Seeking Moms with Creative Ideas

this article has some good ideas, hopefully this helps in addition to the other great advice you got:

http://www.storeandstyle.com/organized+corner/say+goodbye...

My kids are now in high school, so it's a little different, but I, too, have two kids in two different districts, and lots of "stuff". I put the course catalogs which we need to keep for 4 years (ugh), in file folders and they stand on a shelf where they are easily accessible (in the kitchen), but are "put away". The stuff I need to refer to more often actually has a hole in it, and is punched onto a picture hanger that is hanging about after its picture got taken down for some reason . . . . I wouldn't suggest that, but how about getting one of those "rings" like in a binder, but without the binder, hole punch the important things, and hang the ring on a cuphook ??

The trick is that you still have to go thru it often, to be sure you aren't hanging onto stuff you no longer need, but it would keep the papers together in one place, visible, and yet it would at least "look" organized !! It's much better than wallpapering the whole wall with them ! :-)

(I'm horrible getting rid of clutter -- and I've discovered that the biggest problem I have with it, is that the clutter isn't mine -- I got really mad this one day when I was cleaning and discovered that the junk laying all over the house belonged to her, and her, and HIM, and I'd taken the blame for being "messy" for YEARS -- he wasn't actually blaming me, I was, but I still got angry for the self-definition, when it was "THEM", not me ! ha ha We're still cluttered cuz I don't like to nag constantly, but I don't blame myself anymore.)

Have a great day ! I am sure you'll get some great ideas !!

I have started putting everything on my cell phone with a little alarm so I don't forget. It has been the only thing that has worked for me. I have my shopping lists and calendar on there too. I always have it with me so its really convenient. I also have a paper calendar for back up. I check it every day morning and night to make sure I'm remembering things.

I remember when I worked in an office (in a cubicle) that I would always get bins that attach to the wall of a cubicle, they can attach to regular walls too, that you can store papers in for easy reference. I used to use these bins as my in and out bins, but you could use it for your papers, you want to find a wall in your house that it could go on that wouldn't be in the way and then I would also insert each paper into it's own plastic sleeve so that it won't get wet or messed up. All these items can be found at an office supply store. You can also buy an accordian file and on the inside mark the tabs any way that would help you and file the papers accordingly, then it can sit on a countertop somewhere maybe in the kitchen for easy reference.

This is not going to solve all of your organizational challenges, by any means, but what works best for me is those large magnetic clips that hold papers (groups of papers) to the fridge. I can keep the homework weekly overview, cafeteria menu, etc pretty handy there.

Then, I have a plastic bin for that particular school year and any completed work, papers, tests, etc goes into the bin. Clean the bin out about once every other week, pitching (or recycling!) non-essential papers.

At least it keeps my table(s) free of papers and clutter and that drives me crazy, too!

I also have a clip for soccer schedules and team roster, etc.

Hi D.~

There was a similar question on here probably within the last month or so? You might want to look for it, because there were a lot of suggestions on there... some you already mentioned, but you might still get something from it.

Good luck! I have a small house that gets cluttered easily, and I HATE CLUTTER TOO!

I keep a very shallow bread basket on my deak. It is 10 by 12 and holds standard sized papers perfectly. If the kids have any papers for me, they put them in the basket and I clean it out every night. They might not be hanging, but they are alwasy neat.
Good Luck.
ER

I feel your pain!!! My two are just in preschool and its hard to keep up!

I have a clip with a very strong magnet on the side of the fridge. A big calendar too. I've been writing all the activities and such on the calendar then I refer back to the clip of papers to find the page that explains whats going on! I have to see things and have them handy too, but I hate messes!

D.,
i scrolled down through the responses - but didn't see this one --
Print off a monthly or even weekly calendar List everything on it and throw the papers away. Permission slips are handed to me, sign and put right back in to her hands & bag.
I did use my computer for awhile - the claendar - but on days I didn't have time to check the schedule.
I bought a calendar at Staples for around 15 bucks, it has a daily time (15 minute intervials) set up weekly and then a monthly calendar for each month - based on the school year.
I use it for my work appointments, and schedule in my daughter's stuff as needed. I also use the calendar on my cell phone.
Good Luck.

D.,

UGH. The story of my life. I'm constantly changing methods. One thing with the papers re field trips, etc.: I have a magazine-type bin (upright) for each child and that info goes right in there. I photograph some of the larger projects, after they have been around for a while, and then trash them. I save the really special things. Unfortunately, there are so many of those, between work product from the kids, award certificates, etc.

