Their backs are breaking and their backpacks are stuffed. Now what do we do with all the contents inside now that the school year is over?
I’m very thankful to all my kids’ schools and teachers for an amazing year. Their hard work and dedication is unbelievable. But why do they shlep so many things home at the end of the year so moms have to feel the guilt of throwing it away?
Just what do we do with the stuff in that stuffed backpack so it doesn’t end up clogging up the coat closet all summer? Here is a mini guide so you can feel motivated to take care of it right now:
- School supplies. Look them over well. Your little girls might be super excited to use their older sisters’ markers, even if she’s going to want new ones next year. But if supplies are not in good condition and no one will use them, there’s no mitzvah to save them. Barely used supplies can go straight into the “extra school supplies container.” And if you don’t have that container, it’s a good idea to make one to keep those extra supplies from year to year (often, you can save a trip to the store when you find something in there. It’s also a good place to put extra supplies when you buy in bulk.) Things that go in there? Paper, Folders, dividers, writing supplies etc.
- School papers. Do you have one of those kids who thinks she needs 10 boxes of school paraphernalia to play “school”? Give her a bin and tell her she could keep whatever fits in there. Let her go through it and keep only the things she really “needs.” Usually they get tired of this activity in a few days and you’ll be able to dump it all then!
- Sentimentals. Have a labeled file for each kid of SPECIAL items you’d like to keep. Don’t go overboard! If you saved every kid’s yearbook, haggadah, project with a photo and everything they ever wrote, you’ll need a storage room the size of an average wedding hall to fit it all! Who will even have time to look through all that anyhow?!!! So just save a FEW very special items so you can actually keep it, look at it and enjoy it for years to come!
- Genizah. Take note that a lot of papers can’t be thrown out but need to be placed in genizah.
Great post, thank you!
Shulamis, what do you recommend to use for the special items file?
Give each child a bin labeled “keepsakes” where they can keep all their “treasures”. Every year, we also go through that’ll keepsake bin and get rid of stuff that isn’t exciting anymore.
Excuse my ignorance, what is genizah? Is that similar to sheimos?
Yes it means sheimos.
This is q great post! As a teacher the shredding party line really struck me. Im sure you didn’t mean harm but there’s a reason papers get sent home. All of those papers represent tremendous Avodah on the part of the teacher and the student. Ending a full year with a ‘shredding party’ in school is not the way I want to leave off with my students. I understand the need to shred but please do it at home in a respectful way.
Thanks for saying this. As a teacher, I think it’s important that parents see what comes home – even if you don’t look through every paper – but just to give your child that message that the work you’ve done this year is important and valued. That message is so meaningful. Having a “shredding party” in school totally undermines everything we’ve tried to instill in our students all year about working hard and valuing their effort. Yes, we all know most of it goes into the garbage, but it doesn’t have to be before the kids leave the building.
As a teacher as well, I’d just add on that the kids bringing their stuff home is an opportunity for parents not to just stuff it all in the trash can, but to take a minute and look at the work that’s been done and compliment your children on their efforts before dumping it all. Having a shredding party in school totally undermines the message we try to instill in our students that their efforts are important.
At the end of the school year I go thru their bags and whatever is re usable and good condition like binders and folders I save in a bag .I write down exactly what we have saved in my phone notepad so that When we’re school supply shopping I can refer to the list .
Thank you!
Hi.
I’m searching for a good type of bin to store my kids school stuff (that I/they want to keep)…. I wish I could find a bin that has some sort of separators so I can keep each kids stuff in one box but divide it by year or something like that…. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Use a file box with file folders separated by year.
Great idea! Thanks!