How to Organize and Store Kids School Work

When I receive a phone call from a new client wanting organizing help, invariably the discussion leads to a confession of “I am overwhelmed by my kid’s school papers. They start on my kitchen counters or table and spread all over my home.” Other clients admit that they throw everything away.

Somewhere in between these two thought processes is where I would like our clients to exist. The chosen organizing solution must be simple and low maintenance; otherwise, it won’t be used.

As I mention in my video below, there are different types of systems that go with different types of paper. Today’s focus is organizing kids artwork. Remember that the system I discuss will not help you manage other papers that kids bring home from school. That is a different blog post for another time.

Collect School Papers

The first step in organizing kids artwork is designating a holding place to accumulate all of your kids’ school papers, including the artwork. You will also need a container large enough to hold construction paper art. Over the years I have used a common brown cardboard box, but you can use a wicker basket or even a plastic bin as well.

The location of this place is VERY important. If it is too far away from the place in which you view and go over papers, the papers will collect on the table or stairs and get moved around or scattered on the floor. Our family school paper boxes have always been in our garage. Everyone in the family knows to place school papers and artwork in their individual boxes. Do not mix your kids’ papers.

Take time as they come in each day to look at the papers, admire them with your children, correct them, and then you or your child take them to their holding place. You will do this for the nine months of the school year. You don’t have to make a decision on anything, or place them in scrapbooks, albums, or in memorabilia boxes.

Decide What to Keep and What to Toss

During the summer months when your kids are out of school, sit down and sort each child’s papers into three categories: everyday school work, artwork, and portfolio. It is easier to make decisions on what to save and what to discard when you can view the entire year at once. Some of the artwork will be tossed, while others will be keepers.

Decide on a Storage Solution

Once you have decided what you are keeping, it is time to decide how it will be stored. Watch my video for storage solutions and select the one that is right for you. Another idea for long term storage of kids artwork is a large accordion style portfolio that can be found at The Container Store® or most art supply or teacher supply stores.

Purchase a large portfolio that expands out with accordion style dividers for each of your kids. The individual pockets will separate each school year, making it easy to identify the progress of your child. It’s that simple!

Setting up a system for collecting your kids’ school work is the first step, followed by scheduling a day during the summer months to go through those papers. My June article will address the other two systems for school papers: the Everyday School Papers and the Portfolio.  Armed with this additional information, you’ll be able to efficiently organize all of your kids’ school papers!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxrSHwDK4UI

Lorraine Brock is a professional organizer, family coach, speaker, and founder and owner of Get Organized! Get Organized! is a professional organizing company in the Dallas, Texas area. Get Organized! specializes in organizing and de-cluttering homes as well as implementing systems in the home for better family management.

A popular media guest, Lorraine has appeared on Dallas’ two top morning television shows: Good Morning Texas and Good Day Fox, and has been featured on various radio outlets. She has been
hallmarked in many local, regional, and national print and online magazines, such as the Dallas Morning News, The North Texas Kids Magazine, SheKnows.com, and Daily Candy Kids. To get more information about Lorraine, visit www.GetOrganized.ws.

7 Tips for a Successful Sleep Away

Camp Adventure!

by Sara Kendall

The first time at a sleep away camp is a wonderful rite of passage for children. They make new friends, learn new skills and exert some independence. These guidelines will set your child up for a successful summer adventure and increase their chances for an all-out blast!

Get Acquainted

It is important for your child to be familiar with the camp facilities. Review the website and brochures. Get an understanding of the daily routine, camp layout and activities.

Where’s the bathroom? If in a separate building, prepare your child. Practice walking outside at night with a flashlight to give them a better understanding of the limited view and the sounds of the night.

Sleeping Arrangements

Whether a tent or cabin, your child will be bunking with others. If your child is a sleep away camp veteran, this shouldn’t be a concern. If they’ve never experienced a sleepover, plan a couple to give them an understanding of appropriate behavior when sharing sleeping quarters with others.

Bunk beds are common, with top bunks being a highly sought after prize. Check with the camp to see if bunks are assigned. If not, arrive early, ahead of the crowd for a chance to claim one of the premium sleeping spots.

