hanging lunch boxes.

Number 3: Tools + Utility Items
No room for pegboard? Try a shoe organizer to keep your batteries, lightbulbs, screw drivers, hammers, and measuring tools sorted for easy access. You’ll thank yourself every time you reach for a AA battery!

Number 2: Gardening Supplies
From seed packets to gloves, these shoe organizers can save your sanity when you need to put a few plants in the ground. Hang the organizer on a shed door OR mount it to an interior wall. Those 24 pockets will easy accommodate your hand shovels, trowels, rulers (to measure depth), twine (to tie up those tomatoes), bag buckets (to transport extra dirt), seed markers, trimming shears, nailbrush, and kneepads.

Number 1: Infant Needs
If you’ve ever had a newborn in the house, you know you’ve got a lot of things that you need quick access to in order to preserve your sanity. Pacifiers, bibs, hair bows, blankets, onesies, diapers, ointments, creams, thermometers, medications, ball syringes, and socks are just a few of them!
As a bonus, clear shoe organizers are the go-to storage solution for individuals with ADD/ADHD. These organizers keep everything front and center so that no items are out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Take your organization to the next level by labeling each pocket so that it’s easy to remember where to return things when you’re done with them!

How do you use shoe organizers in your home? Comment below!


This post originally appeared on The Good Life. 

#1 Buddy Day
If your recipient enjoys a favorite hobby, create a gift certificate to do it together. Heading to the hills for a hike on their favorite trail, tagging along to (window) shop the outlets, or hanging out at the firing range are all great ways to spend time together.

#2 Classes
Do you possess a unique skill like playing an instrument, decorating cakes, woodworking, or crocheting? Create a gift certificate providing time to teach that skill to your recipient. I know you won’t be able to teach ALL of it, but consider it an introduction. You can also reach out to local artisans, fitness studios, or online course companies to purchase a gift certificate for a class. Groupon is a great place to look for discounted classes.

#3 Coupon Books
There are hundreds of FREE, online templates for little books you can staple together or tie up with a pretty ribbon. They’re great gifts for all ages, but particularly the young and the old. Include acts of service like reading books together, using the REALLY messy finger paint, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, or prepping meals ahead of time.

#4 Covert Old Data
No matter who you are, you’ve got old data on obsolete technology that you want to save. Your loved ones are no exception. You can transfer the data yourself if you’ve got the hardware/software or you can purchase a gift certificate for your loved one to have it done elsewhere. IMemories, SouthTree, and Costco offer these services.

#5 Date Night in a Box
Grab some of your favorite drinks, print a copy of the menu, and toss in some items that you’ll need for your night out.

#6 DIY Talk Topics
Foster conversation around the dinner table with printed conversation starters. Find a fun box at your local craft store or Goodwill to store the cards in and wrap with a pretty bow.

#7 Floral Arrangements
If you’ve got a knack for creating beautiful bouquets, use that talent to spread some joy! Purchase vases at Goodwill and flowers from your grocer to create one of a kind arrangements!

#8 Get Crafty
Create wooden trivets, whip together a scarf and mitten set, or sew up a blanket using your recipient’s favorite colors or patterns. Grab a piece of reclaimed wood (possibly from your deck project earlier this year) and give it new life with vinyl lettering.

#9 Go Green
Does your loved one love the environment? Pick up some new recycling containers for their garage or help them to build a composting bin out back. Give seed packets or baby plants to children.

#10 Homemade Treats
Do you love to bake? Whip up something tasty like mini-loaves or assorted cookie tins to give out during the holidays. Include the recipe with your treats so that the memory of your gift remains long after the goodies are gone.

#11 Ingredient Sets
If you know someone who likes to bake (or a child that likes to make), then this experience idea is for you. Gather all the ingredients your recipient will need to make a recipe you’ve found and package them in a gift basket you picked up at your local Goodwill. (I’m a huge fan of giving ingredients for making slime or playdough for little ones, particularly because I get to throw in a container of glitter!)

#12 Meal Prep 
Everyone is getting the flyers for pricey meal prep companies that send you boxes with the exact ingredients you need. You can gift someone the same service and take it one step further by assembling the ingredients. Make balls of chocolate chip cookie dough, freeze them on a cookie sheet, then drop them into Ziploc bags by the dozen. Write baking directions on the bag and give these with an entrée you’ve assembled in a bag or metal tin. Busy people LOVE a good homemade meal. When you can’t deliver a hot meal to their doorstep, give them a prepped freezer meal that only requires thawing and baking.

