Start with Creating a Cleaning Schedule just for your family….here is how!

Creating a cleaning schedule can be a confusing job. How often do cleaning tasks need to be performed? How long does a particular job take? What chores are considered daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonal tasks? The truth is that no one schedule will work perfectly for the same two people. If your home has small children, you may find that weekly tasks need to be performed daily to prevent getting behind. If you live alone, some daily tasks may only need to be done weekly. Allergy sufferers and people with breathing issues may need to perform certain tasks on a more frequent basis. Use the following guidelines as a starting point to developing your own daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal cleaning schedule.

Daily Cleaning Chores

Daily cleaning chores are the absolute minimum that must be done on a daily basis to keep a home clean. Depending on the type of household you live in, some of these chores may even need to be done more than once during a day.

Weekly Cleaning Chores

Although most of these chores don’t require daily work, they are still some of the most important tasks that need to be done in our homes. Some items may need to be completed more often. Scheduling these chores in addition to your daily chores will help you maintain order and cleanliness in your home.

Monthly Cleaning Chores

Monthly cleaning chores are my favorite weekend chores. These are areas of your home that can afford to be neglected during your daily and weekly cleaning sessions, but ultimately a good thorough monthly cleaning is needed.

Seasonal Cleaning Chores

Although seasonal cleaning chores are important, they are usually the most forgotten parts of home maintenance. Our attention is only needed in these areas two to three times a year, but it is vital to maintaining and cleaning our homes.

•  Attitude:Make a decision to be happyTake out the trash in your mind and heart and fill it with Good

  Ask for forgiveness and Forgive Others

  Be willing to make changes

  Lower your expectations on others and yourself

  Adjustments:

  Re-evaluate your priorities

  Take better care of yourself to be able to care of others

  Limit your activities

  Be Active in each or your family’s life

  Be able to ask for help

  Make time for yourself

  Guidelines:

  Make Better Choices

  Listen, Think, than Speak

  Don’t Give Up

  Love and Give without Expectation

• Here are some Tips for Making New Years Resolutions ~
  1. Don’t set Resolutions above and beyond your personal means.
  2. Set just a few. Less stress from setting yourself up for failure.
  3. Make Long Term Resolutions and Short Term Resolutions.
  4. Same Resolutions! Be cautious, evaluate if it is a tool for encouragement of a need for change.
  5. Journal it. Great for looking back at all your accomplishments.
  6. Share with family and friends for support and accountability.

REWARD YOURSELF for ALL EFFORTS

Enjoy Your New Year!

I only have one: Making better Choices~

Today and everyday, I am working on taking out the garbage…getting rid of sin, hate, bitterness, anger, jealous, lies, unforgiving, gossip etc…so that I can be filled with, love, truth, encouragement, kindness, helping, comfort to others, hope, and forgiveness. To be filled with God’s Glory and not my own!

2012 Predictions

As we end the year 2011, with all the problems the World is facing, it can be unsettling. Here are ten predictions that are sure to come true this year! Top 10 Predictions for 2012 are:

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10..Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn’t It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control, &  “the Word of the Lord endures forever…” 1 Peter 1:25

In my life things are busy….going here and there, needing something for this and that, and wanting to do it all affordably and with style! So with that said, I am always looking for Classy, Sassy, and Jazzy things to help me have less stress in my life!

With much prayer, and in a short amount of time, a friend introduced to me Initials, Inc., and now I am an Independent Creative Partner!!!!   Sharing Personalized Products for Everything, Everyone, and Every Occasion!!!  Personalization is ALWAYS FREE!!!

Check out all the products on my new website is: www.myinitials-inc.com/adventure

(Let me know if you would like to host a party or order~There are always specials!!!)

With so many items, colors, styles, and FREE personalization, there is something for everyone to help us all stay organized, reduce clutter, and creatively create a spark of joy to your everyday events. I love the fact that with Initials Inc., I can have style, class, and comfort all at a reasonable price!

With my home based business called Creative Cleaning ~ Initials Inc., will be a much-needed asset! Have Less Stress from Cleaning the Mess with Sophistication!

I am looking forward to this NEW ADVENTURE!!! Here is to Initials, Inc….May you be successful in all you do to making you, YOU!

Your Independent Creative Partner Anissia Renee Royal

Also these few solutions can help save you money!

• White Stilled Vinegar:

General Spray Cleaner: Mix In Spray Bottle

~1 cup white vinegar

~1cup water

Use solution for countertops, blacksplashes, floors, exterior surfaces on large appliances, toilets, and most areas that need daily cleaning.

