Take this pop quiz:

Where do you keep school lunch menus?

Permission slips?

Class schedules?

Where do your children put papers that need to be signed?

What do you do when two children to be in two places at the same time?

Does your child have everything he/she needs to get off to school in the morning?

If you're not sure the answers to these questions, we can help. For most parents, the year really begins when the kids go back to school. Instead of waiting for January to resolve to get organized, start the school year off by creating a can’t miss organizing system. Two must-have items? A filing center and a good planner.

If you have school-aged children, you know how many papers come home and how many projects, activities and appointments need to be tracked. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Many moms use a magnetic clip and attach papers to the refrigerator door. Unfortunately, this system only allows you to notice the top sheet, making it easy to overlook an important date.

Instead, gather supplies to create a good filing center. In my home, I have a filing box on my kitchen counter where papers are stored according to day of the week. I check the file the night before to be sure I’m ready for the next day. I also keep a file that is labeled “schedules” where I keep lunch menus, sports schedules and other activity calendars. Some moms like to organize their filing system by child’s name. Finding the best system for you is personal preference, but finding a good filing tool is universal.

Files can be held in a traditional filing cabinet, file box or even a binder. Easy accessibility will help you use and maintain it. Be sure to purge your files on a weekly or monthly basis so you only keep current information on hand. It’s also important to establish a paper trail for your family. When your children come home, backpacks should be emptied and papers distributed through the right channels. Some moms like the in/out box system. I ask my children to put papers on the kitchen counter next to the filing box. Establish a plan for your paper trail that makes the most sense for your family.

To keep track of schedules, moms need a good master planner. Some work-outside-the-home moms keep a planner for office schedules and another planner for home schedules. This is an invitation for forgetting something. All appointments and activities need to be recorded through one planner. Keep the family in the loop by using a family calendar that hangs in a central area in your home and is updated from the master planner.

To make mornings go smoothly, create a checklist for you and your child. We use a dry erase week calendar and record things like Gym Day and Library Day that happen on the same day each week. My son knows that the items he needs for the next day should be put in his backpack before he goes to bed. You can also laminate a schedule and hang it on your door.