Welcome to the tenth installment of Tidy Thursday! Here at VolunteerSpot, we’re committed to simplifying the busy lives of parents, teachers and active volunteers. Along that theme, we’re pleased to support your personal efforts in getting organized and gaining quality time and present guest organization expert April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach! Today, April gets us ready to tackle the madness of back-to-school by sharing tips and ideas on how to make shopping for this epic event as organized as possible. Thanks, April!
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Back-to-School Shopping
By April Welch
How long before your student heads back to class, or you begin a fall volunteering project?
For some of my clients a huge {{sigh}} would attempt to release the tension that question creates for them.
Not helping the cause, are the back-to-school ads that began back in July.
For others, back-to-school brings a sense of excitement & opportunity for fresh starts.
I say we go for the “fresh starts” perspective this year & take a look at some of the critical strategies that will help you & your efforts when preparing for this new season.
Turn to the list:
- Many schools print a list of supplies they'd like the students to have come fall.
o Rely on that & try not to veer too far away
- Parents tend to give-in when their student pleads for the extras
o Consider a rule for the shopping trip “if it's not on the list, we're not getting it this trip”
- If you're on the volunteering end & need to do the shopping ~ make a list before you go
- As my own kiddos have gotten older I'm surprised at how little of the stuff variety they need
o Only stock up at back-to-school sales if you know it will get used
o I no longer buy crayons, but we go through an amazing amount of graph paper!
Shop early in the morning:
For years I've used this trick ~ both shopping for my own kiddos & the middle school students I work with
- There tends to be less people ~ so less crowded
- The area is usually put back together from the night crew the evening before
- If you can't find something getting someone to help seems a little easier {since the store hopefully is slower}
Break up the shopping:
Carry the list with you, if the opportunity strikes to grab a few things ~ do so.
- If you'll be shopping at 3 different locations, try matching it up with days you'll be in that part of town
- If you must get it all done in one day ~ don't make the kids suffer, go alone
Where to utilize the help:
I used to bring the kids with me shopping ~ I felt it helped them suffer learn what it takes to prepare. Now, I do a lot of the shopping part & once I'm home they help with the 'shopping bag to the backpack' prep
Shopping Online:
- I HIGHLY recommend this. Several sites can be very helpful if you know what you're looking for and this is a time you can involve the recipients.
- Also, if you're shopping as a volunteer you can have the supplies “drop shipped” {delivered right to the school or office where you'll be working}
Quality Supplies:
After working one-on-one with middle school students for the last 4+ years I've been able to see which items have a standing chance of lasting the entire school year.
One item I beg ask the parents of 6th graders to purchase is the EZD 1-touch 3-ring binder by Avery. The reason this binder has the “Mental Clutter Coach Seal of Approval” is because of a few key attributes:
- Using two hands to open a 3-ring binder is an unnatural behavior for 11 & 12 year old students
- the 1-touch allows them to use a single finger
- The durability factor is true to it's name
- I've seen these binders shoved, shook, stomped & then slammed into a locker ~ and they still come out in one piece!
- The clear cover appeals to your tween looking for an identity
- slip a skull laden sheet in one week & skillfully drawn flowers the next {saving the cover from the direct abuse}
- and finally, they come in different colors ~ so you can appeal to a color coded system {blue for math, green for science}
They may be a little more expensive to buy, but they'll save you money by not having to replace several binders later in the year.
When I'm asked about organizing students {or those who support them} I often find that the logistics of their system is where the problems begin.
Consider spending some time in this area now, before the 'go, go, go' begins.
Back Packs:
I use to recommend a Timbuk 2 backpack {my kids have used theirs for 6 years & they still look new} but they stopped making the style I recommended. So at this point, you'll be looking for any bag that:
- can hold the capacity of the supplies {my middle school students tote around 2-2” binders everyday!}
- has an opening at the top providing a “bucket” style access
- will offer necessary support when heavy {look for some science in the design here}
- and doesn't have too many pockets {yup, less pockets are better for busy people}
Create a place for all the supplies to belong at home:
- one spot where everything can wait to be used creates a sense of direction
- consider shelving to help keep surfaces clear
- only containerize when it makes sense {more on this next week}
Now I must admit, every year when it comes time to go shopping for back-to-school I shudder just a little bit. But, to be fair, this tradition is where I truly found my start as an Organizer.
I remember being that young student ~ all the fresh new supplies ~ brand new shoes {that I couldn't wear until the first day of school} ~ additions to my wardrobe I couldn't wait to unveil in September ~ and most importantly to my future career … the preparing it all before I used it.
I hope these tips have helped you jump start your Back-To-School shopping & systems! Next week we’ll continue on by discussing how to create solid systems for paperwork! I know, the post you’ve all been waiting for ~ right?
Keepin it tidy,
April
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April Welch, CPO© is a Certified Professional Organizer residing in Central Washington State with her husband & two children and has been instinctively organizing most of her adult life.
While her philosophies are centered on how individuals are ‘wired’ she believes in providing a fun and educational environment with simple solutions to all organizing dilemmas. She offers live workshops, virtual organizing, tele-classes, habit assessments, public speaking, a radio show online and most recently Mental Clutter Coaching. April is the Franklin Covey® Family Organizing Guru & the Spokesperson for ListPlanIt.com April can be found on: Facebook and Twitter
