Organizing for Kids Spring Clean Your Child’s Messy Backpack Now that my daughter is 14-years-old, I rarely look in her school backpack. I peeked inside of it when she was home for spring break. This year, I have to say…it was pretty organized. So, my constant organizing messages must be getting through. Backpack chaos isn’t just a mess. It is a symptom. If you are cleaning out your child’s backpack often and then finding it a disaster all over again, there is a good chance disorganization is affecting your child at school…even if your child is coming home with decent grades. If your child’s backpack is messy, there are likely many times during the day that s(he) is fumbling through pockets and papers looking for assignments. It would be great to think that we are born organized, but that isn’t the case. When you look at a little baby, you don’t think “My gosh, he sure is organized!” Children learn to be organized by being taught good techniques. They really can’t make it up on their own. Sort it out Take a bit of time to create some organization in your child’s backpack. The best way for them to learn to be organized is to do it with you. • Direct your child to make and label folders for finished homework papers, assignments to do, notes from school and so on. This way they can easily find what they need or put things away. I like the fabric, zipper, 3-ring binders that hold multiple folders safely inside. • Get all pencils, pens, etc. in pencil pouches. • Toss all gum and candy wrappers. • Deliver any unwashed gym clothes to the laundry room. Plan ahead A checklist at home for loading the backpack is also a good idea. You can use a white board to create a list that they check off each night as they load up for the next day. This might include things like signed papers, homework, pencils, library book, lunch money, and so on. Place the white board above a coat hook that they can hang their pack on. Follow-up Meet with your child every Friday and check his/her backpack. If it’s organized, great. Offer your congratulations. If not, have your child empty the bag, reorganize everything back into it, give any pointers, and repeat each week until it’s in good shape.