School started Monday in my home city and many of you have children who either have or soon will be going off to school. This is my challenge today:

•Teach your children that every night they are to check their backpacks to make sure they are ready for school the next day. Make a list of things they need to check: school work, permission slips, money, treats, books, gym clothes and any other items you know they regularly take to school and are looking for in the mornings. Post this list and have a pencil accessible for them to check off the items. If your school has a certain color of clothing they are to wear on certain days this can be on the list so they will know the night before if it is clean and ready to be worn.

You will be teaching them valuable time management skills. As you help your children to organize it won’t happen overnight, it will take extra time on your part at the beginning but it will be worth it to you! You will save, time and a lot of hassle and frustration throughout the school year.

Keep a template of the list so you don’t have to recreate it. Make a separate list for each child. It could be kept on a clip board and hung on their backpack hanger. Or it could be posted on the wall or placed in a shallow basket designated for that list only.

We would love to hear your stories in trying this system, or let us know what system you use now that works for you and your children.