We have tropical storm Andrea heading our way and I though it'd be the perfect time to get some things ready for the new school year. I've been doing a lot of reading about organization: nothing new in this house. I'm fastidious about cleanliness and organization. Even my cabinets and closets are organized in a specific manner and I change them if I feel negative when opening a door to anything. Yeah-I'm a little crazy, in a good way.
The problem I've found is they tell you WHAT to do but never show you HOW to do it. "Implement a filing system." Well, sheesh, there are a thousand ways to do that. So, I combed Pinterest and Google and blog after blog. I'm cheap, so anything from a certain felonious home decorator (ahem) wasn't going to work. I finally found some ideas that I could combine for my own. I'm working on them today. So, that's what I'll tell you about. I included instructions for everything so the post may get long. I hate seeing cute things without instructions on how to do it. Look for split postings for more detailed how-to.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
Step 1: Pinterest has some great ideas for command centers and there are so many DIY projects out there. Pick something easy because let's face it: dealing with some extravagant project is just going to add to your workload and possibly make you hate it.
Step2: Decide the options that will work best for you, snapshot that idea, and shop for the supplies you need to make it happen. I got nearly everything for mine at the hardware store and the local Dollar General. You may want file folders for paperwork instead of expensive plastic hanging file bins. You may want a chalk board section instead of dry erase, etc, etc.
Step3: Decide the location. I chose to put ours in the living room in a weird little space where nothing else fit or looked good. Our desk and office area are right there, you have to pass it to exit either door in the house and it's very visible! Visibility is a great tool for us and consolidation will make it easier to find everything in ONE place. There was nothing more frustrating than 4 pages of homework being lost in drawers, in the bed, or under the couch!
Step4: Take your time. Make it work for your kids AND you! Label and color code everything simply. Use the same method for each child, maybe a different color scheme. (Hailey likes pink, Maddie likes blue and green, JC isn't picky.) And choose things that are heavy duty. It's a little more initially but how can you use it if it come apart? Things have a way of deteriorating at lightning speed with kids. ;)
Step5: Have fun! Be prepared to use what you create. I read an article last night from ADDitude.com about implementing a routine and running your house like Army barracks, minus the yelling. It does make sense: routine, routine, routine.
PROJECT TIME!
I chose to install, for each child, new sturdy hooks for backpacks and jackets, a 3 pocket hanging wall file for paperwork, dry erase planners for chores, and a clip board for displaying great work. You can tweak it for your own purpose. The original blog I found had used a folder for every day of the week (it was for homeschoolers).
Here is the space we chose. Josh is measuring to install a reinforced backpack and jacket center so they are no longer thrown wherever they land. We like this because it has two walls if we need to expand.
Here is the installed rail. We chose a really sturdy board instead of standard chair railing or crown moulding because their backpacks are so heavy. Our school district doesn't have lockers in any school. We had the hardware store cut the board for us (no mitered corners.) to fit the space and drilled it into the wall studs. Find the wall studs to keep it strong!
It didn't budge!
Next, I created the hanging wall file. There really were no instructions, it was a matter of trial and error and copying what was in pictures. I chose NOT to use decorative file folders but cute two pocket folders instead. They were cheaper, more accessible, and had more design ideas. I have the instructions for this on another post b/c it was detailed and long!
Once the hanging files were done, I decided a clipboard would be great to show off great work, so it went up.
We already have a chore chart (on the right side of the wall on a bulletin board) because my computer has a great template: I just change the dates for each week and color code them for each person.
(Here is Hailey checking her list.)
I still thought a dry erase strip for important things would be good for the new year. Since they have different resource on different days, it'd be good to write those down for each child (music, PE, Library, etc.) Then, we can check that the night before and make sure they have what they need for that day. They are under the clipboards in the picture.
So, here is the almost final product: Driver Command Central Station. I need the label the folders.
I think I'll add a cute throw rug and some wooden initials near the border but it's fully functional!
Be Blessed!
~Leo
P.S. Notice the ones on the far right are a little off: I was not feeling good by that point and wasn't paying attention but for me, it's ok. Just remember to measure them if you want them all the same size!
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