The Pack Up

Get your child involved so they know everything going with them. Start with the camp’s packing list. Nothing says camp like comfortable clothes. Leave fashion statements at home. Label clothing and personal items with your child’s name. This may avoid a misunderstanding with a friend and help with the return of a missing item.

Check the camp’s policy on electronic items. Some confiscate them until the end of camp. Knowing this could save your child some unwanted hassle.

Must Haves

Bug spray is necessary to keep pesky bugs from biting. Sunscreen is essential to avoid sunburn. Head wear can provide shade from the sun. Rain gear and rubber boots will come in handy on rainy days. A laundry bag is great place to stow dirty clothes.

Fun Extras

A writing journal and camera are perfect items to record and remember their adventure. Stationery and stamps will give them a way to share their camp experiences with friends and family. A little hand-held fan can ease the heat in a tent or cabin that isn’t air conditioned.

Proper Hygiene

Talk with your child about a few hygiene tips to avoid unpleasant discomforts. It’s important to wear flip-flops in a shower to avoid contact from the bacteria that can be found in public showers. Wearing flip-flops in a shower is good, but wearing swimwear is not. It’s okay to bring your bathing suit in the shower to give it a rinse. To get yourself clean, you need to shower sans clothing.

A Supportive Send-off

As the first day of camp gets closer, the excitement will certainly build, but so can some apprehension. If you see uncertainty clouding your child’s confidence, have a spirit boosting chat. Be positive. Send the message that you are excited for your child and want them to have fun at sleep away camp.

Sara Kendall is a mother of two daughters and freelance writer who contributes to a variety of parenting publications and websites.

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Lone Star Circus School summer camp is a day-camp experience designed to introduce children at any level of physical development and skill to the excitement of circus arts including aerial silks, aerial ring, trapeze, juggling, contortion, rolla bolla, trampoline, clowning and balancing. We inspire campers to discover their unique sense of creative expression by providing opportunities to reach new potentials and expand skills.

Circus Camp Info:

• Where:   The Palaestra
• When:  June 11-15, 2012 from 9am to noon
• Who:  children ages 7 – 16
• Cost: $45 per day or $205 per child for the entire week
• To register call 214-206-1449

Lone Star Circus is the performing arm of Lone Star Circus Arts Center, a Dallas-based non-profit organization, whose purpose is to promote circus arts through training, performance and community outreach.  Its Founder is Fanny Kerwich, an 8th generation circus artist of French descent, who started teaching circus arts several years ago at Dallas International School, and in her own studio, The Expressionists.

Lone Star Circus Arts Center was incorporated in 2006. Its circus school, Lone Star Circus School, organizes recreational and professional training in circus arts for children and adults.  They also provide circus-themed entertainment for fundraisers and corporate and civic events.

For more information about Lone Star Circus, visit their website: www.lonestarcircus.org, connect with them on Facebook or follow their tweets on Twitter.

Teens and Hand Sanitizers: Intentional Misuse and Abuse

The Issue

Recently, poison centers and emergency rooms have noticed a troubling new trend – teens drinking ethanol hand sanitizers to get drunk.

The Facts

• Hand sanitizers contain more than 60 percent ethyl alcohol (ethanol) –more than most hard liquor.

• Drinking ethanol-based hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning.

• Some teens “distill” the hand sanitizer through a process they find online.

The Symptoms

Alcohol poisoning is dangerous! Symptoms include confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, blue-tinged or pale skin, low body temperature, and unconsciousness.

The Actions

• Talk to your teens about the dangers of drinking hand sanitizers.

• Explain why alcohol poisoning is not a laughing matter.

• Buy foam hand sanitizers rather than liquid or gel.

• Buy hand sanitizers that are ethanol-free.

• Monitor your teens and their use of sanitizers.

• If you think someone has drunk hand sanitizer to get high,call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the experts at your local poison center. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop!

For more information, visit www.poisonprevention.org, connect on Facebook or follow tweets on Twitter.