-For stubborn areas, spray & let stand for 10-15 min, then scrub with hot water and rinse.

This will also help soften soap scum and hard water deposits.

-Replace spray after 1-2 days.

***You can also use UNDILUTED white vinegar to clean showerheads. Place ¼ or ½ cup on ziplock bag. Attach to shower head with rubber band & let stand for at least 3 hrs or overnight. Then remove and buff the fixture.

***For LAUNDRY:  add one cup to the laundry rinse cycle to soften cloths. Great for members that may have sensitive skin.

• Baking Soda:

Can be used as a mild abrasive~

Sprinkle on damp sponge and tackle things like bathtub rings, vanities, and kitchen sinks.

***Stubborn Stuff~PASTE! Mix with water like a paste. Apply to stubborn areas and leave for 10-15 minutes-it will help to loosen up the grit and then clean as usual.

***Sinks/drains Smell—use ½-1/3 cup into drain and dribbling hot water and let the solutions run down. Then let stand for about 2-3 hours then rinse completely with hot water. Great deodorizer!

• Rubbing Alcohol:

General cleaning agent for glass, mirrors, chrome, and ceramic tiles.

Mix in Spray Bottle

~1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol

~1 cup water

~1 tablespoon white vinegar

Spray area wipe clean with  paper towels or even newspapers.

• Ammonia:

When using a clear, non-sudsing ammonia, the recipes will create a stronger cleaning product. Make sure that you rinse WELL!

Strong glass cleaner: In Spray Bottle

~1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol

~1 cup water

~1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia

Strong All-purpose cleaner: In Spray Bottle

~1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia

~1 tablespoon clear laundry detergent

~2 cups water

Use as a usual spare and wipe clean with paper towels!

• Peroxide:

*** A capful in your mouth helps fight canker sores and keep your teeth white. Hold for 10-15 seconds and swish around. Then spit out —DO NOT SWALLOW!

***Spray a 50/50 mixture with water, and apply to fungus. Will get rid of the more you use. Let dry and repeat every 24 hrs.

***Use a half bottle in bath to help remove skin bacterial and other skin infections.

***Laundry-use directly on blood spots to clean . Add a cupful to brighten up whites.

***Use as a vegetable wash-helps kill bacteria and neutralize chemicals.

***Can be used as a tree and plant insecticide and as a weed killer!

• OTHER~

Furniture Polish cleaner: In Spay Bottle

~1 cup olive oil

~½ cup lemon juice

Shake well each time and apply small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cloth. Apply evenly and then turn cloth to other side to polish.

For more Basic Homemade Solutions and Remedies, look under Beauty and Medical! ENJOY!

People keep asking just what is my Home Blessing~ So I thought that I would give you a basic idea !

Once a week, sometimes more, I pray over each room as I clean. I mean I pray for my home all the time but this is a specific time of prayer for that particular time, for that particular purpose. The prayers will be a little different each time but here is kind of an outline that I use.

This particular prayer is the one I used today!

I start with Thanking God for who he is and for blessing me with a husband and children. Along with my home, family, friends, church and anything else that comes to mind. Than I thank God for my husbands job, our cars, food, clothing, and all the nice things he has given us. Then I give Thanks for providing what we need and sometimes what we want. And then I  pray for protection for our property from the outside in to the inside out.

{{{{{NEXT I PRAY FOR EACH ROOM AS I CLEAN}}}}}

ENTRY: As I clean the entry, I pray that all who enter will be blessed and feel “AT HOME.” I pray for the desk area: That I have a place to work, play and keep things organized. I pray that the dinner table will be blessed with many meals that will be shared with our family as well as others. I pray for the décor, photos and other items that when people look at them they see a home, not just a house. And finally I thank God for the big window so that I can see my kids play, go to the bus and come home safely.

Kitchen: Cleaning the kitchen takes awhile sometimes, but when I remember that what goes on in a kitchen, I am encouraged that the kitchen is the heart of the home and the work is not so bad after all. I pray as I do the dishes, thanking God that we have dishes and food that is served on them. I thank God for the dishwasher for it helps clean the dishes faster. I thank God for the stove and microwave that cooks and heats up our food so that we feel good inside from the warmth. I thank God for our refrigerator that keeps our food fresh and leftovers ready for the next meal. That our drinks are nice and cool and that we have more than enough. I thank God for the pantry that keeps all of our choices, from snacks to dinner to breakfast. That all I have to do is open the door and reach. I also thank God for the cabinets that hold all of our cooking stuff and serving stuff, so that we don’t have to do everything by hand and can serve others. And I also thank God for the area for my dogs…yep they need food and water too!

