Top 8 items for a home command center

Top eight items a home command center needs: Family wall calendar- Every family member should have their activities listed on this calendar. Consider using it to plan meals as well. Message board- Have a dry erase board for phone messages and reminders. Magnet board- Sometimes you can find a magnet/dry erase combo. This is great for holding small papers in transition. Key rack- A simple key rack will keep every driver’s car or house key at the ready. Cell phone storage- There are several products out there that provide a home for cell phones and their charging cables. In/Out bin- You should have a spot for all incoming mail and outgoing mail. Go through the mail everyday to keep it from building up. Bill holder- Use a wall pocket or a basket to keep bills that are waiting to be paid so they do not get lost in the mail shuffle. Make sure you mark the due date on the envelope. Personal spots- Use wall pockets or small corkboards for each family member to put reminders, permission slips and school schedules. A great example of these components is the “Daily System” found at PotteryBarn.com.

Homework simplified

Homework is as important to your child’s academic success as the class room time. To insure your child has a productive and efficient homework session here are some tips you can put into place: 1. Make sure your child has a folder for all homework papers. He/she can easily grab homework from the teacher and simply slip it into the folder and then in the backpack. That way there is no question about where the papers are when the time comes to work on them! 2. Older kids should always record homework due dates in a planner. However, it can be difficult to keep track of dates in a planner when the page turns. Consider having your child paste a one month print out of the current month in their folder to keep track of due dates for the entire month. 3. Consider where your child prefers to do homework. If he/she prefers to be at the kitchen or dining room table, use a plastic box with a handle to store all their homework supplies. This makes clean up a breeze and homework portable. Be sure that the child returns the box to its proper home after every use. 4. If your child has a desk where homework can be done, be sure it is set up to accommodate their needs. Help them choose appropriate homes for all their supplies and purchase any desk organizers they might need if drawers are at a premium. Check out your local stores for great back to school sales!