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Although the stores are filled with everything from perfume to jewelry, nothing tops a handmade gift. Even if you have to make it yourself!

With that being said, the best handmade gift for Mom (or someone special) this year has got to be a silhouette. Silhouettes are all the rage right now. Surf the web or browse Pinterest, and you will find these vintage images are getting a modern make-over.

For Mom: A Silhouette

But without Photoshop or a degree in graphic design, these projects might look a bit intimidating at first. And yes-  I know people have been making silhouettes forever! But when I googled the process and read how to do it the ‘old fashioned way’, I was a bit perplexed. How do you get a child to hold-still that long?!

So I decided to tackle the project in the way that made most sense to me. No complicated editing. Just simple steps that will help you create a timeless piece of art. There are probably more efficient ways. But this worked for us.

Here is what you will need:
-camera
-computer
-black card stock
-a pencil

I had my girls sit still for a minute (turn on the tv to help!) and took a photo of their profile. Having a window or light source behind them seemed to help illuminate their little faces.

Then I inserted the photos into a Word document and made each picture big enough to fill an 8.5 x11 document. I printed out the enlarged photos and then cut out each face.

And then I traced them on black card stock and cut those out.

To show off them off, I decided to place them on a newspaper covered background. So I used mod podge to adhere the newsprint to a piece of cardboard. And then I used mod podge again to attach the silhouettes.

And here is the finished framed project! But now I am thinking they may need bows.

There we go! Now they are finished!

Blue Jello + Mandarin Orange =

Fun Sailboat Treat

Here is a quick, easy and cute treat for a special snack day at school or a nautical theme birthday party. My daughter was studying ocean and water this week. I made blue jello in a cup for the ocean water and topped it off with a mandarin orange sailboat.

Ingredients/Supplies:

• Plastic Cups
• Blue Jello
• Can of Mandarin oranges
• Toothpicks
• White Paper and Stapler

Mix jello according to directions in large container (I used a plastic pitcher) pour the liquid jello into the individual cups filling each cup about 1/2 full. Let them set for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.

I used my cupcake carrier pan, much easier to transport the individual cups into the fridge AND more importantly to school the next day. I just put on the lid and it was ready to go. *So many great uses for my cupcake carrier, can’t live with out it!

To make the “sails”:

Fold a piece of white paper in half and on the closed edge cut out a long triangle, place the tooth pick inside and staple the paper to the toothpick.

After the jello has set, put the toothpick into one mandarin orange segment and place into the blue jello. Done.

So cute, so easy and my daughter loved taking them to school to share with her friends.

Library Reading Program Allows Kids to DREAM BIG and Earn Circus Tickets!

Kids, are you interested in reading some cool library books?  Are you interested in earning a circus ticket at the same time?  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and area libraries will be hosting some serious fun with Reading with Ringling Bros! beginning in June.  All branches of the Dallas Public Library System will be participating, along with many of the outlying suburban cities.

The reading program is easy and fun for kids to participate.  The best part is that kids can earn a  Ringling Bros. circus ticket by simply doing their library reading!  Children from ages 2-12 simply need to enroll with the librarian, who will give kids everything to start their library reading.  This unique library reading program will encourage children not only to read, but also to discover, dream and learn!

For more information, visit www.ReadingwithRingling.com.

Want to learn what it takes to soar on the flying trapeze or just what goes into those cream pies that the clowns throw?  Or maybe learn some fun facts about one of the more than 100 cities the mile-long circus train visits or how to teach your old dog a new trick?  It’s easy!  Just visit your local library and enjoy the magic of reading.

Sci-Tech Discovery Center has a swashbuckling summer of science planned

Sci-Tech offers week long discovery camps that are either half day (10:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm) or full-day (10:00am-3:00pm with free lunch supervision from 12:00pm-1:00pm). Camps begin June 11th and run through August 13th, and are open to students who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade. Here’s a detailed camp schedule.