#13 Movie, Show, or Event Tickets
Use these printable tickets when you don’t know which movie you’ll see together; or simply pick up the tickets in advance. Wrap them in a box and include some snacks like Mike & Ikes or chocolate covered pretzels.

#14 Music + Apps
While giving a mixed tape might be a thing of the past, you can still give the gift of music online through gift cards and subscriptions. All kinds of apps exist for educational games, recipe organization, home inventories, and data storage. Purchase the app, set it up for your recipient, and then teach them how to use it.

#15 Pampering Appointment
Treat the men in your life to an old-fashioned hot shave at the new barber shop in town. Women love manicures and pedicures. Check your local Groupon for deals! If giving a gift certificate doesn’t feel like “enough,” add in a few items that go along with your theme like a fancy can of shaving cream or some nail polish and a manicure set. You can find gift items like these at TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Home At Last, Target, and many others.

#16 Puzzles for Days
Open the door for intense shoulder-to-shoulder time when you give the gift of puzzles. Pick a design that reflects a memory you share with your recipient(s) or select something they personally would enjoy. Dollar Tree carries a variety of puzzles made just for kids, as well 1000-piecers for the braver souls.

#17 Service Appointments
This idea isn’t so fancy, but it’s great for the practical people in your life who aren’t big gift-givers. Pay for an oil change, spray for weeds/pests, or repair a leaky faucet for your recipient. Women would love for someone to come and help them pick out paint colors, clean the baseboards, decorate for the holidays, organize their pantry, or babysit their kiddos!

#18 Sponsorships
Make a one-time donation or “adopt an animal” at a zoo for a fun, clutter-free gift. The non-profit will most likely send you a picture or literature that you can include with your gift. The only caution here is to make sure the sponsorship or donation is for a cause your recipient appreciates.

#19 Tours
You can conduct them yourself or find a local tour guide to introduce your gift recipient to the treasures at the local museum, behind the scenes at your zoo, through the gardens of an old plantation, or even historical landmarks in a nearby city.

#20 Treasure Hunts
Print off a map or a list of items your recipient will need to search for. Maybe it’s a list of famous barbecue joints, playgrounds, or statues. Include clues or facts in your treasure hunt and consider joining your recipient on the hunt to make memories together. You’ll have to do a bit of planning on the front end to pull this off, but it’s well worth the effort.

This post originally appeared on The Good Life.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase one I'll receive a small profit with no additional cost to you whatsoever. Thanks for supporting our site. Click here to learn more.

​Struggling to get your kids to actually do their chores? Welcome to parenthood. If chore-charts and stickers aren’t working for you, you’ll want to read this.

Recently, our oldest daughter participated in Boosterthon to earn money for her school. I’ve never seen her get so excited to support a cause she didn’t immediately benefit from, but she was all-in! So I asked myself, “Why?” Why would this five year old want so desperately to earn pledges that paid based on the number of laps she’d run around a track?

3 Things

1. The goal was well-defined.
2. The rewards were motivating to her.
3. Both the goal and the rewards were attainable.

In other words, she wanted to succeed because success made sense.
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Now, what if I told you that someone took those same principles and turned them into an app to help children and teens achieve their goals at home? It’s true. FamilyTech.com has created a simple, fun app to help your children, teens, and even your spouse complete all those boring, but necessary, tasks.
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Creating your account, adding the kids, and assigning chores couldn’t be easier. The system asks for a birthdate and will suggest age appropriate chores to help you get started. You can also enter your own chores as well as attach a photo to each chore for children who can’t yet read.

A well-defined goal will help your child understand what is expected of them. Keep it simple like “put napkins on the table” or “make your bed.” Each chore is given a completion date, so that your children know how soon they’ll need to do the task. You can choose to “auto approve” the chore, which means that as soon as the chore is completed, the reward is issued. Or you can select to manually approve the each chore. In the case of the latter, you’ll receive a notification from Mother Shp (no “i”) that the chore has been finished, but you’ll need to click “approve” on your end before the reward is released on the child or teen interface. Although I like saving time anywhere I can, checking up on a child’s performance demonstrates support, concern, and love. Our kids better understand our expectations when we have the time to create a healthy dialogue about how a chore should be done and how it actually completed. Talking with and encouraging kids is well worth the added minutes of manual approval.

