Since 2014, I have heard many of the same complaints about keeping life in order. A notable one comes from parents at their wit’s end trying to maintain some sense of order and calm when it comes to the papers their little darlings bring home from school. In preschool, you get art. Lots and LOTS of art. (Side Note: I have a solution for you for that, too, but it’ll have to wait for another post!). Post-preschool, you get worksheets and papers.
Step-by-step School Paper Processing
- After removing the papers from the binder/backpack/folder/etc, sort into the following piles:
- Items with dates: Add to your calendar and be sure to make note of any important information (start/end times, cost, location, etc.)
- Past Work: Save ONLY the end result of hard work, not everything in between. There are some weeks you won’t keep anything!
- Budget items: Anything that will cost you money goes with your other “bills” to be dealt with when you pay those bills (yearbooks, school photos, donations, etc.)
- To-Do items: Once you have decided you want/need to do them, DO THEM. Don’t let it turn into a task for another day. That’s how backlog happens and things get misplaced! (Online things to sign up for, permission slips to be signed, birthday party invites)
- RECYCLE EVERYTHING. I’m not kidding. If it isn’t in your place for bills or in a student portfolio, it should be recycled.
Are you finding success in managing your kids’ school papers in another way? I would love to hear your input in the comments below!