Living Area: This is a special area because we are in this area the most as a family. So as I clean I thank God that we actually spend family time together here…weather it’s playing on the wii, watching a movie or cuddling on the couch talking. Dusting the TV and putting the games back reminds me that we have fun. I also thank God for the back door….that lets us go outside and just run and play. I thank God for the tables and chairs that they provide a nice place to sit and share our photos and have talks. From running in the sprinklers, to having campfire with smores, from playing with the dogs to shooting bows, and paint guns!

Bathrooms: The kids bathrooms are the funniest…not the cleanest but fun! I love and thank God for their bathroom because as I clean I get to see their lives and how they grow up. From bubbles and toys to deodorants and shavers. Yep…the rings in the tub show clear signs that they are active and taking care of themselves. The towels hanging, are no longer Tinker bell or Toy story but Pinks and Blue. Love it when I put fresh ones out! It’s not a joy to clean the toilet but then when I clean the mirrors, I sometimes can actually see myself from the spots of toothpaste. At least they are brushing! After taking the mats and cleaning the floor, I love that I can give my kids a clean bathroom for their specific needs.

Playroom—Now game Room! As I dust the shelf’s with books, yearbooks, photos and trophies…I can’t help but smile and thank God how my kids’ are growing up. Sometimes I thank God for their creative things they made from school that are proudly displayed. I love to put the board games back and the video games back because it reminds me of our Friday Family Fun Night. I thank God for the couch they have to sit on with their friends and I thank God they have a fun place indoors to have fun.

My kids rooms: Changing the sheets and putting fresh ones on reminds me to be grateful that they always have a safe place to sleep. I thank God that not only they have a bed but other furniture to keep their clothes and toys and their important things just were they like them. I thank God for all their toys because they are so creative and play so well together. I thank God for their shoes and clothes that they have more than enough. I thank God that they are so different and love different things.

Master bedroom: I thank God that I have a husband to share a home with. As I clean the clothes, put back the weekly shoes, etc… I am reminded what a great husband and provider God has blessed me with…how his items are mine and mine are his. That our room is special for us as man and wife. And of course I thank God for the numerous amounts of times that our kids come in our room and want to hang out with us, even at 2 o’clock in the am.

Master Bathroom: I am thankful for the Large tub for relaxing bubble baths. I thank God for my shower that is perfect for cleaning our bodies after a day at the corral. I am thankful for our sinks that we use to clean and refresh our mouths, faces and hands. That we have running water….Cleaning the master bathroom reminds me that even though my husband and I have different schedules, coming home to a clean bathroom is refreshing!

Laundry: YES I am even thankful for laundry. Even though it never ends and it’s not my favorite…I am thankful that we do have clothes. That we have a variety of styles and choices to bring out our personality . To help us stay clean or enjoy a vacation. I thank God for the warmth and fresh scent as I pull the clothes our out the dryer. As I fold and hang I thank God that we have so many items and places to put them.

Garage/Attic: When it’s not 100% weather, I am thankful that I can clean out the garage. So that we can keep our bikes, skates, and all our other outside items stored properly, to enjoy the outside. I love being able to park my car in the garage and get to the things I need when I need them. Even though I don’t to cleaning in the attic, I am thank God that we have an attic to store seasonal things…especially Christmas!

At the end of my Home Blessing and Cleaning…I also Thank God for the ability to be a stay at home mom. Even thought sometimes I feel like it’s a thankless job, I know that my family appreciates me so that is why I bless my home as best as I can…. I am honored that I have a husband that shares the same vision as I do, works hard so that I can stay at home with our kids. I end my prayer asking God to show me how to do what I need to do on a daily basis so that can continue to provide my family a HOME. I also pray that God leads me to opportunities to enrich our home; For new cooking or cleaning ideas…for new ideas for family time etc…and as I put always my cleaning supplies away, I thank God that he gave me strength to do it all! Now the prayers will be different each time…it all depends on what I am cleaning or what I need to do…so yours will be different too!

If you ever need a prayer partner…just ask!!!

