UPcycle: DIY Back-to-school to-do list

Preparing for back-to-school takes serious organizing skills. If you are lucky enough to already have these, thumbs up. If you are anything at all like me, it is a daily battle to keep things together.

One of the things I came up with to help the kids keep up with their chores and other to-do items is a magnetic refrigerator list.

• See this project step-by-step in this handy photo gallery.

PHOTOS: DIY Back-to-school fridge organizer

I shy away from the word “chore” on this because can have negative connotations. Besides, who wants to do chores? It’s hard enough trying to get kids (or myself, for that matter) to do chores, so why not change the game by changing the name?

I chose only a few items to put on the list – some of which are no-brainers, but ones that make it easy for your kids to feel a sense of accomplishment without being bogged down.

For five homework badges, they get five points. For every actual work magnet they complete, they get two points. If they reach the goal, then they get the prize. For my older kid, it’s a crisp $10 bill. For the younger, it’s a trip to the park or a new coloring book.

Also, this project is great for getting the kids involved. Let them be a part of the process and they will more than likely become more involved in the actual game-change.

DIY To-Do List

What you’ll need:

2-8 x 10 or larger black plastic photo frames
4-5 sheets of foam craft sticker sheets
One set of ABC magnets (or you can get plain magnets at the craft store)
4 large, heavy-duty magnets
Black Sharpie marker
Scissors
Glue gun or other adhesive like super glue

 

• See this project step-by-step in this handy photo gallery.

 

PHOTOS: DIY Back-to-school fridge organizer

• Remove the glass and faux family photo from the black frames.

• You can decorate these however you feel – glitzy or paint another color.

• Take your heavy-duty magnets and glue one on each side of the back of your frames.

• Make a list with your kids for 5-6 things they feel like they can accomplish – for older kids I suggest things like taking out the trash, putting up the dishes, homework and keeping their room clean. Younger kids do well with things like brushing teeth, feeding the cat/dog, and generally “helping out.”

• Take a sheet of the sticker and cut into 1x1” squares or circles.

• Write each of your to-do items on each square or circle, remove the backing and stick to one of the alphabet magnets.

• Take another sheet and make your labels, to-do list and the kids’ names and stick across several magnets.

• Once you’ve gotten all your pieces together, then arrange your frames on your fridge like the picture shown.

• When your kids complete a task, move it from the to-do frame to the DONE frame.

Check back next week for another DIY school time organizing idea from Twinkle.

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For more on tech geekery, food and music, check out twinklevanwinkle.com. Find Twinkle on Foodspotting, Tumblr and Twitter.

Twinkle VanWinkle ponders, creates and discovers cool stuff about music, movies, food, fashion and so forth. Her thoughtful writings and interactives give great advice about healthy food, cooking tips, DIY projects, fashion and more. She’ll teach you a thing or two about music as well. Along with producing dynamic entertainment content for LIN Media, she is a mother, musician and social media fanatic.