Homemaking

Kids Paperwork Organization Ideas

Just yesterday, I was chatting with a friend about how difficult it can be to stay up on kids’ papers! It’s one of those categories that can create real clutter really quickly if you don’t have systems in place to handle it. This week, I’ve been getting my house ready for fall and back to school and organizing those papers is very much on my mind. I thought I’d share a few items I found on Amazon that may help create control.

These items cover a number of situations you may encounter with kids’ paperwork – storing it, dealing with the day-to-day homework, and displaying the very best pieces.

#1 – ALEX Art Expanding Portfolio

My friend said she ended up buying these expanding portfolios for her kids. They have 9 pockets so you can store special projects from grades K – 8. There’s even a slot for the child’s photo on the front! I love how these portfolios hold over-sized artwork up to 12″ x 18″. I’m definitely thinking of picking up a couple of these to store my kids’ very best work. This item has received very solid ratings on Amazon from other customers!

#2 – 3-Compartment Folder Holder

How do you handle all the papers and homework that come in on a daily basis from school? This paper holder could fit on a kitchen counter or other space to hold paperwork and folders until it’s time to deal with them.

#3 – Classroom Keeper 6 Drawer Storage Shelf

There are so many possibilities for how you could use this organizer! Give each child his/her own drawer, store filler and computer paper, create incoming/outgoing slots, use it for sorting mail. I am envisioning cute labels on this one and I think it would tuck nicely in a pantry or counter space.

#4 – Classroom Keeper Magazine Holders, set of 6 in assorted colors

Here’s another option for dealing with paperwork: color coded holders! One could be for homework that needs to be done, another could be for items to be filed, another still for your own bills/action items.

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Several years ago, I was on the hunt for a system to help organize my bills. It seemed that whenever it was time to pay them, I’d have to fish out bills from my car, office, counters, and various other places. Obviously, this was not good. It was time to put on my big girl pants and get organized.

My first thought was a folder, but this didn’t stay tidy for long. I decided that ultimately the system I landed on must be:

• Quick and painless place to store bills as they come. 
• Visually tidy and pleasant to use when it’s time to pay bills.

After some contemplation (and a trip to the store), I decided to go with a binder:

While a binder may seem like an unusual choice, I can tell you that this has worked for me for over 5 years now. In fact, I have this same binder and used it just the other day to pay bills. Let me walk you through how I have mine organized.

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Got decluttering and organizing on the brain? Maybe it’s a New Year’s Resolution for you, but you’re unsure where to start. I thought I’d compile a short list of some of my best sources of inspiration!

How One Family Downsized & Decluttered. Last year, I had the chance to interview Dawnie Campbell on my blog. I absolutely love her story, because I think a lot of us can relate to it! She craved order, but found herself in a very cluttered home. In this post, she shares how her family managed to give away half (yes, HALF!) of all their belongings. Her story is both inspiring and encouraging, particularly for those of us who have tried and failed to declutter before.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up, by Marie Kondo (Amazon). This little book doesn’t take long to read through. It offers both the inspiration and how to you need to tidy your house once and for all. Instead of focusing room by room, Kondo approaches categories (clothes, books, papers, sentimental items). She also provides practical advice for identifying which items to keep, and which to part with. 

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