The following guest post is brought to you courtesy of Kathy Jenkins of The Organizing Tutor.
Where did the summer go? Lazy days at the pool and spontaneous road trips are going to be replaced with homework and structure. Getting back into a regular school routine after a laid-back summer schedule can be rough for parents and students alike. So, to kick off the school year right, you will want to prepare in advance.
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COMMUNICATE
The number one key to keeping a well-functioning and organized household schedule is communication! Staying connected will prepare your child to go back to school (and to be organized during the school year). A good way to keep everyone in the family on the same page during the hectic pace of the school year is to hold regular family meetings. We aren’t talking a two-hour event with graphs and charts – it’s as simple as asking, “What’s going on this week?” when you finish Sunday dinner.
TIP: Just a simple question can get the conversation flowing and the organization happening all year ‘round!
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PLAN AHEAD
Getting ready to head back to school can feel hectic – especially if you wait until the last minute. But by starting early, about a month before school starts, you’ll be ready to greet the first day of school feeling prepared and confident.
DOWNLOAD: A simple back to school checklist to prepare you for the back to school rush.
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KEEP A FAMILY CALENDAR
One of the best ways to communicate and plan ahead with your family is to prepare a family calendar before the school year even arrives (including: sports practices, piano lessons, games, church events, band practice, work meetings, social outings, birthday parties, doctor’s appointments, etc.). It may seem like an overwhelming task, but investing 30 minutes to set up the calendar will be well worth the effort as you will begin the school year knowing where everyone is supposed to be and when.
TIP: Organizing a family’s schedule isn’t a mom-only job – be sure to keep a family calendar in a high traffic area in your house. Everyone will be more likely to update the calendar on a regular basis if it is easily accessible.
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Kathy Jenkins is a Certified Professional Organizer® and Certified Family Manager® Coach, Professional Organizer Coach and Student Organizer Coach. Kathy Jenkins and her team have been helping students reach their full potential! Working one-on-one with middle school, high school and college students, she helps instill foundational principals such as organization, time management, project planning and effective study skills. It is because of Kathy’s personal perspective that she is able to relate to her clients and help them achieve the level of organization and family management that they desire. Kathy is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO Golden Circle, NAPO Education Committee, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and Faithful Organizers. She is also serves as the Leader of the NAPO Student Organizing Special Interest Group and is proud to be counted as one of the creators of the NAPO in the Schools Elementary Program. Visit her at TheOrganizingTutor.com, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
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