Organizing Extra: Taking Your Stuff on the Road

Photo: Kolobsek via Morguefile

I'm sure you wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that I read a lot about organizing. I always like finding good ideas, but I get excited when I find new ideas. And very often, the best ideas come not from organizing professionals, but for people who've spent time figuring out what works for them.

Real Simple magazine's "10 Genius Packing Hacks from Travel Experts" offers up a few familiar ideas (roll, don't fold) and some creative ones as well, whether you're traveling across the state or across the country.

Bon voyage!

4 Keys for Organizing With Kids

janemyersperrine.com

What happens when you take a great strategy and try to implement it when you're tired and distracted?

You publish Thursday's post on Wednesday.

Knowing that this morning was going to be very full, I got all my posts ready to go last night. I even checked a little after midnight to make sure they showed up on the page. They did. 

It wasn't until I sat down this evening to write tomorrow's post that I realized just how far ahead of myself I'd gotten. I was embarrassed at first -- I mean, aren't I supposed to be organized enough not to make those kind of mistakes? 

But then I remembered. I warned you from the very beginning that I'm an organizational work-in-progress. 

So I decided to double post today, and let tomorrow's post stand...early. 

Because after all, early may never happen again.

So here, with apologies and without further ado, is Wednesday's post. After all, it is still Wednesday.

Organizing with kids can be a blast. Or it can be a nightmare. They can bring enthusiasm and great ideas to the process, or they can dig their heels in and pout.

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It's tough. No one likes to work on something that's hard for them. And most kids who struggle with organization feel a lot like we adults who are organizational works-in-progress. Embarrassed. Self-conscious. Wondering why the rest of the world "gets it" and they don't.

For that reason, it's important to keep in mind that helping kids get organized is only half the battle. If we don't help them to develop self-confidence along the way, we may win the battle, but lose the war. So, if we want to discourage pouting and encourage enthusiasm, it's important that we:

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• Give them ownership. We may think we have the perfect tools, containers or answers for them, but only they know if they'll really use it. And if they won't use it, we'll only end up back where we started...and a little poorer. Help them figure out their styles (but don't label them -- ask them where they think they fit instead) and offer suggestions, but let them have the final say. I can promise you it won't work every time, but getting organized is a learning process. We sometimes learn as much from what doesn't work as we do from what does. 

• Give them a budget. Because this is a learning process, there's no sense breaking the bank on the first tool that comes to mind. Dollar bins and dollar stores are full of great stuff. When I taught lessons to elementary school kids, one of the most sought-after items was a purple cheetah print box with dividers that I got in the dollar bins at Target. I had kids offering to buy it from me! Creative kids are often just as happy coming up with their own solutions (maybe even re-purposing something you already have on and) and personalizing them. 

• Give them encouragement. Hard as it may be if you're parent for whom organizing comes easily, try not to judge. They know that cramming papers into a small space, collecting every rock and crayon or dropping their shoes in the middle of the floor isn't the ideal organizational system. Gently redirect (if you can) and figure out a home and a system that works for both of you. Ask your child where he or she would put things...or, if possible, locate a container in the spot where he or she naturally drops stuff. Notice when something gets put where it belongs, returns home uncrushed and unfolded or can be found when it's needed. You don't have to throw a party. A smile will do. Maybe even an acknowledgment or a hug, if that works for both of you.

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• Give them a timer. When you're a kid, fifteen minutes on the playground goes by in 30 seconds and fifteen minutes spent organizing takes an hour and a half. Agree on a stopping point -- whether it's in minutes, items put away, or a bite-sized task completed -- and then stick to it. Believe it or not, the kid who's allowed to stop when the timer goes off just might keep going. For some of us, getting started is the hardest part. If they're allowed to stop before they get frustrated, it'll be easier to get them to start the next time.

If you, like me, are an organizational work-in-progress, you get this. It may be hard to stick to when you feel as though the task is insurmountable, 

but you understand the feelings that come with organizational challenges. 

