End-of-School-Year Sanity: Tackling the Paper Pileup and Transitioning to Summer by Organizing "with" the Kids

Mother helping child unpacking backpack at the end of the school year and

End-of-School-Year Sanity: Tackling the Paper Pileup and Transitioning to Summer

As the school year winds down, my kids are so excited to be done with school. I'm not!! Instead, all I anticipate is a messy house. I'm not the only mother who dreads this. Many families find themselves facing a tidal wave of papers, projects, and artwork. Before you toss it all, take a few minutes to sort through everything with your child. Celebrate their accomplishments by creating a "memory box" for special items, and then recycle the rest. If this is a struggle for you, have your child choose their favorite 5 items. Do not feel intimidated. You do NOT need to keep every piece of paper that your child colors or scribbled on. Then, declutter backpacks and lunchboxes. Give them a good cleaning before storing them away for the summer. A little effort now will save you from feeling overwhelmed later!

Here is my top Summer Organizing tip for children

Summer is the perfect time to get kids involved in simple organizing projects. Make it fun by turning it into a game! Challenge kids to a "15-minute tidy" game in their bedrooms, rewarding them with a small treat or extra playtime afterward. Another game is to ask them to find 3 items of a certain color. Get them involved in organizing their toys and books. Explain to them that donating their old toys and items they've outgrown will make space for new adventures and give to a kid who doesn't have as much as them. By creating these habits early, you'll not only create a more organized home but also teach valuable life skills to your children that will benefit them for years to come. For instance, gratitude and giving are learned skills. Help model this behavior and be the good that