Back to School Chaos - Time Management for the whole family

By: Wendy Hollick, Professional Organizer

FAMILY MEETINGS - essential to getting everyone on the same page and great to do all year round. Including all family members in planning the morning and after school rituals makes following through all that more easier. Everyone gets a chance to provide their input and listen to everyone else. Take turns who chairs the meeting. Kids love to be heard, so now is their chance to have everyone's attention. Consider everyone's opinion and come up with a routine for choirs, homework, bedtime, free time, computer/TV/video and activities.

SCHEDULES - kids can better adhere to schedules and time frames if they are part of the planning and know what is expected of them. When a task repeats itself over and over around the same time, kids get a pretty good handle for keeping the routine.

FAMILY CALENDAR - if you don't have a family calendar already, get one, use it and have the whole family understand it. Keep your calendar in a place that is easy for all members to use/see it. Colour coding works well, i.e.. John 's activities in blue, Suzy's in pink etc. Don't over schedule your kids. As parents you know what is best and what constitutes too much. It is okay to say no. Kids need down time just like we do.

CLOTHING - prior to heading out to the malls, go through the closets and check out the clothing, shoes, boots etc. Donate what does not fit or they will no longer wear. Purchase only a few items of clothing/shoes prior to the start of school. But more importantly, organize those clothes so everyone knows what goes where. We don't need an entire new wardrobe for September 1st.

Picking out clothing the night before avoids morning power struggles. Plan with the kids what they will be wearing to school. Even better, purchase a clothing organizer to hang in the closet that has each day of the week on it - that way the whole week is planned out, which saves time and frustration.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES - gather up all the school supplies you have around the house to determine what you need for the start of school. No need to purchase what you already have. Backpacks, lunch bags - same rule applies. If you must replace these items and the other ones are still in good condition, donate them.

HEALTHY EATING - 3 little words - PLAN PLAN PLAN. I guarantee if you plan your meals with your grocery shopping list, you will not only eat healthier, save money on eating out, but eat at a desirable time, at the same time. Use your crock pot - if you don't have one, get one. Yes, I am telling you to buy something... this small appliance will save you time and money. You have to love that! Planning your meals on your shopping list will allow you to make a complete meal in one easy step. No more running to the store while part of your meal is cooking to grab a main ingredient. What's better than walking into your home at dinner time to not only have your home smelling delicious but to know that you can sit right down and eat a healthy home meal. Just think - you will even have time for some dinnertime chatting with the whole family around the table.

SNACKS & LUNCHES - prepare snacks ahead of time. Cut up the veggies and pre-wash the fruit so when kids get home from school, healthy snacks are at their fingertips. Prepare lunches the night before. Ask your kids what healthy choices they would like in their lunch. Give them choices. Pizza days at school are fine and use them for convenience every now and then. Avoid items for their lunches that are high in sodium and sugar. Processed foods are convenient but not the healthiest choice.

GETTING OUT THE DOOR - Where is my back pack? Where is my bicycle helmet? I can't find my shoe. Sound all too familiar? Yikes, not another school year like the last one. OK, so we need to organize things a little here. A place for everything, and everything in its place is not just a cliché. Have a home for backpacks, lunch bags, bike helmets, shoes, coats, etc. This way kids know where they go and with time will learn to put items where they belong and voila! will know where to find them in the morning. Parents, this also goes for car keys, purses/wallets/cell phones/sunglasses.

Enjoy these years with your children. Before you know it, September will just be another month in the calendar year!
 

About the Author: Wendy Hollick, Professional Organizer, mother of three and owner of three businesses, understands how busy life can be. For more information about Wendy Hollick and NEAT SPACES Professional Organizing Service, please visit her website at www.neatspaces.ca or call 905-336-3874.