Nancy Haworth, professional organizer and owner of On Task Organizing, LLC, says that having a place for everything is another key to morning success. She suggests creating drop zones for every item your kid will need in the morning, including hooks for backpacks and coats, a place for their umbrella, and cubbies or drawers for their permission slips and school work.
Before going to bed, she suggests reviewing these boxes to ensure all the paperwork is in its place and signed, if needed.
Trish Wilkinson of The Brain Stages seconds this notion, but also suggests letting your kid choose the best spots for their items. This will help the process stick a little better.
Put a picture on each cubby or drawer so the kids know who’s is whose, says Lorrie Holm of Impact Organizing LLC.
Make sure everyone understands the system — don’t just set is up and expect your kids to know what to do. And with kids, this will likely take multiple explanations before they completely catch on.