From new schedules and routines, to homework, after-school activities and the morning rush, it seems as if parents across Long Island are perpetually seeking a better system to help ease the transition from leisurely summer to hectic back-to-school routines. 

 “For a new school year, the most important basic thing for moms to get a handle on is organization,” says Judi Cohen, a professional organizer, speaker and founder of The Organized Lady in Long Beach.  “Being prepared before the school year starts will make everyone’s lives easier, and also help to create a calmer household.” 

With this in mind, we’ve included suggestions from Cohen - as well as several tips from Long Island moms - to help you tackle the top five organizational challenges that accompany the back-to-school season.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGE #1 – Paperwork Overload
“Paperwork is often the most overwhelming aspect of school, and it can very easily get out of control,” says Cohen.  To tackle the influx of papers, she suggests that parents establish a “Control Center” (preferably in the kitchen), with a separate in-box for each child. 

“Papers come out of the backpack and go directly to the corresponding in-box,” says Cohen.  “You can then process action papers (such as items that need a signature), and return them to the back pack.”

Cohen also strongly advises parents to keep on top of the in-box.  “Look at it daily and take care of items immediately, before it gets out of hand.”

Judy Cincotta, a mother of two from East Northport, admits that the sheer volume of paperwork is what she finds most difficult.  “When my son gets home from school, I go through his backpack and decide immediately what to toss and what to keep, so the piles don’t build up,” she says.  “I have a bin for the papers that I may need to reference again, which I sort through once a month to get rid of what I no longer need.”

Cincotta also has a system for retaining keepsakes such as report cards, artwork, high-scoring tests and projects.  “I use a binder with vinyl protective sheets for smaller papers and store larger items in a plastic storage bin.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGE #4 – Creating a Homework-Friendly Space
“Most children need quiet space for homework, but a few actually prefer to work where there are distractions,” says Cohen.  “For this reason, it’s important to look at each child individually when it comes to setting up a space.” 
           
Homework space can be a dedicated area such as a desk or a multi-purpose spot such as the kitchen table.  “The most important aspects of this space are good lighting, minimal distractions, plentiful supplies and an area that is large and clutter free, allowing the child to spread out,” says Cohen. 

Ideally, the space shouldn’t be in front of the computer, which can serve as a distraction, and it should also be the proper height.  If your child’s doing homework at the kitchen table, Cohen suggests storing supplies in a portable bin that can be rolled over as needed and then stored away again. “Everything should be in a container and within reach,” says Cohen. 

Denise Lyn, a mother of three from Elmont, utilizes the kitchen counter as the homework hub in her house.  “It’s a spacious area with little distractions, and it’s also convenient because I can get other things done, like go through the mail or prepare dinner, while assisting with homework.”  Since she’s using a multi-purpose space, Lyn ensures that her daughter’s supplies are readily available by using a supply box, which is toted to the counter at homework time. 

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGE #5 – Teaching Kids to Organize
Organization is a learned skill that is great to instill in children while they’re young.   “Teach kids to put stuff back in the same place all the time so they can find it easily, and have them help you organize their rooms,” says Cohen. “The key to accomplishing this is to make it fun, rather than giving them the impression that organization is a chore.”

One idea is to let them choose different color folders for each subject as a fun way to organize their study area.  Cohen also suggests that kids have their own planner and be taught how to use it, so they can eventually learn to be responsible for their own schedules.

Karen Butt-Schnebel, a Commack mother of two, has assigned her sons responsibility for staying on top of homework assignments and after-school activities.  “We began giving the kids responsibility for their homework in middle school and increased from there, with mom and dad offering less help and the kids picking up more on their own.” 

Butt-Schnebel admits that it took a few years for them to really take over these responsibilities, but now that they’re in high school, she rarely needs to stay on top of them. “My kids know to always look at the family calendar because we pretty much have something going on every day,” she says.
           
Armed with these suggestions, hopefully your family can establish a system and routine that is a good fit for your lifestyle.   “Creating boundaries and setting priorities for your kids shows them that you’re serious and committed,” says Cohen. What a wonderful way to show that you care, and that you want to help them succeed.
Maureen Heaney is a mostly organized mother of two in East Northport.