Mom, where’s my backpack?

School is around the corner and every store you walk into these days has put together their aisles of school supplies. The National Association of Professional Organizers, Southeast Michigan Chapter (NAPO-SE-MI) wants to share a few tips to help you prepare and get organized for the upcoming school year.

1. Locate leftover school supplies that came home in June. Are there items that you can reuse?

2. Have you received your supply list from school? Check the school’s website.

3. Keep things simple.

4. Buy clothes that you can mix and match. If you are working with a teenager, perhaps it is time that you gave them a clothing budget. Talk to them about how many tops and bottoms you expect them to purchase.

5. Buy an appropriate backpack size so that your child doesn’t struggle carrying it. Also kids often forget what they put in what pocket, so consider buying a backpack that doesn’t have a lot of pockets and zippers. Label their backpacks with name and phone number.

"Have the students set their bags, ready-to-go, at a regular spot each night before school. This way you will avoid the morning crisis of looking for shoes, library books, and papers," suggests Chapter member and retired educator, Ann Anderson of Howell, MI.

Getting organized for the school year can be easier than you think! For more organizing tips, visit http://www.napomichigan.blogspot.com/.

Article submitted by Chapter member and Immediate Past President, Betty Huotari.