For you fabulous Type A parents who organize as easily as you breathe, this is going to be a challenge. Baby steps are growth, but it takes an awful lot of them to cover much ground. Start small, involving your child in tasks where success is easy to see -- a backpack, a drawer, a bookshelf -- and work from there. Better that you hold the reins on some projects and let your child lead on others than that you try to tackle an entire bedroom and end up yelling at each other. No level of organization is worth sacrificing your relationship with your child.

One last thing. When you've put your child in charge, don't go back and re-do what he or she has done. Nothing wrecks confidence faster, not to mention inspiring a complete lack of cooperation the next time around. For your sake as well as your child's, assist when asked, then walk away.

Much, much easier said (written) than done, but remember, you're in this for the long haul.

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3 Keys Thursday: 3 Organizational Tools Everyone Needs Regardless of Style

Photo: Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

Wait just a minute. I've spent the better part of a year trying to convince you that organizing BY style is the way to go, and now I want to give you one-size-fits-all advice?

Not at all.

Each of these three keys is an important piece of an organizational plan. How you incorporate each one will depend on your styles. In my opinion, everyone needs:

• A to-do list (to manage tasks). The length, location and specificity are up to you. I like having a master list as well as a day-by-day list that I keep on my calendar.  

• Containers with room to grow (to manage stuff). Every container should have a little bit of empty space in it to allow for new additions. I'm not talking about twice the size of what it houses -- just enough room that your whole system doesn't fall apart when you need to add to it.

• A filing system (to manage paperwork). No matter how much we tout "going paperless," nearly all of us need hard copies to some degree.

  

  Fold 'n' File from
  Thirty One Gifts*

  And where there are hard copies, a filing system is necessary. Whether it's a file cabinet loaded with with color-coded, labeled folders, a clear file bin with an equally clear lid, or a lidless box that lets you see the contents at a glance, it's a filing system. If you can easily put things away and retrieve what you need in less than five minutes, it's working. I have more than a half dozen of the fold 'n' file bins (at right) on shelves in various rooms of my house, each dedicated to a specific type of paperwork. As an I need to see it person, I love that this bin is open on top and that it comes in various prints so I have a visual cue of what's where.

Truly paperless? I'm impressed. Chances are you have an online filing system. Just don't forget to back it up regularly.

Organizing by STYLE means the systems may be similar, but their elements work best when personalized. Keep in mind that the purpose of bothering with this whole organization business is to be able to find what you need when you need it.

And if you can be stylish in the process, so much the better.

*Full disclosure on fold 'n' file: I'm a Thirty-One consultant, so I might be a tad biased.

Organization Extra: De-Cluttering -- Start Small

www.craiglotter.co.za

De-cluttering is one of those things we have to be in the mood for. Like so many other things, getting started is the hardest part.

That's why this article from Bright Nest makes so much sense. The concept of starting with a small space isn't exactly rocket science, so to speak, but it's easy to overlook its benefits:

• Putting a halt to the procrastination process and starting somewhere, no matter how small, often energizes us to tackle bigger spaces;
• De-cluttering is de-cluttering. Reclaiming a space, no matter how small, is a step on the road to organization;
• Smaller spaces can be easier to keep neat in the long run, and a succession of neat spaces that stay that way contributes to overall organization.

Still overwhelmed? Trying the Give it Five! trick. Set a timer for five minutes, and when it goes off, you're finished. You can keep working if you wish, of course, but you can also walk away.

So where will you start? 

The Backpack Project Finale: Making the Backpack Work for Each Organizational Style

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Last week, we looked at backpack habits and tricks style-by-style for the personal styles. And then yesterday, I got sucked into the lure of back-to-school shopping, and forgot to give you part two. So today, let's take a peek into what happens when kid and backpack meet the organizational styles. For ease of reading, I've used the male pronoun in the cram and jam description (with apologies to boys). While many of my favorite cram and jammers are boys, these styles are not gender specific!

