Yesterday as the kids finished up their homework I took out the pencil box and sharpened all of the pencils and replenished our homework station. Up until this year we did all of the homework at the kitchen table. However since our oldest son now needs to do some independent work we put a desk in his room. The kitchen could get quite noisy and chaotic with the other kids playing nearby.

In each space we have a homework station set up with any tools they might need. Pencils, pens, scissors, glue, ruler, crayons and paper. Basically an extra set of their school supplies. This way they don’t have to worry about bringing supplies home and losing them! When the kids are ready to sit down and get to work they know where everything is. Try setting up a central homework station to keep homework time chaos to a minimum!

What does homework time look like at your house?

Anytime I know I will have a wait… carpool, doctor’s office, etc., I carry a couple of things with me. I always have my notebook and feel lost without it. It is good practice to get those thoughts out when you have them, otherwise you have all of this stuff bottled up that will come out sometime. For me it is when my head hits the pillow at night. Restless sleep for a mother of three is never a good thing. 

I also carry with me a magazine I want to read and any mail I need to catch up on. You might want to have a couple of note cards on hand as well so you can pen a letter to someone you are thinking about.

Taking these spurts of time to do something productive will help keep things in balance and free your mind of clutter.

How do you spend your waiting time?

For our command center, I gathered up a file box, one hanging file folder for each family member, a pencil box and three clipboards. I usually suggest setting up a command center in the kitchen, which is typically the busiest spot in the home and where these papers tend to accumulate.

File Box and File Folders: Set up a file for each family member. This is where to put all incoming papers such as your child’s artwork and graded schoolwork (everything that gets dumped out of the backpack when your kids get home!). In your folder would go incoming mail and things that need action.

Pencil Box: I keep a pencil box in the file box with just enough supplies for homework. Scissors, pencil, a set of primary colored crayons, and glue. This keeps things easy at homework time since the kids know right where to find all their supplies.

Clipboards: Here is where the system can really be customized. I hang one clipboard for each child on the wall next to the file box. This is where I put their permission slips, weekly calendars and homework assignments – all of the papers that need immediate attention. You could put these papers in their folders as well but if you are like me, out of sight might mean out of mind. I need to keep this important information in my face so I don’t forget about it.

When setting up your command center, take time to sit down and plan what you need first. Decide if you require the visual reminders like myself or if you want everything tucked away. Whether you have a large wall or a small entryway, with a little creativity you can create a command center that will work for your family.

For a little creative inspiration, here is an example of a chalkboard used as a command center.

School has been back in session for some time now. Have you checked your child’s backpack lately? Are they growing little science experiments in there with left over crumbs and crumpled up paper?

A backpack is just one organizational tool your children will be carrying around with them during all of their schooling years. Teach them to organize it properly to prepare them for success. Here are a few tips to get you started…

1. First things first, Label It! If something happens to your child’s backpack make sure it is identifiable so it can be returned to the proper owner. DO NOT emblazon your son or daughter’s name on the backpack so that a stranger can see it and call them by name. DO, however add a discreet label like a bag tag or iron-on label for easy identification.
2. Most backpacks come with multiple sized pockets for storing supplies. Teach your children where to put everything and not just use the section for books as a large dumping ground. Use a pocket for pencils, and smaller objects and a section for notebooks and books.
3. Show your children how to properly keep their papers in a folder instead of just shoving them into the abyss of the backpack. Otherwise you might not see that paper in one piece again.
4. When your children get home from school have them empty their backpacks and show you what homework needs to be done and have a place to set aside graded papers.
5. Last but not least, have a designated place for your child’s backpack to hang until the next day. Make it routine that the backpack goes to that place every night so that there is no confusion where it is the next day.

Your organizational habits go with you into adulthood so we want to get our children off on the right start. We have all had our share of backpack days like them and some of you may still be using them. Many of you are using purses or briefcases now. What does your purse say about your organizational habits? Does your purse or briefcase look like your backpack did in high school?

Over the years we’ve helped thousands of schools and organizations earn money toward their fundraising goals. We offer two types of label fundraisers: traditional brochure-based fundraisers and online paperless fundraisers. Contact us today to get the ball rolling. That is, before the back-to-school rush turns into the first day of school!

Go to www.fundraising.mabel.ca today.

2. Watch for stowaways. Kids bring items to camp that they’re not supposed to, such as MP3 players and digital cameras. If your child owns something irreplaceable, let them know not to pack it.

3. Label everything! Toothbrushes, cameras, flashlights, sandals, backpacks, socks…leave no item left unlabeled.

Here are some Mabel’s Labels’ resources to help you get ready for summer camp.

Read or download The Mabel’s Labels Guide to Packing for Camp

Is your child’s camp part of Camp Mabel’s Camp Labeling Program? Find out at camps.mabel.ca! Scroll the list to find your child’s camp and then place your order

On the first day, we hit the snow hills on our magic carpets, drank some hot chocolate, and generally just hung about feeling good about the found day we got to share together. I’m one of the lucky mommas who has some flexibility to do this every now and again. It means a late night at my computer, but I’m good with that.

Well, I’m good with that as long as it doesn’t start getting too repetitive. Two days later and it’s another snow day. We have another bit of fun but there is some novelty rapidly wearing off, from where I’m sitting.

The next day was a Thursday and it happens again. Good-bye “fun mom”, hello crazy woman who would pull them on a sled for the full five kilometres to school if required. The van doors were frozen shut but I was not going to let that little obstacle stop us. I was determined for them to spend some quality time with the three other kids with psycho-moms who turned up at school that day.

Thursday is my one day I can head into the Mabel’s Labels office for the WHOLE day. We Mabel Mommas were not going to let a bit of snow and ice slow us down. While bad weather may shut down our education system, kids are not going to start losing stuff under our watch!

After months and months of prep work, our gorgeous new line of stationery is finally live on our website. It is a thing of beauty! They are designed to be age versatile, tidy and everything your family needs to get started. Pen to paper may seem foreign to your kids – but it shouldn’t! We know it’s important to you that your kids at least understand that thank-you notes should be written! We know that you wish you had the time to encourage and help them draft notes to family and friends. The “Write On!” Stationery Kit includes everything you need, except the postage! Let your kids choose their own style and salutation to make their stationery feel like their personal motif!

Happy first day of school, little ones!