Family Binders

A family binder is simply a location to store all the important information you need to run your home efficiently. Last year I needed to call my son in sick for school, a simple task I know, but I spent almost an hour trying to find the right number because I didn't have it wrote down anywhere. Every time I have to call my doctor or pediatrician it takes a trip to my computer to find the number. I can't even tell you the name of our dentist let alone his number. These are all things that should be someplace easy for me to find. So here's the general idea you make a place where all these things are so you have them just in case. All you need is a 3 ring binder some protective sleeves and some dividers.

Here is the outline (in no particular order) I have so far for our family binder to give you an idea:

Tab School

• School number to call in case of absents or tardies
• School transportation department number to call in case of bus issues aka the bus is 45 mins late where is my kid
• school policy on when your child should stay home
• School nurse number
• Each teacher and contact information
• Bus number and pick-up and drop-off times
• School start and end time
• Any paperwork from teachers about the year that I may need to refer back to
• Reminders for conferences (our school had us fill those out before the school year even started this year)

Tab- Medical

• All Doctors along with numbers and addresses including any specialist
• Emergency form so you don't have to think about it if something happens (Policy fire ambulance numbers etc)
• Policy on what to do in case of an emergency example: where does your family meet in case of a fire?
• Latest immunization records for each child
• Any additional Medical forms that need to be tracked...we have forms for Daniels next iron check so this is where I will put that as well as things on Megan's braces
• Medical form for each child listing allergies and medications (good for baby sitters in case of an emery)
• Insurance sheet
• Dentist and eye doctors numbers and addresses

Tab- Routines/cleaning/calendaring

• My three daily routines
• My calendar for the month
• My weekly schedules
• Any paperwork for extra circular activities like practice schedules or game dates

Tab Food

• Pre-made menus
• grocery list
• recipes to go with menus? Still unsure of this one

Tab Financial (some people make this a whole binder which may end up being what I do)

• all bank accounts and numbers
• Monthly budget
• All bills
• Record of actual money spent that month

Tab Misc

• Movies to watch or books to read
• Auto care log/check list
• Christmas check list
• Goals
• Any business cards or handyman numbers you might want or need

Phone Numbers

• Pretty self explanatory but a phone book of all the children my kids love to be with, there parents names, phone numbers, e-mail and addresses so playmates can happen.

This is just a general idea of what I would like to do based on my family needs everyone is different. Your binder should reflect your family not someone else. To help you get started here is a link to a wonderful page that has tons of free printable forms for your family binder

http://organizedhome.com/household-notebook/printable-pages