subject: Back To School: Get-organized Tips Part 2 Of 3 [print this page] Getting ready to head back to school? These next few simple tips will help you and your children start the school year on the right foot.
Plan a wardrobe.
Unless your child attends a school with a mandatory uniform, shopping for back to school clothes can be an annual battle between you and your student. Fortunately, a few minutes of thoughtful planning can go a long way in saving you time and money, as well as ensuring that your child gets the clothes he or she wants, to display their own style and fit in with their classmates.
Take some time to go through your child's current wardrobe to see what still fits, what is still in fashion, and what needs to be donated because of excessive wear and tear. Take stock of what he or she has, and look to see what's missing (jeans shoes, long sleeve tops, etc.). Be sure to check the school's dress code policy as well, to ensure you're making wise wardrobe purchases. Shop the sales to ensure you get the best deal and stick to your list.
When you plan a wardrobe in this way, you'll find that your child has more options and more possible combinations in getting dressed each day. Did you know that Coco Chanel had just nine articles of clothing in her closet when she died? Her entire wardrobe consisted of just nine pieces -- now that is smart wardrobe planning!
Attack the closet.
Closets are breeding grounds for unwanted "stuff" so it's a wise idea to purge your closets at least once a year. Trash, sell or donate unwanted (or outgrown) clothing, toys, sporting equipment, musical instruments, shoes, etc. File or ditch excess papers (which will also keep the silverfish away), replace cedar planks or other scented accents, vacuum the floor (especially if you haven't seen it in awhile!) and organize the remaining items for efficiency and ease of use.
This is sure to help your student start the year off on the best possible foot. Encourage your children to keep their closets organized (incentivize them if you have to!) so that you won't have to repeat this ritual each year. Remember to check under the bed, too!
Look for inexpensive, durable containers to help you organize stuff in the closets, and label the containers ("shoes," "winter gear," "video game accessories," etc.) as this will make it easier to keep items organized.