• Cram and jammers keep cramming things in, but rarely take things out. They're likely to completely disregard all the nooks crannies and pockets in the backpack and simply toss everything into the main section, creating one big pile of papers, school supplies and miscellaneous items. Disregarding the smaller spaces isn't a problem (at least they know where everything is!), unless it means your child can't find what he needs when he needs it. Using brightly colored (i.e. hard to miss) folders, binders and other containers (zip-top clear plastic bags work, too) can help him spot the important stuff. 

          The propensity to stuff may cause other problems as well, most notably papers that are 

          crumpled, wrinkled and/or torn. If the papers make it into the brightly colored containment 

          systems, this is minimized. Teaching kids to use a simple packing system (heavy items on the 

          bottom, lighter items on top) will also help. While it may not stop the cramming and jamming, 

          it will save their belongings some wear and tear, as well as teaching basic packing skills    

          (useful at the grocery store, among other places). 

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• Drop and run organizers may use their backpacks as temporary storage when they're in a hurry...then forget to take out the things that don't belong. When they're not in a rush, drop and run kiddos might actually have assigned homes for the things that go into the backpack, but when "run" kicks in, "drop" takes over and the first available space becomes the item's home. Choosing a backpack style that's conducive to this organizational style (wide openings that close with a drawstring, for example, or perhaps a messenger bag) makes it more likely things will be dropped into the right spot when these kids are on the run. Like their cram and jam counterparts, these kiddos will benefit from some basic lessons in packing skills.

• Thanks to their tendency to store things in the closest available space, I know I put it somewhere kids may find an entire stash of non-school-related items in their backpacks. They typically haven't assigned their things a home, and so while the backpack (or some nook or pocket therein) seems like a logical place to put something at the time, when it's not part of an overall system, retrieval of specific items becomes challenging. The telltale "I forgot that was there!" or "So that's where I put it!" reveals this style very clearly. Like those with the I love stuff personal style, I know I put it somewhere kids may need to be discouraged from using the small spaces in the backpack (unless they label them) because those are the areas where things tend to "disappear."

Kids with all three of these organizational styles will benefit from emptying the backpack at least once a week, particularly if their personal style is I love stuff. Not only are they likely to find "buried treasure," but regular purging of the backpack teaches them the basics of de-cluttering, as well as the benefits of managing a storage space before it gets out of hand.

What tips or tricks have you discovered that make backpacks more manageable for your child?

Reconciling School Supply Lists to Styles

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Have you ever watched a left-handed person try to take notes in a traditional spiral notebook? It's almost painful. The angle is wrong, the spiral's in the wrong place, and even the neatest handwriting approaches illegibility as fatigue and frustration take over.

That's how it feels to be a non-traditional organizer using traditional school supplies. While everyone around you slides papers neatly onto binder rings or into the pockets of folders, you just never manage to make things work as neatly and effortlessly.

So...why buy those supplies?

If you've got a kiddo (or two) at your house whose notebooks and folders look like they've been through a natural disaster somewhere between school and home, help them adapt their supplies to their styles. 

Ways to adapt a binder:

• Buy a portable three-hole punch to put in the front of the notebook.
• Load the binder with page protectors so unpunched papers make it into the notebook. Or, if that's not gonna happen with your cram and jammer or drop and run organizer, try folder pockets (hole-punched inserts that look like a pocket folder opened up and folded back) or a three-ring acetate envelope with a snap or Velcro fastener.

  

  When I taught Organizing by STYLE
  to an elementary school audience,
  I found that clamp binders were a
  huge hit with fifth grade boys.
  Photo: staples.com

• Add a clip to the front of the binder so the day's papers get clipped inside the cover and can be added to the right section of the notebook at home.
• Ditch the three-ring binder for one with a spring-loaded clamp. Kids who don't take the time to put stuff into the rings sometimes enjoy putting papers away when they have an excuse to play with the clamp.
• Replace the binder with an accordion folder. Choose one that's divided into sections, or one with just one wide, yawning opening, depending on your child's style.