So in conclusion, My Home Blessing Day is to do just that, BLESS MY HOME! May God Bless You As You Bless Your Home! Prov. 31:27a

water conservation in the home…

1. Check
faucets and pipes for leaks
A small drip from a worn
faucet washer can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste
hundreds of gallons.

3. Check your toilets for leaks
Put a little food
coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear
in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired
immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to
install.

5. Install water-saving
shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators
Inexpensive water-saving low-flow
shower heads or restrictors are easy for the homeowner to
install. Also, long, hot showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded
minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse
off. “Low-flow” means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
You can
easily install a ShowerStart
showerhead, or add a ShowerStart converter
to existing showerheads, which automatically pauses a running shower once it
gets warm.
Also, all household faucets should be fit with
aerators. This single
best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!

6. Put plastic
bottles or float booster in your toilet tank
To cut down on water waste, put an inch
or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down.
Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet
tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive
tank
bank or float booster. This may save ten or more gallons of
water per day.

Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so
it will flush properly. If there is not enough water to get a proper flush,
users will hold the lever down too long or do multiple flushes to get rid of
waste. Two flushings at 1.4 gallons is worse than a single 2.0 gallon flush. A
better suggestion would be to buy an adjustable
toilet flapper that allow for adjustment of their per flush use.
Then the user can adjust the flush rate to the minimum per flush setting that
achieves a single good flush each time.

Replacing an 18 liter per flush
toilet with an ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model represents a 70%
savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about
30%.

It’s easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit
foam pipe insulation. You’ll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while
it heats up.

9. Turn off the water after you wet
your toothbrush
There is no need to keep the water running
while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth
rinsing.

10. Rinse your razor in the
sink
Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse
your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of
water.

11. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for
only full loads
Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers
should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of
dishwashing soap recomend not pre-rinsing dishes which is a big water savings.

With clothes washers, avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added
20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse. For partial loads, adjust water
levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy
Star rated washers use 35 – 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If
you’re in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving
frontload
washer.

12. Minimize use of kitchen sink
garbage disposal units
In-sink ‘garburators’ require lots
of water to operate properly, and also add considerably to the volume of solids
in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems. Start a
compost pile
as an alternate method of disposing food waste.

13. When washing dishes by hand,
don’t leave the water running for rinsing
If your have a
double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have a
single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a
spray device or a panful of hot water. Dual-swivel
aerators are available to make this
easier. If using a dishwasher, there is usually no need to pre-rinse the
dishes.

14. Don’t let the faucet run while you clean
vegetables
Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan
of clean water. Use a dual-setting
aerator.

15. Keep a bottle of
drinking water in the fridge.
Running tap water to cool it off for
drinking water is wasteful. Store drinking water in the fridge in a
safe
drinking bottle.

water conservation in the yard and garden…

16. Plant drought-resistant lawns,
shrubs and plants
If you are planting a new lawn, or
overseeding an existing lawn, use drought-resistant grasses such as the new
“Eco-Lawn”.
Many
beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species.
Replace herbaceous perennial borders with native plants. Native plants will use
less water and be more resistant to local plant diseases. Consider applying the
principles of xeriscape for a
low-maintenance, drought resistant yard.
Plant slopes with plants that will
retain water and help reduce runoff.
Group plants according to their watering
needs.

17. Put a layer of mulch
around trees and plants
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture
while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2 – 4 inches of organic material such as
compost or bark mulch will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture.
Press the mulch down around the dripline of each plant to form a slight
depression which will prevent or minimize water runoff.
For information
about different mulch materials and their best use, click
here.

19. Water
your lawn only when it needs it
A good way to see if your lawn needs
watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it
doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting
the grass grow taller (to 3″) will also promote water retention in the
soil.
Most lawns only need about 1″ of water each week. During dry spells,
you can stop watering altogether and the lawn will go brown and dormant. Once
cooler weather arrives, the morning dew and rainfall will bring the lawn back to
its usual vigor. This may result in a brown summer lawn, but it saves a lot of
water.

20. Deep-soak your
lawn
When watering the lawn, do it long
enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most
good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow
root systems. Put an empty tuna can on your lawn – when it’s full, you’ve
watered about the right amount. Visit our natural
lawn care page for more information.

21.
Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when
it’s windy
Early morning is generally better than
dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late
watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is
also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water
when it’s windy – wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed
evaporation.

