With a house full of kids, you can probably imagine that things can get disorganized pretty easily around here. When we first began our search for our forever home a few years ago, it was really important to me that we have a designated area in our house for our kids to drop all of their stuff. We were lucky enough to find a home that we loved that also had a mudroom, but even if your house does not, you can still create a space to organize all of your kid’s belongings. From backpacks and lunch boxes, to shoes, and sports equipment, today I’m going to share some of the ways we utilize our mudroom, and how we’ve created the perfect “drop zone” for our children.
Hooks & Baskets are Key
Whether you have a dedicated mudroom, or simply a closet when you enter your home, I am a huge fan of having a designated hook for each child, and a basket as well. In our house each of my kids has their own hook to hang their coats, backpacks, etc., and a basket for shoes, and sports equipment, or whatever else they might need. This eliminates any chance that your kids will just drop things on the floor when they enter the house. It also helps that everything has its place, so there is no need to search for something just as you’re heading out the door. We all know how hectic it can be to get out of the house with kids!
We love the Eco Signature Backpacks you see here, not only for their durability and functionality, but also for the fun prints, and the fact that they’re crafted of poly made from recycled plastic bottles, which keeps them out of landfills and water supplies, and they require up to 53% less energy to produce. The shoulder straps on these backpacks are adjustable, and so is the sternum strap to ensure a proper fit. Plus, there are lots of compartments, and an attachment loop for the Eco Lunch Pack, which we also love.
We also adore these Eco Reusable Lunch Sets. Each set includes one snack bag and one sandwich bag. The bags are also made from plastic bottles, and they’re durable and easy to clean. We simply turn them inside out and hand wash them.
Create A Spot for a Family Calendar and Important Paper Storage
A couple of other things that I have found to be total necessities when it comes to keeping our family organized are a large family calendar, and a spot to store important papers. I prefer to use a large dry erase calendar, and I assign each family member their own color. This way, the calendar is in a spot where we can all see it daily, and both my husband and I can see what each child has going on at all times. Four kids means lots of activities, and I’ve found that writing everything out in one spot keeps me on top of where everyone needs to be and when. A wall-mounted paper organizer, or a small basket is a great way to store any important papers that your children might bring home. Forms, school work that needs signed, etc. Keeping everything in one place makes it a lot easier to find, and I have found that doing this is a more efficient way to ensure that things make it into my kid’s backpacks and back to school.
Regardless of your set up, and what your home allows for, I think some type of system will truly help you and your family save time and stay more organized!
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