Until I had my own kid, I mistakenly thought day cares were places where kids played. Not so. Yes, the kids may play, but they’re training both you and yours to attend school by sending home a landslide of papers to see if the household can unbury itself. Reminders, recitals, Valentine’s lists, calls for volunteers ... that’s not including the art. Oh, the art.
Buttoned Up School.files ($19.95) offers a neater solution than the piles — if they’re even piles — on the kitchen table. Designed to corral papers for three kids, each section includes five folders for stuff to do, stuff to keep, stuff to return, fun stuff and calendars. Of course, there is one more lesson that you’ll have to learn: how to choose what to keep. Good luck with that!
