Organizing | Getting Organized for Back to School

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Getting Organized for Back to School
by Debbie Williams

How many days left of summer? When does school start? Are those the voices of bored teenagers that I hear, or the whine of frazzled parents? Summer is coming to a close, and it's time to begin thinking of back to school basics. No, not the 3 R's, but how to organize your home for the back to school schedule. Here are 5 tips to help you jazz up those blues:

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Routine Matters
To avoid being late for your first day of school, start a countdown 1-2 weeks before school starts to get your kids used to their new routine. Revert to the old bedtime or create a new one, depending on the age and development of your child. Maybe your soon-to-be kindergartener can stay up til 8:30 now that he's a big boy, or your junior high daughter is ready to stay up til 10:00. They did grow up quite a bit over the school break, and perhaps it's time to reevaluate that bedtime. But if you think your little scholar needs more sleep than he's willing to admit, hold your ground and don't be afraid to be the heavy, enforcing the old bedtime rule. Believe me, his teachers will thank you, and you'll be rewarded heavily when that first report card is issued. Kids need plenty of sleep, much more than adults, and it's our job as their parents to make sure they get it. Let's face it, what kid (other than Shirley Temple or Beaver) actually tells you when they're ready to go to bed? My goodness, they just might miss something, and we can't have that!

Dust off the cobwebs from the alarm clock and set it to the new wake-up time, or ease the kids into this new routine gradually, by increments of 30 minutes or so. If they've been sleeping til 9:00 am, wean them from late risings slowly, setting the alarm for 8:30 the first day or two, then 8:00 the next day, eventually working up to the ungodly hour of dawn when they'll have to start their school day in the fall. (Or I'll send my little early bird to your house each day - he's been up at 5:30 since he was an infant!)

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About the Author:
Debbie Williams is a speaker, author, and professional organizer in Houston, Texas. She is the founder of the online organizing forum, OrganizedTimes.com and author or Home Management 101: A Guide for Busy Parents

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