The last day of school is almost here! The children are sooooo ready for this final day and the beginning of summer break. On the last day you just know they are going to rush home, dump their school stuff in a corner, and run off to play.
OK, so give them one day. But, that pile in the corner has to be handled. Those stacks of old school papers, that whiffy backpack, and the end of year mementos have got to be dealt with before summer can really begin.
Clear a space – maybe put down newspaper and keep dogs and cats clear for their own safety. Then turn the backpack upside down and dump the contents on the floor. Shake it a few times so that what is stuck to the bottom with old gum and candy also falls out. Now do a sort. Smelly clothes and sneakers go to the laundry. Tattered papers and candy wrappers go to the trash. End of the year awards can be salvaged and filed or put into memorabilia boxes. Check out old crayons, pencils, and other school supplies and see if they are usable for summer art or are in such bad shape they need to be trashed. If anything in the pile tries to crawl away – step on it. Decide if the bag is going to be used again or is now also ready for the trash (broken zippers, tears, straps broken). Do not let this clutter stay beyond one week. Have every thing that is saved put away and everything that is no longer usable, trashed or recycled.
Now, enjoy the summer!
Jonda S. Beattie Professional Organizer