"Where's my homework?" "Who took my lunch box?" Sound familiar? For many children, getting ready for school involves a daily scavenger hunt.

You can save time—and tempers—by helping your child learn how to be responsible for school belongings. All you need is a cardboard box for each child.

The box should be big enough to hold everything your child takes to school each day. Kids may want to decorate the box with pictures or drawings.

Have your child choose a place for the box—near the door or in his room. Every afternoon, his first task should be to place all belongings in the box. When homework is finished, it goes in the box, too. In the morning, the box is the last stop before heading out the door.

You can encourage your child to "check the box." Sometimes write a note saying, "I love you." Sometimes offer a small reward for your child's responsibility—a coupon good for a small treat.

Dorothy Rich, who suggests this idea in her book MegaSkills, notes that the box is a good idea for adults, too. If you've ever hunted for keys or gloves, you may want to try this idea for everyone in your family.

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