Good luck!

Get a dry erase board and starta calendar taht is how i do it and eveyr month i put what i need on it. and also i put the important papers on the fridge.
good luck
T.

First you might want to try Flylady.net, start slowly and add the parts of her program that fit you and your needs.

Really dealing with things as the come in the house is soooo beneficial. And then having a set appointment each week to go through them and throw out what is outdated is super important. As much as i can, i put All the info on my wall calander, ( I use the flylady calendar with BIG squares) So when my son brought home info about a field trip, i wrote down on the date, the time of the trip, that i needed to send a lunch, etc. It's all on the calendar, so i threw out the paper, I could always call the teacher or school if i needed anyother info, but i've learned to trust myself that what I copied was correct. I did this as soon as my son got home and i checked his book bag.

To get the main part of your question, I have colored pocket folders for my daughters preschool, my son's elem school, their sports activities, church activities. i keep phone numbers to refer to in them, and stuff like handbooks etc. But most of the info i put on the calander, including soccer practice, for the next three months. I put it all on the calendar. and if I can, I throw the paper out. I've just had to let go of the need for the original, it was a security thing for a while that i had to have them, now i trust my calendar. You could used different inks or colored pencil for each kid, or stickers, if you make a mistake and need to fix your calendar you can use a white blank address lable to cover it off.
As for artwork/ homework you could make a rule that they can pick one very best peice for the week, and the rest you mail out to relatives or pitch at night when they won't find it. That one piece gets a special frame or place of honor on the fridge and that makes it extra important.

Seriously try flylady, just take it slow.

I have a magnet that is also a heavy duty clip and I put everything that I need for school on the fridge with it and I stack them in the clip in order of importance. Everything is always right there and easily accesible. Hope you find something that works for you. I'm working on decluttering also so I'm looking forward to see what tips you get.

Hi D., The never ending battle of school paperwork...and it only gets worse as your kids get older! I use two different systems: In the kitchen on the fridge is the school lunch menu and special event notices (picture day, field trips, dances or anything that needs a permission slip) in order by date each with their own color magnetic clip. On our back door using different color magnetic clips and clear page protectors I keep the school calandar, sport schedules, orchestra, band and choir rehersals, scouting stuff and teacher information stuff (homework hot line numbers, class rules etc.). On my desk I keep hanging file box in which I have file for school purchases (I copy everything before I send it to school) as well as files for every organization my girls are in with any information from them as well as copies of any checks or purchases that involve them. Finally I have memory boxes for each of my girls, (they are plastic hanging file folder boxes with lids I purchsed for about $5) each year has it's own folder and I put year-end grade cards, class pictures, awards, programs from concerts (dance recitals, sporting events etc) yearbooks, and one or two special item from school that they would like to keep like a picture, or report. Now that my girls are all older I found that I had to purchase them each a second box for 7th through 12 grades...but I know someday they will treasure them as much as I enjoy keeping them now! Hope some of these ideas help you on your way to managing the "clutter" of having kids!! Best wishes.

Hi D., Here's what I do. I bought a magnetic calendar and hung it on my fridge. When those papers come home I write the event, assignment, days off etc on that calendar. I put the papers that tells about the assignment in my nightstand so as it gets closer I know where I can find the paper. If the paper just applies to days off or class parties I can just throw it out because it's already written on the calendar for me to remember.

Hello, I suggest going to http://www.flylady.net/ to help you become organized and free of clutter. There is a free service you can sign up for to get e-mails about how to get things done and get organized. There is a habit to develop each month, and October's is how to become free of paper clutter. It helps me a lot! Good luck.

D. - I am a professional organizer, and you are welcome to check out my website for free articles on how to organize your stuff, your kids etc - www.cluttershrink.com. Go to the tab that says The 'Shrink Rap and you can view archived files on the left.

My little one is now in college but I can tell you a couple of the things that worked for us. I had the wall mounted file boxes like they have at the Dr's office. I had 3, one for work to be done, one for her completed work and then one for school information. When her completed work one started to get full of drawings etc, I would scan the drawings into the computer and then write them to a CD, her other papers I would put in a box for that year in school. I had a box for each year of special papers to keep, she gets to help select them. The boxes are no bigger than 2-3 inches deep and 8.5x11. I kept one for each year for each kid. The school information papers would be recycled when they were out of date or filed in a filing cabinet with other important papers if I needed to keep them. The slide folder worked great, we didn't loose any papers. Oh, I forgot..we printed a calender out of the computer and put it on the slide folder and put a x on the day a paper was due so we could make sure it was done before the due date. It became an everyday route to sort the papers. If you are a crafter, you can use the scan of the artwork to make jewelry or scrapbooking paper etc.