22. Add organic matter and use
efficient watering systems for shrubs, flower beds and lawns
Adding organic material to your soil will help increase its
absorption and water retention. Areas which are already planted can be ‘top
dressed’ with compost or organic matter.
You can greatly reduce the amount of
water used for shrubs, beds and lawns by:
- the strategic placement of
soaker hoses
-
installing a rain
barrel water catchment system
- installing a simple drip-irrigation system
Avoid
over-watering plants and shrubs, as this can actually diminish plant health and
cause yellowing of the leaves.
When hand watering, use a variable
spray nozzle for targeted
watering.

23. Don’t run the hose while washing
your car
Clean the car using a pail of soapy
water. Use the hose only for rinsing – this simple practice can save as much as
150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more
efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing
system; there are several brands, such as EcoTouch, which are now on
the market.

25. Check for leaks in pipes, hoses,
faucets and couplings
Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad
since they’re not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks indoors.
Check frequently to keep them drip-free. Use hose washers at spigots and hose
connections to eliminate leaks.

Water conservation comes naturally when
everyone in the family is aware of its importance, and parents take the time to
teach children some of the simple water-saving methods around the home which can
make a big difference.

Water
Conservation Summary

By using water-saving features you can reduce your in-home
water use by 35%. This means the average household, which uses 130,000 gallons
per year, coulod save 44,00 gallons of water per year. On a daily basis, the
average household, using 350 gallons per day, could save 125 gallons of water
per day. The average individual, currently using 70 gallons per day, could save
25 gallons of water per day.

When buying
low-flow aerators, be sure to read the label for the actual ‘gpm’ (gallons per
minute) rating. Often, the big box retailers promote “low-flow” which are rated
at 2.5 gpm, which is at the top of the low-flow spectrum. This may be needed for
the kitchen sink, but we find that a 1.5 gpm aerator works fine for the bathroom
sink and most water outlets, delivering the same spray force in a comfortable,
soft stream. Eartheasy’s online store carries a
full range of low-flow aerators and showerheads.

Finally, it should be
noted that installing low-flow aerators, showerheads, tank banks and other
water-saving devices usually is a very simple operation which can be done by the
homeowner and does not even require the use of tools. Water conservation at home
is one of the easiest measures to put in place, and saving water should become
part of everday family practice.

Here we are again, Lord.　 Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full.

And I know you’ll walk with them, Lord.　 You always do.　 But a mom still has to ask.

Will You walk with them?　 Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I’m not there to whisper it?

Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away?

Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn?　 Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?

Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience?　 Will You bless them for their efforts?

Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren’t full, the ones who feel alone?　 Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them?

Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?

Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care.

Thank YOU God that you are their God!

