Contain Distance Learning in a Dedicated Space

Thanks to a dramatic push to get people vaccinated against the #coronavirus, schools may be able to reopen in the fall. Until then, however, parents will continue to deal with the #clutter and #chaos of at-home learning — papers, screens and projects that ordinarily might be confined to the a classroom. Design your remote learning space to contain everything the child needs to learn, the Khan Academy suggests. Make sure that the workspace has good lighting, no distractions and is comfortable enough for extended sessions of screen-based study.

Create an Effective Remote Learning Area

COVID-19 has forced a lot of families to suddenly embrace remote learning. But even though it is largely performed on screens, remote learning can attract #clutter and will require a dedicated space to be effective. Organized by Heart says to start with the basics: Pick a desk or work surface that’s the right size and height for your children to stay focused; add a corkboard, clips or magnets so they can display their work; and add some easy-access storage space. Most importantly, “Keep things portable and easy to put away.”

More Time at Home Means More Clutter

The #quarantines and #lockdowns of COVID-19 have most people spending more time at home, says Apartment Therapy — and more time at home means more household #clutter. Not only have you stocked up on canned goods and work-from-home supplies, but there may also be school projects, toys and games laying around. To maintain a sense of order, do the little necessities such as taking out the trash and doing the dishes. If you find time in your schedule, tackle a larger #organization project you’d been putting off.

Congratulations, Graduates

Now that those Memorial Day cookouts are safely under their belts, many parents are already planning another seasonal celebration: the graduation party. It’s a final rite of passage among the many that high school offers, and a great chance to celebrate one’s child’s accomplishment.

Graduation parties tend to take the form of open houses, and many families schedule them on weekend days. Collaborate with your graduate on the guest list, and consider dedicating specific hours of the afternoon to family and friends, since, as the Huffington Post points out, they will likely enjoy different kinds of activities.

Party and craft stores will have plenty of ready-made decorations available; you may wish to go with a simple graduation year theme or emphasize school spirit based on the high school attended or the college that awaits. If you want to go beyond the typical themes, HGTV offers plenty of ways to put one’s own creative spin on the event.

Remember that thrift stores can be a valuable resource in preparing for a graduation party. They often stock lots of lightly used apparel from area schools, as well as extra party gear that people just didn’t get the chance to use. And since many thrifts are supplied by donations to ClothingDonations.org, buying from them helps fund valuable veterans’ programs.

For a good graduation nosh, pick items that can sit on a buffet table for a few hours; with an open house, they should be ready whenever the guests drop in. And don’t forget the congratulatory sheet cake! It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it’s almost as much of an expectation as a wedding cake is at a wedding.

If your graduate is going off to college, this is an excellent time to prepare them (and your home) for the next stages in life. After the party is over and the graduation gifts are opened, sit your teen down and discuss an action plan to organize their space for that time in the not-too-distant future when they no longer use it on a day-to-day basis.

They have just 10 to 12 weeks to declutter that space and pick out what they want to keep and/or take with them as they move into campus life, adulthood and ultimately, their own homes. Donate whatever doesn’t make the cut by scheduling a pickup with ClothingDonations.org, and you’ll be able to reclaim some square footage in your home.

Summer Vacation Doesn’t Have to Mean Summer Clutter!

We can hear it now—the final bell ringing that announces the end of another school year, the bus pulling up to your driveway, and dropping your kids off for a fun, sunshine-filled summer vacation. Or maybe you’re returning home with a college student who is all finished with their first year.

Either situation means that your house will be full of people all day, which makes it more difficult to maintain a clean and organized home. What’s more, your kids will be bringing home locker storage units, unused school supplies, and dorm room furniture that they may no longer need.

If you just spring cleaned and organized your belongings for garage sales, you don’t want to refill your home with more stuff! What can you do?

Consider having the kids immediately sort through their belongings as soon as they get home. In the excitement for summer vacation, they may drop their things at the door and run off to their first summer adventure. By having your kids sort through their school supplies and determine whether they’ll need the futon for their dorm room next year, you can get ahead of the clutter now.

Once they’ve sorted through their belongings, have them place unused school supplies and dorm room items, such as hangers or old clothes, into a box. Then visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a donation pickup time. We will gladly take any dorm room furniture that is in good condition, too.

Give us a call today to keep your home spacious and clean!