What to use instead of a standard-issue, paper pocket folder:

• A file folder. Like pocket folders, these come in a variety of colors, and can be color-coded by subject. If the papers aren't going to go in the pockets anyway, why create an unnecessary battle?
• Transparent folders that allow kids to personalize them (photos show through the opening) or see what's inside. These also come in a variety of colors, with and without pockets.
• A folder that has top and side access and a tab closure at the top. Multi-colored (again). Never underestimate the value of being able to play with an organizational tool. The more fun it is to put something away, the more likely it is it'll get there.
• Clear acetate envelopes with string-tie and button closures. Sold at office supply stores, these often come in multi-packs that make them less expensive per item. 

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Admittedly, these choices are often more expensive and harder to come by, but in many cases, the time and heartache saved makes it worth the extra cash and detective work -- and sometimes, you actually luck out and find cool tools at the dollar store or the clearance racks. When I taught lessons in elementary school classrooms, I brought a variety of supplies in for kids to play with and had them trouble-shoot potential issues. They were amazingly astute when it came to figuring out what they would and would not use, and they often loved things that cost a dollar or less (colorful report folders with hinged closures were a big hit) as much as the more expensive office supply items. 

As you discuss back-to-school shopping with your child, use this summary sheet to talk about options and highlight his or her choices. Having him (or her) talk through the choices is an important part of getting your child to understand his or her styles, and eventually, to advocate for them. When we teach our kids to respectfully advocate for themselves, we're teaching a skill that goes far beyond organization.

You may also need to intervene on your child's behalf with his or her teacher, and that may or may not go over well. Together with your child, decide if it's better to work within the requirements (buy the required binder, but adapt its insides so your child can use it successfully) or seek the teacher's stamp of approval for an alternative system. If your child's teacher understands that the required tool is actually a stumbling block, he or she may be amenable to a trial period with something else. Most teachers are happy to see their students attempt organization, no matter what the tools, and in the best case scenario, your child may find an ally who helps to tweak and perfect the plan at school. 

So before you and your credit card hit the stores and start checking off items on that school supply list, take a moment to make sure you're supplying your child with the tools he or she needs to have a great year.

Organization Extra: Letting it Go and Reclaiming the Space

AARP.org

Last Thursday was my birthday, and for some reason, I chose that day to tackle a mountain of outdated papers to be filed. The beauty of the "outdated" part was that most of the pile could be shredded or recycled, and so the mountain is no more.

So, when I came across this article yesterday on items to ditch when downsizing, it struck a chord with me. We're a ways away from actually downsizing, not ready to dispense with our vehicles or move into a smaller house just yet, but a few of the tips are useful even if you're not downsizing in the traditional sense.

I mean, after all, who doesn't want to reduce clutter? And a few guidelines often make the job easier.

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Keys for the Cram and Jam Organizational Style

Photo: Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

No one ever accused the cram and jammer of wasting space. This organizational style probably fits more stuff into less space than anyone else. In addition, these folks don't usually have to worry about remembering where they put something, because pretty much everything is stuffed into the same place. Wrinkles and crinkles aside, you've got to give the cram and jammer credit for putting things away.

For this organizational style, storage and retrieval are the key issues. Oh, that's all? you say. Just storage and retrieval?

 Yes. But it's not as bad as it sounds. In fact, it's really just a matter of a few tweaks.

• Stick to one-step, one-stop storage. One-stop storage means one-stop retrieval, so go ahead and give in to the urge to put everything in one good-sized place. When it comes to containers, think Goldilocks -- a space that's not too small to fit things into, not so large that things
  accumulate, but just right for no more than a week's worth of whatever you're storing.

  

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  Whenever possible, use storage that has a little wiggle room (fabric containers work well because of their flexibility), but is compatible to the items going into it (try a legal-sized folder for letter-sized paper, for example). Avoid storing things in small, dark places that tempt cramming and threaten retrieval. 

