With school less than a week away it’s time for you to help your child get organized. Kick off the school year right with these 5 back to school organization tips:

Choose a communication station in your home to display a family calendar. Have each family member update as activities arise so everyone’s schedule is readily available. Remember to encourage everyone to check it daily.

Keep or donate. Since you’re child got new clothes and shoes for the school year, donate the gently used clothes they’ve outgrown. Sort through items along with your child and discuss what should be kept and what should be donated.

Prepare the night before. Along with your child, pick out and iron clothes, pack bookbags, make lunches and discuss the next day’s schedule.

Create a file. Help your children file their graded school work and handouts in designated folders. Color code by subject to make retrieval easy.

Prepare a study area. Allow your child to pick out an appropriate study area you both agree on. Outfit it with an adequate amount of workspace and supplies to limit distractions. Also, designate a time to complete all studying and homework daily.

Images from Good Housekeeping

Back in June we gave you some tips on cleaning out your garage to make room to store your car, but what about your bikes? If every member of your family has a bike storing them in the garage can take up a good deal of space. Having a bike rack or two installed on the ceiling or walls will save you space and keep your garage organized. We’ve compiled a few space saving bike racks for you to consider:

• Floor Mounted Vertical Rack, mounted to the floor and extends to the ceiling stacking 2 bikes on top of each other.
• Ceiling Mounted Pulley, pulleys are mounted to the ceiling that raise and lower bikes with manual controls. Because it’s suspended, this rack option leaves you with extra floor and wall space for full garages.
• Vertical Rack, attaches to the wall and can hold 2 full sized bikes vertically. Features 2 shelves for storage and works well in small spaces.
• Horizontal Rack, the rack mounts to the wall and can hold 2 full sized bikes horizontally. It also features a wire shelf for accessory storage.

Images from Closet Factory

Each month Richmondmom.com recognizes one mom in or around Richmond for her outstanding leadership, achievement, and contributions to the community. The August Rockstar is Mechanicsville’s own Romp n’ Roll business owner Rachel Reynolds. In addition to owning a business Reynolds and her husband started their own fundraising non-profit, CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation, in honor of their daughter Charlotte Jennie (CJ). As CJ endured cancer treatment the Reynolds family received so much support they were inspired to help other families who were in similar situations. Today CJSTUF continues to support families suffering with financial obligations due to terminal illnesses.

Congratulations Rachel from everyone here at Closet Factory Richmond, you are an inspiration to all and we thank you for what you do!

For more information and to get involved with CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation visit the site.

Image from Richmondmom.com

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