Each week has a different theme such as Ninja Science, Candy Factory, Star Wars Science, Creature Feature, Splash and more! Camps are $90 for members and $100 for non-members with extended childcare available for an additional fee. Registration includes admission to the museum, loads of fun hands-on activities and a camp T-shirt.

If your child loves hands-on science fun, Sci-Tech Discovery Center’s summer camps are just the thing!

For more information on Sci-Tech’s summer camps, visit their website (www.mindstretchingfun.org), connect with them on Facebook or follow their tweets on Twitter. You can also see cool experiments on their You Tube page.

For more information on summer camps in DFW, check out our Summer Camp Guide.

GIVEAWAY: Enter for a chance to win a FREE summer camp registration!

Applies to any of Sci-Tech Discovery’s summer camps.

Three easy steps to enter this giveaway:

1) Become a Facebook Fan

“Like” the North Texas Kids Facebook page AND the Sci-Tech Discovery Center Facebook page. If you are already a fan, thanks!

2) Subscriber Referral

Refer at least one friend to subscribe to our e-newsletter that we send out on Mondays and Thursdays. Your friend should use the SIGN UP BOX BELOW.  Be sure that your friend(s) enters your first and last name in the “Referred by” field so you can get the referral credit for your giveaway entry. Note: only valid, confirmed NEW referred subscriptions will be considered for this part of the contest.

3) Confirm with a Blog Comment

When you are done with 1 and 2 above, leave a comment below that you have done so and tell us why your child would enjoy summer camp at Sci-Tech Discovery Center.

Contest ends on Saturday, May 12th. Winner will be notified by email. The email address we use to contact you will be the one you have used to leave your comment below.

Good luck and have fun!

Email Marketing You Can Trust

Easy to Make Art Displays for Your Child’s Art

by Samantha Conner

If you have small children, then you know about the ‘art guilt’. The first day my daughter came home from preschool, her backpack was filled with glittery, painty, sandy creations. I was thrilled! I excitedly displayed my kid’s art all over our fridge. The next day, more of the same. I was elated to see all the things she could do. But after about 2 weeks, I could scarcely find the handle of the fridge, much less the water dispenser. What was I supposed to do with all of her art? Our poor fridge couldn’t keep up with rate at which she was creating- and it was only September!

What do you do with your kids’ art? Do you keep each precious scribble? Do you treasure each painted paper? Have you ever thrown anything away? (Gasp!!)

I will be the first to admit that I have and still do ‘recycle’ my girls’ papers.  It is impossible to keep it all without ending up on a reality TV show about hoarding. So if you have stacks of papers on counters and drawings popping out of cabinets and boxes- then keep reading. I have found a few ways to manage the ‘art’ and not feel guilty!

First, I think it is essential to realize that not everything is ‘ahhh-mazing’. Some pieces are merely practice. You can pop those into the recycling bin and never look back. (A word to the wise, make sure you bury those papers way down into the bin, my daughter has been known to pull out her work from the trash can and bring it back in the house. Eek!)

Second, choose pieces that are meaningful and find a way to display them. In our house we have several ways of showing off our girls’ creations. These ‘handmade displays’ are aesthetically pleasing and practical. The best part is, anyone can make them  at home without spending much money!

I have framed some of my very favorite pieces and added them to our gallery wall. You can find inexpensive frames at resale shops and garage sales.

In my oldest daughter’s room, I screwed two drawer-pulls into the wall. Then I tied yarn to each end and added clothespins. This is a great way to enjoy a large [body] of work and since it is down low, my daughter is in charge of hanging up her [own] work.

In my youngest daughter’s room, I painted an old frame and then added two lines of sisal twine. The twine is attached to the back of the frame with hot glue and a staple. Her display also uses clothespins, but since she is so young, it is up and out of reach.

In my craft room, I used another large, old frame which you could find at Goodwill or on sale at a crafty store, and added chicken wire to the inside. I used a staple gun to attach the wire to the back of the frame. And once again, I added clothespins! This display works as an inspiration board and it allows me to hang up all the cute things my girls make.

