End-of-School-Year Survival: Organizing School Paperwork, Artwork, & Schedules
It is once again the time of year where the world is waking up and school is winding down. Your kids are getting antsy as the end of the year approaches and summer break beckons with adventure. For you, though, the end of the school year can bring chaos; concerts, final assignments and exams, and end-of-year projects and events can lead to busy schedules and disorganized homes. Preparing for the end of year can help you and your family stay organized and start the summer with ease.
Keep Your Calendar Handy
The biggest barrier to keeping up with the end of year schedule is not having any control. A calendar can really help. There are a number of ways to keep track of everything: a physical year calendar hanging on your wall; an erasable magnet calendar on the fridge; a color-coded Google calendar. Whatever you choose to use, find a place where you can schedule everything you have going on and stick with it. Knowing when all your appointments, meetings, and events are – and having a way see everything at a glance – can help you stay organized and prevent stress from unexpected schedule interruptions. This also gives you an opportunity to communicate with your kids about any final end-of-year expectations.
Decide Ahead of Time What to Keep
It’s natural that after the end of the year, there are some mementos you’ll want to keep from your child’s school year. There are art projects, essays, and photos from throughout the year that can serve as a reminder of accomplishments. There are also plenty of things you don’t need to keep, however. Holding on to every piece of homework and every successful test will only result in forgotten stacks of paper and crowded rooms filled with boxes and folders that your kids will not want or appreciate later. Decide beforehand what you plan on keeping and what you want to recycle and talk to your kids about what might be important to them. Having these conversations will not only help you understand what you want to keep but also will engage your kids in the organization process. Keeping the house organized and clean is a group project!
Avoid Planning Big Projects
You’re already going to be incredibly busy during this time of year. It doesn’t seem like it, but parents are affected by the end of the school year as much as kids are. One of the easiest ways you can stay organized and as stress-free as possible is to avoid scheduling big projects for this time of year. It doesn’t matter what kind of project it is, whether it’s a creative endeavor, home maintenance, or anything else, just save it for after the school year. Having an extra thing on your plate while you’re trying to shuffle kids to soccer practice or help them study for final exams will only create extra stress for everyone. Give yourself a break.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Your kids will be coming home loaded with school supplies. Folders, crayons, pencils, papers, binders… the list goes on. The end of the school year is the perfect time to reduce, reuse, or recycle the school supplies left over. Go through everything with your kids and decide what can be used again next year or what might be repurposed. Most supplies should hold over; the rest can be recycled, donated, or thrown out. Try to avoid replacing something simply because it’s been used; if it's still in good condition, save it for next year! If your kids are looking to redecorate for the new year, you can use stickers, duct tape, or washi tape to decorate without completely replacing the supplies. If there are supplies you no longer need, look into donating them to the school or a local thrift store.
Preparing for the end of the school year is a process for the whole family. There’s a mix of emotions this time of year, and the calendar fills up quicker than you expect. Staying organized and having a plan to tackle these last couple months is important for a stress-free end of the year. Setting expectations with your kids and having a game plan for how you want the year to end will ensure that everyone starts the summer off on the right foot.