A: As part of your evening routine, have your children pack their book bags each evening with everything they will need–homework, books, lunch money–so they are ready to go in the morning to avoid last minute searches and chaos.
Post a checklist by the door of everything to be included in their book bags. Also, on weekends, help them go through their backpacks to remove old work (save in a folder for use later if needed) and see if they need any new supplies like notebook paper. Reserve a shelf or cabinet by the front door for items that your child takes to school every day. A little organization and pre-planning can help with the chaos.