Controlling Kids' School Paperwork | i should be mopping the floor
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Controlling Kids' School Paperwork


School paperwork kinda makes me bonkers. Not only does my first grader bring home reams of papers every night, my three-day-a-week preschooler isn't far behind him. I have a large Rubbermaid tub where I file the *special* items that I want to keep forever. And I've shown you my kids' artwork display which lots of things end up on, too. But, oh that paperwork...the random notes, the ongoing stuff and book orders galore. My fridge magnets can only take so much!

I hosted a Willow House catalog party last month and used some of my hostess rewards to purchase these two baskets. They showed them in the catalog with fruits and vegetables. But, I knew right away what I wanted them for.

I hung them on the wall in my kitchen and labeled them (with a chalkboard marker and another Willow House label thingy) with each child's name. My boys love that they have their names on them. It really helps them take ownership.

I grabbed a few file folders (I love the recycled ones...the color is nice & not-so-officey). These are the categories that work best for us. At the end of the month, I clean everything out. Everything that needs to be a keepsake goes in that Rubbermaid, everything else {secretly...when everyone's sleeping} goes into the circular file/recycingbin. ;)

I let my kids empty their "Take-Home Folders" everyday into these...so they may not be as tidy as they would be if I did it. But, letting them do this themselves is super important to me. I want this to be a working and learning activity as well (always nice to raise little organized people, right?).

So far, this has worked out great for us! What do you do with all of your kids' school papers?

If you're interested in these particular baskets, I know a couple of sweet friends that sell Willowhouse. Let me know and I'll put you in touch with them.









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15 comments:

  1. Love this idea. So pretty, too.

    For mine I put magnets on the back of some clipboards from Target. Those then hang on the side of my fridge. It's a similar concept (but yours is prettier ;)

    ~Elena
    http://acasarella.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh my goodness, Kristi, I have loved these baskets ever since I saw the pin on Pinterest for using them to hold fruit and vegetables. I have been searching for an equivalent here in Canada ever since. Great idea to use them for holding paperwork!

    Claire @ alittlesomethinginthemeantime.blogspot.com

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  3. I love these the baskets are big, I have been trying to do this but the pockets I have are to narrow

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  4. Great way to turn a pile of papers into something much more pleasant looking! My oldest started kindergarten this year and there seems to be a perpetual stack of papers on my kitchen counter!!!

    makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com

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  5. Great idea! I totally need to implement this idea. My daughters' papers drive me crazy too. I need some more organization! I would love for you to come by my Creative Inspirations party to link this up! I would love to have you!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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  6. Great idea! I was looking for baskets to hang on the wall!! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  7. This is REALLY a great idea Kristi. The baskets are oh so cute... and the labels... AWESOME!!!

    I hope you'll link this up on The DIY Dreamer :)
    http://thediydreamer.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-6.html

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  8. Great idea!!
    ... looks pretty too :)

    Greetings from Australia♥

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  9. love this idea, just wish I could find baskets like that in new zealand

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  10. This is so great! I REALLY need to implement something like this at my house!

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  11. Love it, Kristi!! Thanks so much for sharing the link with me and using my Willow House products to make your life simpler. I'd love to help any of your readers do the same thing, so I'll offer 15% their first time purchase in my store http://partywithbrooke.willowhouse.com. If you have a blog and want to feature some products, I'll discount those, too. Just make sure you mention Kristi's awesome design blog when you checkout and I will mail you the discount. So glad I found this site!! ; )

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  12. This is great! I love those deep baskets and the recycled paper file folders give it a nice feel.

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  14. I want those baskets!!! I have looked all over online for them several times, but every time I find them, they are sold out/out of stock!
    :(

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