Now that you know how to display your kids’ art, the third rule for enjoying your kids’ art is to rotate those creations. Every month or so, we go through the displays and change them out. My daughter picks what to keep and what to discard. We like to keep it fresh and interesting. A few creations, that I am especially sentimental about end up in a keepsake box. Or sometimes, I take a photo of the work and add to our family blog.  I print the blog out every year and have it bound in a book, so by taking a photo of it and adding to our site, I know that I can essentially ‘keep it forever’.

If you need a little more inspiration or a few more ideas, check out my Pinterest board “Display It- Kids Artwork”.  I have pinned images of some beautifully framed children’s art work, modern clotheslines from Ikea, and other cool ideas like scanning art to create fantastic collages.

Now it’s time to take back your fridge and loose the ‘art guilt’!  Displaying your kids’ art gives both you and them a sense of pride. All of their hard work can be enjoyed in fabulous, meaningful ways. And, there is no better or more affordable art than what your little ones create for you.  So don’t be afraid to recycle, display and rotate!

Samantha Conner: In my “past life” I earned a degree in Education at TCU and taught elementary school. But these days, I am working as a super stay-at-home-mom with a serious craft addiction. During naptime, I am an avid blogger, runner, and nester. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking and sell my fabulous handmade bows, tutus, and hair accessories. Follow my crafting journey at craftytexasgirls.com

Tips to Maintain Pregnancy Health

by Katie Moore

Making the decision to have a child is a huge one that requires a lot of thought and a lot of life-style changes for a woman. A mommy-to-be will need to forgo her enjoyable after work cocktail and sushi roll for a while and focus on taking care of her body so that her little one will be as healthy as possible. Moms need to know that everything they eat, do, drink and feel is directly affecting the child that they carry; pregnancy is the time in a woman’s life she needs to be as healthy as possible.

Doctor Appointments

When a mother finds out that she is expecting, her first step is to set up a doctor’s appointment with her OB-GYN to begin monitoring her health and the baby’s development. The amount of appointments with the doctor will increase as her term progresses; these appointments are a great time to bring up any questions or concerns about the pregnancy or the upcoming delivery. Doctor’s are the best resource for medical questions concerning processes and options, like pain management medication and umbilical cord blood banking for example.

Eating Right

Pregnant women need to make sure they incorporate an additional 300 calories per day into their diets around the start of their second trimester. Pregnancy is not the time for women to start a weight-loss diet. The added calories are particularly important for moms in the last portion of their pregnancy when their unborn babies are growing at a rapid pace. Eating right means forgoing alcohol, raw fish such as sushi, many fish that contain mercury and eating as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Many women experience cravings for sweets when pregnant, which are fine, but pregnancy is not an excuse to overindulge. Healthier habits during pregnancy will help speed along recovery after delivery.

Vitamins

Expectant moms need a lot of vitamins to maintain their health and to ensure that their babies are as healthy as possible. This means taking prenatal vitamins throughout pregnancy, and getting plenty of the good vitamins. Moms should make sure they are getting plenty of these vitamins: A, D, C, E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, calcium, iron and zinc. Each of these is vital to the health and well-being of both mom and baby. Most doctors will recommend a prenatal vitamin that will give a mother these needed vitamins but a balanced diet will also ensure that a mother is getting the nutrition she needs.

Exercise

Exercise is a great way to stay healthy and it is very beneficial to both mom and her baby. Low-impact exercises, like walking, yoga and swimming, will help mom feel better and the baby will benefit from this as well. Moms who exercise regularly will feel more energized, have better quality sleep and will usually have an easier time during delivery. While exercise is important for pregnant women, mom should always make time to rest as well. Getting adequate sleep and relaxing are both beneficial for pregnant mothers and their unborn babies.

When a woman becomes pregnant, there are plenty of things she can do to maintain her health for her baby. If a woman is a smoker, she needs to stop. If a woman knows smokers, she needs to ask them to stop smoking in her presence. Moms should talk walks, be active, get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water and enjoy as much of their pregnancy as they can. Some moms are tired, but that tapers off after the first trimester. It is important that moms don’t overdo it and risk their health and/or the health of their babies.

Katie Moore is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.

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