organize: kid school stuff

Half the battle with the kids' school stuff is figuring out a system that works for all involved. Most the time, we have piles of worksheets and gluey art projects collecting on the end of the counter. Or worse, half dried painted bits and bobs floating around the mini van. Times that by three and it's a nightmare. Since moving to this house, I've put in place a way for the kids to keep their things organized for school and keep my sanity intact.

I picked up some cheap, clear wall files. And, I must say, I'm in love with these hooks. I use them for everything. You don't have to screw anything in or hammer nails. They stay put when you want them to and come off without fuss. Pure genius.

Each child has a wall file and two hooks. When they enter the laundry room from the garage, they empty their backpacks and file their paperwork. They hang their coats and backpacks on the hooks. (Put any dirty/muddy shoes in the laundry tub which I love having.) Then they walk their lunch boxes to the kitchen. Then I don't have to dig through backpacks to find notes home, school work or smelly lunch boxes. I can recycle what needs it, read notes from teachers and file anything that needs to go back to school easily. When packing up for school, they simply put their lunch boxes and whatever is in the wall file back into their backpacks. It's simple and effective. The kids love it because it's much like the routines they have at school.