The final feature (and probably the most exciting for your little ones) is the reward assignment. Each chore you create will reward your child with the amount of points determined by you. The points contribute toward a larger prize that will be “unlocked” once they have enough points. One of our clients is rewarding her son with a date to the frozen yogurt shop! Teens might earn a bump in allowance or extra privileges.
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Your children can monitor their progress on the kid-side of the app. Login is ridiculously simple (for little people in particular), and ages 3-12 will be able to play games, watch videos, and reveal different monsters as they earn points. The app has the feel of FunBrain.com, but the power of Boosterthon in your living room! 
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You won’t find videos, games, or fun monsters on teen version Landra, but you will find a clean interface that teaches your teen the economy of housekeeping in a simple “Do vs Get” mode. Landra is FREE and gives your teen the opportunity to view the chores you’ve assigned from Mother Shp as well as add their own. Under the “Get” tab, your teen can request specific rewards like coffee, movie night out, screen time, or suggest their own. The visual support is just as strong in Landra as in Chore Monster, so it’s great for teens with low reading levels too. 

And when you didn’t think it could get any better….Family Tech created Honey Do. Keeping up a home is often a shared task. This app allows you to communicate in a no-nag fashion about those home projects. While I’m not super motivated by points or the idea of forcing my better half to work around the house, the concept is novel. Create rewards for your significant other based on their love language or bucket-lists.
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In conclusion, I’ve been all-around impressed by these FREE apps and our girls (ages 5 and 3) are LOVING it. If you’re struggling to get your child or teen to do their chores, it’s worth checking out. Leave a comment below about your experience.

This is such a busy time of the year, especially for parents of complex kids. It’s hard to help your kids manage their time effectively, and there always seems to be more to do than there is time for you to do it!
 
But, in the words of my five year old, “Guess what?!”
 
I’ve found a some help that's available to you at no cost, and is definitely worth your time. Elaine and Diane at ImpactADHD knock themselves out for parents of complex kids, and this year they’ve put together a truly special event. When you Register for Back to School SURVIVAL -- for PARENTS, you’ll get a free mini-course parent training, a ton of support with gifts, trainings, videos, and a live event – all from two moms who have been there and know what parents really need to make this school year a success for the whole family. Content will be provided in SHORT bursts to help you start the school year off right! With Elaine & Diane as your guides, you will see immediate results – it will be an efficient and effective use of your time!

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

It’s that time of year. While some of us love shopping for them, others simply cringe. The sheer amount of items required for the beginning of the year drives some parents even to the point of insanity. Finding the exact set of Crayola markers seems impossible, and of course, you would need the 8 pack for one child and the 10 pack for the other. On July 31st, grab a banker's box (or large Amazon box) for each child to contain all those required back-to-school items. (If your kids are little, I'd keep these boxes up high or behind locked doors so the crayons and new lunch box don't disappear before mid August.) Toss your school supply list into the box so you'll know where to find it when you're ready to brave the crowds (or order online in the comfort of your PJs). If your kiddos require uniforms or signed paperwork, store it in the box too. The box will be emptied once the year begins, so this is simply your way of momentarily containing the chaos.
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The amount of paper coming through your front door is about to drastically multiply in the next thirty days, but we’re going to help you manage that hot mess. Create a landing zone near the door you most frequently use when entering and exiting your home. Chances are, you've already got one....it's that spot where you drop your purse, your kids kick off their shoes, and you're constantly having to pick up jackets. You know what I'm talking about, right? After adding some hooks for your purse and jackets, and maybe a shoe rack, consider adding a basket where ALL papers (except homework) can be emptied. If your kids are older than 10, create divisions with hanging file folders OR use multiple baskets to sort the papers. Unless your child's teacher has specified at the beginning of the year meeting that you need to initial/sign paperwork or planners coming home every night, you can get away with going through this basket once or twice a week. (It's true. I used to be a teacher before I had kids.....almost ALL of those papers can wait a few days.)
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When you go through the basket (on Tuesdays or Thursdays), you're going to sort it into three piles: things to read or review, things to sign and return, and graded art or school work. The things you'll need to read and review might be that month's lunch menu or the sport's schedule. Keep these items in a folder, binder, or command center area where you can readily access them if you need them. The things that need to be signed and returned, need to be signed and returned. Finally that art and school work. Notice I said graded. (The homework should be completed daily and then returned to the teacher so it can come back home a second time with a big fat A+.) Your child's teacher sends this stuff home because they don't have space to display it all. Make sure your kid(s) understand that the same principle rings true in your home: your walls can only hold so much. Help your child select one or two items a week to save as examples of the work that gives them the greatest sense of pride or accomplishment. In full disclosure, I don't do this part each week; I wait until the end of the month and still recommend that we only choose one or two items to keep. Store these items in memory boxes divided by grade. Helping your child to determine WHY they want to keep an item and understand LIMITATIONS of space is of critical importance to developing strong decision-making skills. You'll also thoroughly enjoy the conversations shared as you go through these projects. 

