Take Command of Your Family and Foxborough Students This Year.

My kindergartner woke up on New Years day excited to start 1st grade on January 3, 2012 (when Foxborough students return to school after Winter Vacation). Well, imagine his disappointment when I told him a New Year does not mean a new school year.

Rather than dwelling on the misunderstanding, we decided to act as if it were a fresh start to Kindergarten. Where we were lacking and unprepared in September, we vowed to be better adjusted and more organized in January. It was our second chance at an organized entry into Kindergarten.

Using the blogosphere, I gathered ideas on how to better organize my family and to ensure my kindergartner and future Foxborough student's would succeed with the help of a fully functional and organized command center.

What is a command center?

A command center is a way to take charge of your families day-to-day needs and activities using various boards, calendars and organizational tools at one location in your home.

What to include in a command center:

Corkboard, magnet board, chalk board, and/or dry erase board:

Using one or all of these is a great way to write down, pin-up and keep reminders and important forms in view.

Calendars:

Family calendars and school/classroom calendars are perfect to include in your command center. If each child has a spot for their own classroom calendar, you can keep track of which days are library days (and book returns), as well as days of special events. There is nothing worse than forgetting to send in your child's library book or dressing them in orange when they should have been in holiday colors for a celebration day.

Hooks:

Hooks are necessary for hanging jackets and backpacks for children.

Bins:

Bins are useful in sorting out random clutter, such as shoes, winter gear, and sporting equipment. Keep the bins labeled for a more organized chaos.

Mail sorter:

This is more for Mom and Dad; however, you could create an "In" box for when children have notes home from teachers. Likewise, creating an "Out" box that children have to check each day could be beneficial as well for sending notes into school.

Chore Charts:

By using charts for each family member, house chores are more likely to be completed in an orderly fashion. Checking each chart at night is a great way to keep each family member accountable. At Abbieshouse, you can find affordable and functional chore charts to include in your command center.

Blogger Sarah Macklem of The Yellow Cape Cod has taken unused hallway space and turned it into a family command center using tote bags and a chalkboard. Her simple and lovely design is functional without being overwhelming.

While my family's command center is a work-in-progress, I do find that I am no longer scrambling to find important forms, or stray mittens. In fact, when I think back to September and the start of the school year, I am certain that the New Year will be a much welcomed fresh start.