By Jaclyn Gross, tiptoporganizing.com
 
Jaclyn Gross is the CEO and Founder of Tip Top Organizing, Inc. Her company helps people clear the clutter and get their homes and offices organized, just like on TV. This includes closets, papers, bedrooms, photos, and more! She has appeared on the show, Hoarders, on A&E, and CNN. You can follow Tip Top Organizing, Inc. on Twitter (@TipTopOrganize) and Facebook.
 
So, you want to help your nieces and nephews get and stay organized? Being organized helps them stay in control and boosts their confidence. Plus, seeing them feeling great and succeeding because of your help, makes YOU a rock star Auntie!
 
1. Start with their lockers.
Put a locker shelf in and have them put their morning class supplies on the bottom shelf and the afternoon class supplies on the top shelf. This clearly divides the locker into two areas, so things become less cluttered and are easier to manage. There are other super cool locker products like magnetic mirrors with little storage organizers. Your niece can store her lip gloss in it for easy in-between class touch-ups. There is even locker wallpaper if you want to go all out and get bonus Auntie Points!
 
2. Color-code their supplies so they have one color for each subject.
This eliminates any confusion when they get caught up chatting with their friends, and before they know it, there’s less than a minute to get to class. Green notebook and binder for math, yellow for science, etc. They’ll never grab the wrong notebook (because they have the same color for every subject, and they all look the same) again.
 
3. Their backpack is also known as the black hole.
Things go in and never come out. Sometimes, students do their homework, but when the teacher asks for it, they can’t find it because they just “threw it in.” So, they get a zero. And that’s just from being disorganized! Get them one with different compartments, so they can separate their things and not get them all smooshed together.
 
4. Students get handouts all the time, but they don’t necessarily always get to where they’re supposed to be.
They get shoved in random places and then lost. So, my secret weapon in school was the handy 3-hole puncher. Have them put one in each of their binders, so as soon as they get a handout, they take 60 seconds to stick it in the 3-hole puncher and file it away into their 3-ring binder, into the subject “handouts.” Perfecto!
 
5. Get them a pouch for their writing utensils and other office supplies, so they can bring this to every class.
Include black, blue, and red pens, highlighters, whiteout, a mini-stapler (that has the remover on it, too), staples, paper clips, automatic pencils, extra lead, erasers, Post-Its, Scotch tape, and any other basic necessities. Who doesn’t like to be the hero when someone needs an extra pen or a stapler? They will thank their Auntie for that!
 
6. Have them use an agenda.
Tell them to write down everything, especially when tests are and their assignments. Aunties can help break their larger projects down into smaller “bite size” manageable chunks and record when each part is due to keep them on track and not get so overwhelmed. Even have them write down playdates, sports, extra-curricular activities, Auntie Time, and any plans they make.
 
7. Getting dressed in the morning can be stressful and that might set them off on a bad start to the day.
If they are staying with you, or you are staying with them, ensure that their morning is as calm as possible by taking a little time and going through their clothes, getting rid of what doesn’t fit or what they don’t wear anymore. Between the styles changing and their bodies changing, half of their wardrobe is probably ready to be tossed or donated. Once you do the initial overhaul, Auntie knows that it’s all about the ongoing maintenance. Put a box or bag in their room, and when they try on clothes that don’t fit or have something they want to get rid of, have them put it in there. When it fills up, get rid of it. Of course, ask their parents before making any decisions like that.
 
8. Encourage your nieces and nephews to pick out their outfits the night before.
Have them lay it out and ready to go. It’s amazing how far this one little step goes.
 
9. Get their backpacks ready to go the night before.
There won’t be any more of those frantic “where is my homework” screaming, running around the house, turning-everything-upside-down-to-find-it-because-we’re-going-to-miss-the-bus moments.
 
10. The last step is really important, Aunties. Make sure they have a homework area at home that is distraction-free, has good lighting, enough workspace, extra office supplies, a computer, and a printer.
Helping their parents to set them up with the right tools will give them everything they need for success. Some of your nieces and nephews won’t like to work in one place at home because they feel isolated. In those cases, make them a portable office. Get a storage container that has different compartments with a handle and stock it with everything they need. This includes extra office supplies, writing utensils, a picture of them with Auntie on the front(!) , etc. This way they can just bring it to the kitchen, living room floor…wherever they want.
 
Happy organizing, Aunties! Please, leave a comment and share your thoughts and success stories on any of the tips that you tried or will be trying!

For more school tips, click here!

Photo: stockimages
Published: January 30, 2013