| If you have a child in school then you've probably | | | | For instance, a compass, protractor, and ruler would fall |
| discovered that there is some "black hole" there, | | | | under the math category, so all math supplies would be |
| where things just walk away and disappear. Your child | | | | labeled in the same color. You can even have a |
| has no idea where his coat went or when exactly it | | | | separate file folder for each subject (in that subject's |
| disappeared. If you're lucky, the missing item(s) may | | | | color) where your child can keep his homework for |
| turn up in the "lost and found" bin, but sometimes it | | | | that particular subject. One way to help homework |
| simply can't be recovered. Kids have so much going | | | | keep from magically "disappearing" before it even |
| on while they're at school that it can be hard for them | | | | reaches school is to have your child put the |
| to keep track of all their belongings. | | | | assignment in his backpack as soon as he finishes it. |
| Solution #1: Labeling | | | | This way it will be ready to go the next morning. |
| A way to circumvent these problems is to label your | | | | Solution #3: Make Your Own Labels |
| child's items-coat, lunchbox, backpack, shoes, hats, | | | | If you're going to be making a lot of labels (and if you |
| school supplies, thermos, etc. You can buy pre-printed | | | | have all the above to do, you will!), then you may find it |
| sticker or iron-on labels at a fraction of the cost that it | | | | cost effective to buy your own label maker. You |
| would take to replace all the missing supplies. Iron-labels | | | | would be surprised to learn that they are not very |
| are especially nice because they do not come off, | | | | expensive. A very nice electronic model can be |
| whereas sticker labels will eventually wear off. You | | | | purchased for less than $30. Labels can be printed out |
| can get the labels pre-printed with your child's name or | | | | in any of the following formats: paper, plastic, metallic, |
| even add your telephone number for easy retrieval. | | | | magnetic and iron-on. You'll probably have so much fun |
| This is especially handy when your teenager has to | | | | that you'll end up going crazy labeling around your |
| bring extra clothes and shoes for gym class. Losing an | | | | home as well. And why shouldn't you? This is a |
| expensive pair of tennis shoes could be very costly to | | | | fantastic little organizational tool that might save you |
| replace. | | | | hours of time later looking for the proverbial |
| Solution #2: Color Coding | | | | "needle-in-a-haystack!" |
| You can take your organization up a notch and try | | | | Organizing with labels is all about saving time-time that |
| some color-coding of your labels. This is especially | | | | would be spent searching endlessly for important tools |
| great for very young children who aren't reading well | | | | for learning. In this busy day and age, who doesn't |
| yet. For example, try placing a colored label on a | | | | want to save some time? The really great thing is that |
| notebook and the same color on the corresponding | | | | you can get started today! Reclaim some sanity for |
| textbook. Use a different color for each subject. Color | | | | yourself and your child's belongings and label, label, label! |
| code your child's school supplies based on the subject. | | | | |