Amen.

~~~~Author Unknown~~~

“Let my child’s light shine before others, that others may see YOUR good deeds and praise YOU, our Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Fortunately, by following a few simple steps, you can ease the anxiety and help ensure that you and your child have a great sendoff on the first day of school:

PRAY….Pray for your child, your child’s school, teachers, bus drivers, community! PRAY EVERYDAY!

1. Lay things out the night before.

It’s vital to lay out clothes, pack lunches and prepare backpacks the night before the big day. In doing so, you’ll avoid the morning chaos that can come from trying to pull everything together when you’re crunched for time.

2. Enforce bedtime.

While it can be tempting to let your child stay up late or veer from his bedtime routine due to back to school jitters, don’t. It’s imperative that your child is well rested for his first day of school.

3. Wake up a few minutes early.

Set your alarm a half hour earlier than you normally would to allow yourself a little extra time should any morning mishaps occur. Get yourself completely ready prior to waking your child, so that once he’s awake, you can give him your undivided attention. The first day of school is not a day that you want to be running late.

4. Serve a nutritious breakfast.

Kick of the school year by serving a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Consider making eggs and toast, and serving it up with fresh fruit and yogurt. Children who eat a healthy breakfast tend to do better in school.

5. Leave enough time to get to school.

Whether you’re walking or driving to school, leave yourself a few extra minutes to get where you’re going. With school bus drivers on new routes and crossing guards directing traffic, it’s a good idea to leave an extra 5 or 10 minutes to get to the school. If your child is taking the bus, be at the bus stop 5 minutes early so that you’re sure he doesn’t miss the bus.

6. Hugs and Love.

No matter how young or old…a hug and an “I love you” make more of a difference than you know! Great way to give your child confidence on such a busy day!

7. Welcome Home.

Have a favorite snack when they come home! Be excited to see them and ask about their day~let THEM tell you what a great day they had and that they have a safe haven!

Preparing for the first day of school doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and advance preparation, you can be sure that your child has a relaxing sendoff on their first day of school.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Here are some really neat suggestions to help with Papers and other items for School!

At The Beginning Of The School Year Designate A Large Envelope For Each Child’s School Papers

School papers are most useful for the school year they are issued, so start each school year off fresh with a big folder or binder, or something to keep each child’s school papers in.

I suggest getting and setting up these envelopes or folders at the same time you buy your child’s school supplies.

If your child brings home lots of stuff, you may even want to create a new one each semester or quarter. Whatever suits your needs, but the minimum is each year.

Go Through Your Child’s School Papers Daily As Part Of Their Homework Habit

As children get older they will have to do some type of homework, even on days when they don’t bring a specific worksheet home.

If nothing else, have each child show you their backpack, which they clean out to make sure there are no papers that need to be reviewed.

Then put all graded homework in their folder for that year, once you review it, to get it out of the way.

Put All Dates On The Family Calendar

Other school papers that I review have information on them, such as assignments or dates to remember on them.

All tests, quizzes, homework assignments, projects, library book return dates,Also try to write on the family calendar the dates of everything involved. School closings, school vacation or holidays, field trips and special events. All notes and newsletter info too.

Once written on the family calendar, which is in a central location, unless the school paper is really important it should be typically thrown away.

If it is important, you can place it in a folder in that childs school notebook.

Just be sure, if you do this, that you clean out this folder regularly, or you will soon have now useless information from two years ago cluttering up your home but most important you could miss something really important.

Also keep the detailed instructions about projects, because the space on the calendar nay not big enough to write all the details, just a summary.

Once the project is done, and graded, you  can generally throw the instructions away.

Every day, while your child does homework, you can look at the family calendar together to make sure you are on track for all assignments, such as studying for the spelling test tomorrow, or beginning the big assignment due next Friday to be able to do a little each day.

This crucial habit also allows you and your child to figure out if  your child is ready for the next school day, such as putting all library books in their backpack to be returned by their due date.

Put All Contact Information In Your Address Book

Each year your child may get new teachers and/or a new bus driver. I periodically need this information, which is generally passed out at the beginning of each school year.

I take the time when I get this big stack of school papers each fall to put all the information in the right locations for future quick reference when I need it.

If I didn’t do this, I would never be able to find the paper with the bus driver’s name on it, to know her phone number when I need it, for example.

And trust me, if I need to call the bus driver, it is some type of important reason, so I need that number, and I need to be able to find it quickly without a lot of hassle.

Fill Out All Paperwork Promptly And Return It To School.

I have no idea if all schools do this, but my child’s school has Friday Folders. These folders are used to bring home the majority of information for the week, on you guessed it, Friday.

A Friday Folder typically includes lots of graded homework and tests, field trip permission slips, class or school newsletters, and a menu for the school cafeteria.

I suggest going through your child’s Friday Folder while they are doing their homework and dealing with any paperwork as soon as possible.

I try to go ahead and immediately fill out permission slips or sign report cards, so I do not forget.

This habit also makes it easy to place it right back in the Friday Folder on that Friday for delivery back to the teacher by your child.

Please note that another reason that you need to check your child’s backpack at least quickly daily is because they are being entrusted to turn information back in to their teacher.

All children will occasionally forget to turn something in, such as a homework assignment or other paperwork. When you and your child check their backpack daily you can generally catch a problem before it is too late.

At The End Of The School Year Clean Out Your Child’s School Papers Folder of Non-Essentials

At the end of the school year your child’s folder will likely be stuffed with school paperwork and completed homework assignments, because of all those graded worksheets and other information.

You can use their folder as a keepsake of their school year.

I like to keep my child’s report cards, and representative homework assignments in several areas of study from various points during the school year.

I also like to keep not just the A+ work, but I also like to keep some things which show them struggling and then improving in various areas of study.

That is more like real life and what really happened then just the perfect scores.

You don’t need to, and in my opinion, shouldn’t keep all the school papers that your child brings home once the school year is over. It just becomes a big pile of clutter once the school year is over. So cull out the repetitive parts and just keep the gems.

I hope these few ideas have helped you spur some of your own for to stay organize and help track of the mountains of school paperwork.

So now it is your turn. My way is not the only right way, and maybe your way will work better for another person reading this. Tell me below how you keep track of your child’s school papers.

May your life be full of information!

~Assorted Sources