Why It's OK to Rifle Through Your Child's School Backpack! by Elisa Schmitz

I can’t tell you how much I’ve found when I look in my kids’ backpacks! Everything from a report card to a medical form. That’s why every day after school, it’s a good idea to go through your child's backpack with him or her to find homework and things like permission slips or other notices from school. 

As your child grows, remind him or her to check it on their own. The goal is to get them used to the daily check and become responsible for it themselves, so they learn to take ownership. That way, “the dog ate my homework” is no longer a valid excuse!