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	Organizing Kids' Papers

	by Ann Gambrell

School kids generate a lot of paper. From the first time they bring home that fistful of drawings from preschool until they leave for college, the PAPER CHASE is on. School papers, homework, magazines, old workbooks, photos, memorabilia and more accumulate and add to the clutter in their bedrooms. Since there are more important issues to address with children, than their collection of papers, let's use the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple silly) concept and make life easier for parent and child. Here are a few simple tips to get you started.

RESPECT THE CHILD'S PROPERTY

One man's trash is another man's treasure, so before discarding anything, check with your child...it may be IRREPLACEABLE. Also, kids frequently BORROW "stuff" from their friends and it may just need to be returned.

FIND A SET SPOT

The old adage of "a place for everything and everything in it's place" may be the key to returning items to their proper place. If there is no designated "place" for the item, it usually ends up in stacks and piles on furniture and floor. Wall SHELVES and bookcases are a natural for not only books, but photo albums, framed photos, rock collections and other "clutter" (treasures)! Decorative boxes or baskets are neat RECEPTACLES for scraps of important papers. Book ends, of their favorite sports figures, animals, cartoon characters or even large rocks, will help keep the shelves orderly.

CREATE A FILE SYSTEM

A file cabinet is a must for all children's rooms. If you buy the sturdiest one you can afford it will serve to keep their papers organized from preschool right through to college. Provide hanging file holders, colored file folders, labels and COLOR-CODING stickers to help them set up a system of simple filing for easy retrieval. Divide the categories according to their classes or projects. When the school year ends they can learn to PURGE their files to make room for next year's fresh paper chase.

DON'T FORGET MEMORABILIA

Keep the few special papers/projects in a storage box under the bed or at the top of the closet. Purchase photo albums and scrap books to save special items for posterity. Be sure to provide an ACID-FREE environment (no PVC) in these books so photos and papers will last a very long time. A bulletin board is good as long as the items pinned there are ROTATED regularly so it doesn't become a "graveyard" of old memories or worse yet...reminders.

START YOUNG

Start paper organizing at any age and encourage the children to keep it going. It lays a great FOUNDATION for "adult " paper handling....which we can all use! Happy organizing!

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