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Kids: Storing Crafts
 Kids love doing arts and crafts projects but storing all the bits and pieces can be tricky.
Select one area to store all craft items and try this:
1. Sort - Put like items together: tapes and adhesives, scissors and hole punchers, felt pieces, stickers, etc.
2. Store - Select a box only slightly bigger than the grouping to be stored. Use clear plastic bins so you can see what is inside. Bins from The Container Store close well and are usually in stock. Papers stay neater when in a paper sorter.
3. Label - Each bin should be clearly labeled to identify it's contents.
Involving your child in the process of sorting helps them develop valuable organizing skills. They are also more likely to maintain a system they were part of developing. |
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Time: Catch up on Reading
 Magazines, books, memos and notes from school can easily pile up waiting to be read.
While it is often difficult to dedicate large chunks of time, there are often small segments of time that can be used to catch up on some reading. Here are a few examples:
1. Doctor's Office - Rather than reading their magazines, bring your own reading while you wait.
2. Carpools - Keep reading material in your car to read while you are waiting at school, soccer or religious school.
3. Lunch - If you're eating alone, read for enjoyment. If you're meeting a friend, bring something to read in case he/she is late.
Catching 10 or 15 minutes of reading will significantly reduce your reading backlog. Also consider a few minutes of reading prior to bedtime.
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Home & Office: Manuals
 Do you find electronics or appliance manuals in drawers and files throughout your home? Here's an easy way to have them handy should you need to reference one.
Collect all of the manuals in your home; separate appliances from electronics.
Put them in clear plastic bins and label them. You can waste a lot of time searching when you need a manual. Having them in one or two bins means a 5 minute search, at most.
The oven manual is one of the most frequently used. Consider copying the instructions for self-cleaning and keeping it taped inside the cabinet closest to the oven.
Due to the infrequency of use, keep the manual bins stored in a basement or garage. Hanging files are not a good option because they often break under the weight.
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