• Sort regularly. Sort papers and other easily crumpled items daily, if possible, and everything else as the container approaches maximum capacity. The closer the collection gets to the top of the container, the more likely the cram and jam tendency will take over and the integrity of the items will be compromised. It's easiest to avoid cramming and jamming if you don't allow the space to become too full.

• Skip the pockets. Cram and jammers don't use the pockets in folders or the rings in binders, so don't even waste your time or your money. Stick to one-step solutions: replace the pocket folder with a file folder and the three-ring binder with a spring-clip binder (for the kid who loves gadgets) or just an accordion envelope with a big opening and room for plenty of papers. Some cram and jammers do well with accordion folders, but for others, the openings are too small and papers get crumpled within minutes. Again, size is key. 

If you're a cram and jam organizer, what are the key ideas you swear by? Share in the comments below!

For printable information sheets 
about containers and the styles, 

click on the CHARTS tab at the top of this page.

The Backpack Project Continues: Making the Backpack Work for Each Personal Style

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So, you've got a kid and you've got a backpack -- a matched set, as it were (or perhaps several). You're invested in the idea of organizing by STYLE, but...what does that look like?

Let's take a look at what happens, style-by-style, when kid meets backpack. First up: the personal styles.

• I love stuff kids like to keep their prized possessions close at hand. They often carry their collections with them (as you probably discovered when you tackled last year's backpack). Sometimes they keep their special items all together; other times, their treasures are scattered throughout the backpack. I love stuff kids will need help striking a balance between lightening their load and carrying all of their prized possessions everywhere they go. These kids may actually do well with backpacks with lots of small pockets because those small spaces are the perfect place to stash their treasures.

          You can honor an I love stuff kiddo's attachment to his or her things by allowing a limited  

           number of non-essentials to travel in the backpack. Springing for that special folder

           or notebook they'll actually use is one way to bring style and function together, ensuring that 

           some of the "stuff" traveling in the backpack actually has a purpose. One caveat: to make sure
           they're not just sucked in by the item itself, have them show you how they'll use it before you
           buy it. 

• I love to be busy kids may need more than one backpack or tote bag, depending on how many activities they're involved in. These kids often carry reminders of and supplies for all of their activities with them. They may have a system for keeping track of all the essentials for each activity, (or they may not), but in their hurry to leave one activity for the next, they may end up leaving things behind. Assigning specific items to specific places (in specific bags) is a must for this style.

         A planner should absolutely be on the I love to be busy kiddo's back-to-school list. If busyness

         is their default style, helping them learn to track and manage their time is a life skill they'll need 

         as soon as possible. As with anything else, the planner should be one they choose, with input 

         from you regarding function (benefits of a daily vs. monthly view, size of blocks, etc.), rather 

         than style.

•  I need to see it kids may carry their stuff in their arms despite a nearly empty backpack. Since the "homes" they've assigned for their things are often table tops, floors and other flat surfaces, these kiddos will need help selecting the "just-right" place for their things. Kids with this personal style may need to be discouraged from using the small pockets and nooks and crannies of the backpack because that's where things tend to get lost.

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I need to see it kids benefit from labeling, color-coding,  

see-through compartments and other visual cues so they can trust that out of sight doesn't have to mean out of mind. Consistent homes can help, too, but certain key items (homework folder or assignment book, papers to be returned to school) should not be placed in an out-of-the-way part of the backpack unless the compartment is see-through or labeled. These are also the kids who need a dumping ground at home so that the backpack gets emptied every day. Once they can see things, they're in good shape.

Next week, we'll look at cram and jam, drop and run and I know I put it somewhere: the organizational styles.    

Organizing Everywhere!

Photo via Grammarly.com

Since I began this blog, I haven't been writing much about organizing over at The Porch Swing Chronicles, but today's post about my office definitely ventures into organizing territory.