​Getting a solid start on the school year will enable your family to keep chugging along when the book reports and science fair projects begin. In fact, you’ll be able to spend more time with each other, talking about the things that bring you joy rather than arguing with your fourth grader about where the permission slip went. You’ll be able to breathe. You’ll be able to sleep. You’ll even be able to smile. Here’s to the next few weeks of prep, fellow parents! 

Get more back to school tips in our latest magazine feature with Belle Magazine! You won't want to miss it! 

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

One of my favorite (and most frequent) recommendations when organizing children’s areas is to create a memory box for each child. Most parents already have something similar in place. They’ve stashed mementos, drawings, and treasures in tote bags and extra large plastic tubs to keep them safe.

While this is a great start, it becomes burdensome as the children grow older. More items need to be stored so more totes are purchased. The amount of storage space required grows like a never ending vine.

Worse, when the kids are ready to move out of the house, you’re both stuck with a disorganized, tangled mess of childhood papers, projects, and random stuff that your children now consider junk.

What in the world?! The intention was great, but it lacked one thing: forethought. Let me explain.

When city planners gather to discuss where the new road should go, they consider many things: frequency of use, amount of cars that will travel on it, potential problems, and ease of maintenance. They think decades ahead so that their work will not be in vain.

Your memory boxes deserve the same attention.

I suggest using a large letter file box. This size box is big enough to hold a childhood full of memories, but small enough to carry, stack, and store. As you shop, you’ll also want to choose a container that is relatively safe from the elements. Although plastic gives off a funky scent after so many years, it is bug and water proof. Finally, your box needs to be easy to open. While I love a good cedar chest with a beautiful brass lock, I’ve found that the keys go missing, the chest gets piled high with other things, and they’re difficult to re-home as children grow. Instead, opt for a solution that is portable and easy to use.
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Just like lanes on a highway, creating divisions within your memory box will give you the direction you (and your child) need to organize their belongings as time goes on. Hanging file folders are a favorite of mine because they take up little space and can hold papers and trinkets. They also allow for maximum accessibility to each division. When I create memory boxes, I use the following divisions for hanging files:

• Newborn
• Toddler
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade
• 9th Grade
• 10th Grade
• 11th Grade
• 12th Grade
• College

I prefer to divide by grades because most children organize their memories around the school calendar. They remember going to Niagara Falls after 4th grade or winning that soccer championship in 10th grade. The school calendar typically has more firm start/stop points than a child’s own birthday. However, if your child prefers to organize by given age, that’s fine too. I’ve also seen families set up boxes by category rather than grade level (i.e., school papers, sports, crafts, etc.). The only downside to organizing by categories is that it will be difficult to keep organized as the years go by and you’ll have a greater tendency to stop organizing and start piling the keepsakes.
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This is where the rubber meets the road; where you realize whether the system you created for your toddler actually works when he’s a teenager. If you use a file box with the hanging file divisions I shared above, I promise you, the system WILL work. The trick here is to sort and file the keepsakes along the way. You may notice that a file will get particularly hefty…and may begin to crowd out others. If this happens, pull the file out and review it with your child. Are the pieces they’ve chosen to keep really their treasures from that year? Give your kids the gift of wisdom by teaching them to compare and evaluate. Children who learn to determine the value of their own belongings are better prepared to make wise investment choices as adults. Learning to live within the boundaries, within their means, will enable them to comparison shop for clothes, food, colleges, cars, and homes.

Never underestimate the power of a box.