I hope this helps b/c i have the same problem as you and i try my hardest to keep organized. After i go through my kids papers i either throw away, hang on fridge (upcoming events or lunch menus etc.) As for the projects or special things if you have a basement and walls going down the stairs on both sides i hang all the special things on the walls, we have so lots of space so i can hang lots up. Projects stay up for quite a while and then i replace with new ones. Use all space you can, basement step walls is a good trick.... Hope it works for you!!!

The secret to dealing with paper clutter is to only touch it once. Recycle it, file it, or do it (and then recycle or file it) as soon as you pick it up. Don't look at the "mail" until you are ready, and then go to your mail (US postal or school) station. Keep a recycling bin next to where you read the mail . Anything you don't need goes in the bin immediately. Anything that needs a date noted goes on the calendar immediately. Anything that needs to be paid gets paid immediately. Anything that gets kept gets filed immediately. If you do this every day, it doesn't take 5 minutes (usually more like 30 seconds).

Pottery Barn makes a nice organizer will system with bins, calendar white board, cell phone chargers, etc. Bit pricey, but what is your sanity worth?!?! :-)

I used Amy W's idea -- on a wall by my stairway to the basement, I have attached a white board calendar, and next to that is a clear folder sorting bin, it has three levels, bought at an office supply store. The first level is where I put any paper that needs my husbands attention. (He pays the bills, our computer is downstairs, he pulls out those papers and pays them and files them.) The other two levels are for papers that I need to hang on to for a bit. I put menus for take out there, as well. I clean it out every once in a while, and when I am being very organized, all family events get put on the calendar, each person has an assigned color. You could attach one of those file things on the wall for each family member, for instance.

Open mail right by your garbage can, junk mail goes right in the garbage, mail for your husband goes into his slot for attention, etc.

The key is to find something that works for your family, and everyone stick with it. Once you have your system, it just requires a little maintenance.

I would get a small cabinet some of the things you do not need right away. I would have one drawer for the one child and one drawer for the other child. There are drop down files in the file cabinet which you can label. For bills and mail there are organizers you can buy for that. Another thing you could do is go to the container store and see if they have anything you can use or go to staples and see if they have suggestions. good luck.

What about one of those children's book displays? You could stand the papers in the bins, and label them accordingly...

Hi, this may not be a total answer, but what i do is i have a peg board hung up by the phone where i keep school papers, dr, appt., school activities and so on. I just hang them up there with push pins and they are out of the way and at my disposal.

Mostly repeats of other suggestions, but here's what helps me (though I still have clutter in places):

1) I actually have 2 dry erase wall calendars so I can see this month and the upcoming month. That way I also have fewer things that can't immediately go on the calendar. These can be pricey, but I got these at Walmart and only paid about $15 each, so if you look around you can find them without spending a ton of money.

2) Definitely try to deal with things right away - any forms get filled out and sent back to school the next day - that way you don't miss deadlines and can move the paper back out more quickly.

3) I also use the large magnetic clips - I have one for our preschool stuff and one with the elementary school stuff. That makes for easy reference for those papers (calendars, lunch menus, etc.) that I do hold onto. They will hold a lot, but it's not unlimited or they start to slide, so you'll also be forced to go through and purge if you haven't been good about keeping only what you need. I used to have these on my fridge, but decided I didn't like all that stuff on the fridge, so now it's on the side of a filing cabinet that's next to my desk. Find what works for you and use it.

4) I also have used a vertical file rack with a different colored folder for each child, plus one for me. That doesn't work for me now, but it used to be a good way to separate the "must-hold-on-tos" and keep them better organized.

5) For kids' school work (that they take such pride in), I have two ribbons/clotheslines in the kitchen with little clips so I can neatly display quite a bit of work. Periodically (when they're not around), I take down old things and throw away some and keep the special ones in our memory file and then fill in wth newer work.

I also second (or third?) the flylady recommendations - even if you don't use the whole system the mindset will help a lot. Just do what works for you and don't get overwhelmed with the rest.