I've also been posting on Wednesdays at CatholicMom.com. My fabulous writer friend and fellow Jersey Girl Barb Szyszkiewicz has invited me to write a series we're calling Back to School With STYLE. There will definitely be some overlap between the posts here and the posts there, but I'm trying to create some new material there as well, so if your focus is kids, I hope you'll take a peek.

Have a great week!

Organization Extra: Organizing Your Desk

https://magazine.dashburst.com

I love infographics. I also love writing and, of course, reading about organization. So when I found an infographic about organizing my writing desk, I was intrigued.

It's a lovely infographic -- it really is -- especially if you're a Type A organizer.

But I'm not. And if you've been reading this blog for any length of time, chances are you're not either.  So does that mean we simply dismiss this, closing it out and making it go away before it inspires anxiety and a crisis of confidence?

That's one option. But another option is that we look for the things in it that ring true for our styles, and dismiss the rest -- here comes the hard part -- without guilt or judgment.

For example:

• A clear workspace is a wonderful goal, and with the right tools for your style, it's achievable.

•  An I love stuff  person will likely need a few prized possessions for inspiration, whether on the edges of the desk or on a bulletin board or shelves nearby, and will probably ignore the advice to "keep only those items that are essential for your daily use." Keeping these items to a minimum and confined to the edges of the desk will achieve the clear desk goal with style. 
• The I need to see it person will forgo the drawer advice and instead, keep things visible via hanging pockets or (again) nearby shelves. Those with this style will love the stickies on the computer monitor, but will need to make sure to limit the number of stickies, as well as reading and replacing them regularly. Sticky note forests are too dense to be useful.
• Cram and jammers, I see you eying those drawers. Your challenge will be to make sure that bottom ("away") drawer doesn't become the dumping ground for "everything else," which, in turn, becomes crumpled, creased and unusable.

  

  I swear by the store-bought rolling bin
  tucked under my office desk, but if
  you're craft, you can just add wheels
  to a drawer to create this rolling bin
  I found on Etsy.

• Drop and run organizers will probably note the complete absence of any tools that work for them on a regular basis. Tuck a rolling bin beside the desk or underneath it, if you have the leg room, so that you drop things somewhere besides the desk. 
• I love to be busy folks may need to designate each drawer for a different activity, and will certainly need a calendar somewhere in that workspace, whether it's on the desk, on the wall or on the computer itself.
• I know I put it somewhere organizers are likely to be fine once they establish a system for what goes in each drawer or on the shelves. Adding storage containers that can be labeled will also help, but having too many choices can add to confusion, rather than minimizing it.

The moral of the story? If your goal is to look like a Type A organizer when you're really an I love stuff/cram and jammer, there's no need to lose hope, or choose a simpler goal. You just need to chart a path from here to there using your styles as your road map.

Anyone else have any good infographics to share? This I need to see it person loves visual presentations!

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key Ideas for the I Love to be Busy Personal Style

Photo: Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

I love to be busy folks thrive on hectic schedules. They're often good at managing their time (that's how they manage to do so many things), but unfortunately, organization can be more challenging.

Not surprisingly, the biggest stumbling block to their organizational success is lack of time, so developing an efficient system is essential to their success.

• Divide and conquer. As mentioned in yesterday's post, these are the folks who often benefit from having separate storage for separate activities (e.g. a backpack for school items and a duffel bag for their after school sport). Depending on their organizational style, they might also like compartmentalized storage that allows them to see at a glance what's missing from any given container. Separating supplies by activity also prevents items that are needed for one activity from getting mixed in with materials for something else. 

Not all styles can manage drawers,
but I love to to be busy folks
do well with them, especially
with a drawer divider.

• Keep it simple. Since time is at a premium for the I love to be busy person, the best containers are those that require as few steps as possible so that they can put things away even while they're on the go. Lids that lift, pockets with Velcro and open containers are often good storage solutions.

