Organize for back-to-school

Here are a couple of ideas for organizing kids' gear.

Keep a trunk or storage bench close to the door your kids use most often. Make sure each child has a space to store his or her backpack, shoes and other outdoor gear. This will prevent them from tracking mud and dirt throughout your home, and it's a good way to keep the mess out of sight!

Place some hooks lower on the wall so your kids can hang their own jackets, hats and umbrellas. Try color-coding them or putting name tags on each hook.