Since you communicate so much to your child by example, why not demonstrate the use of good organizing tools in helping your child get ready for a new school year?

1. Set up one family calendar in a central location. Encourage everyone to fill in their activities and keep the schedules up-to-date so that at a glance you can see and resolve conflicts.
2. Have a set place for homework assignments. Make sure all the necessary items (pencils, paper, scotch tape, markers, scissors, etc.) are at hand to eliminate the disruption of wandering off to find something.
3. Establish general rules for study hours, television and internet hours, and bedtimes. Do this at the beginning of the year. It is difficult to try to put something into place once routines are already established.
4. Designate a spot for each person to put their possessions when they come home. Having stacked bins by the door is one solution. Each family member can put in their needed items for the next day, including books and backpacks.
5. A small hanging file holder can be placed in the main family area. Use this to collect papers that need to be read or signed by you. Then move the papers to the child’s individual folder so he or she can collect them in the morning. This will eliminate stray or lost papers and last-minute morning searches.
6. Encourage your children to write everything down at school that they need to remember when they get home. It lets you know what the assignments are, as well as what topics you might need to discuss.

Habits that you can instill in your children now will not only help them have a successful school year but will serve as training for the future. The key is that you should also be modeling the same behaviors.