Give Backpacks And School Papers One Landing Spot

Although a lot of school paperwork is completed online these days, backpacks are still an essential item for transporting homework, artwork, and the occasional form that needs to be signed and returned. Depending on the number of kids in your household, these papers/backpacks can pile up and reach unmanageable levels pretty quickly. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to corral backpacks and school papers. You don't need a mudroom to stay organized –- any designated landing spot will do.

For starters, choose a space that's near the door your kids use to enter and exit the home. Hooks can be a ideal way to create vertical storage and keep backpacks from becoming tripping hazards. To give kids autonomy, they need to be able to reach the hooks. For more versatility, removable Command hooks might be an appealing option for young kids who are growing rapidly (and have lighter backpacks). Alternatively, you could add hooks screwed into the wall at different heights, so kids can change to a higher hook as they grow, leaving the shorter one for a younger sibling. 

For school papers, parents could hang a small pocket on the wall, or place a paper tray on a table or desk close to the door. Each kid could have their own wall pocket or slot in the tray to prevent papers from getting mixed up. Again, ease of use is key, so the kids can handle this after-school routine without constant reminders and remove the papers themselves.

Once school papers hit the landing zone, check each stack for time-sensitive items that need to be signed, like permission slips, or homework that needs to be completed. For less-urgent papers, look through them with your kid. Not only is it a conversation starter to hear about their school day, it's also an opportunity to decide collectively what's important to keep or toss. Celebrate a great test score or eye-catching art project by hanging it up on the wall or fridge. Some families also create a small display area as part of their landing spot.

You might also need some medium-term storage. Some items, like tests, might be important to keep at least temporarily until the marking period is over. For older kids, they might need a bin to store course notes for mid-terms or finals later in the school year.

For longer-term storage of art projects, consider a keepsake rule that makes room for important pieces. Similarly, for prized papers that your kid wants to hang onto beyond the school year, move those items into a bin or box specifically designated for that child's school work. You can set a limit on how many bins per child you want to keep to encompass their K-12 years. As bins fill up, you can work together to reassess, and gradually recycle items that lose their sentimental attachment over time.