• Set aside time to deal with the inevitable pile-ups.  I love to be busy people may lack time , but they're usually good with schedules. Scheduling in a time to pick up and restock, just as they schedule other activities, can help them restore order and keep track of all their varied supplies.

If you're an I love to be busy person, what are the key ideas you swear by? Share in the comments below!

For printable information sheets 
about containers and the styles, 

click on the CHARTS tab at the top of this page.

The Backpack Project Part 2: Selection Specifics

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I'm feeling a little guilty about last week's post. I mean, it was a lot of work. I actually toyed with putting this week's post first, but for most kids, the hands-on experience of what works and what doesn't is much more useful than a checklist, which is why I put you and your child through the backpack deconstruction. Seeing the default habits in action is step #1 in knowing what to buy (and what not to buy) for this year.

Step #2? The Backpack Superlatives. When it comes to backpacks, a simple checklist just isn't realistic. Unlike other containers, backpacks just don't come in that many options. And even though
organizing by STYLE is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, there's tremendous overlap from one style to the next.

And so, in the spirit of yearbook ballots everywhere, and in an effort to simplify this process, I bring you The Backpack Superlatives. With your child's styles in mind, along with lessons learned from last week's endeavors, use the suggestions below to narrow the search.

Most likely to use all those little pockets: Kids with the I love stuff personal style. These little collectors will find goodies to put in every nook and cranny, and, depending on their organizational style, they may remember where every last little treasure is, too.

Least likely to benefit from all those little pockets: Kids with the I know I put it somewhere organizational style. A specific pocket will be the perfect place to store something in the moment, but when it's time to retrieve things, these kiddos struggle to remember which thing is in which pocket. For your sake and theirs, keep the pockets to a minimum. The fewer places they have to search, the more time they'll save.

Most likely to bring home smashed papers, regardless of the system they set up: Kids with the cram and jam organizational style. Their best bet is one big, open space -- the smaller the subdivisions, the more wrinkled the papers. If you can get these kiddos to put all their papers inside one file folder (no pockets) or clip them to a clipboard, you might minimize the damage.

Most likely to benefit from labels and clear pockets: Kids with the I need to see it personal style. Out of sight is out of mind for these kiddos, so anything that enables them to see things that have been put away is a great assist. Roomy backpacks help, too -- they can peek inside and see what's there. (The I know I put it somewhere organizational style is a close runner-up for this category).

Most likely to need subdivisions or more than one backpack: Kids with the I love to be busy personal style. These kids often do best when things are organized by activity, and they may excel at using multiple folders and/or containers to separate things they need for one activity from things they need for another.

Most likely to use a messenger bag: Kids with the drop and run organizational style. Like their cram and jam counterparts, they need one-step, one-stop storage. The easier it is to put it away, the more likely it is to get there.

One last thought before you go shopping. Keep in mind that containers (and backpacks qualify) have three attributes: form, function and style. While all backpacks serve the same function, they're not all created equal in kids' eyes. Giving your kids some leeway on the form (size and physical attributes) and style (aesthetics) will increase the likelihood they'll put that backpack to use.

freepik.com

That said, we've all played the "they loved it in the store and ignored it at home" game at least once, so before they take home that dream backpack, have them tell you what's going where. Their styles are your trump card.

Not to mention the fact that you're paying for the backpack.

(Yearbook graphic from clipartsheep.org)

Organization Extra: Organization for Teachers: Not Just Binders Any More

#3 (Buzzfeed.com)

On Thursday, I went onto campus and spent about an hour in my office checking emails and making to-do lists. My friends who teach have begun making forays back into their classrooms, preparing for the school year ahead. Some of them never really left.

So, in their honor, I'm sharing a great Buzzfeed post about organization ideas for teachers. Most are designed for elementary school teachers, but many will transfer to secondary and post-secondary staff, as well as parents, or anyone looking for ways to keep paper, pens and the like neat and corralled.

As for me, I'm going into my basement to retrieve what I need to make #19 a reality in my campus office.