It’s hard to believe, but summer is winding down and kids will be heading back to school soon – if they haven’t started already. If you’re looking around your home wondering how you’re going to get organized for the upcoming school year, take some hints from the suggestions below to make sure your family is ready for when days start early and schedules get busy during back-to-school season.
Ease into it
Transitions can be hard – especially so if they’re abrupt. Don’t try to change overnight and hope for the best. Spend some time in the days leading up to the first day of school to get your school papers organized and the house in order. Get the kids (and adults, too) on a regular sleep schedule, going to bed a little earlier and getting up a little earlier each day. It’ll make those first few days a little less rough.
Get organized
You know how things get once kids begin bringing homework, art projects, sports equipment and more home – it can get chaotic real quick. Do yourself a favor and get your home organized before school begins. Know where those endless memos from school will live, where backpacks will be stored and where kids should put dirty sports gear. Starting with a clean slate and having a plan in place will help you keep things under control as the school year activities amp up.
Take stock
Isn’t it annoying when you go to the store to buy school supplies, only to come home and find a stash of folders, pens and paper in a place you forgot to look? Now is the time to do a thorough inventory of what you already have and what you’re going to need. Make a list of what every kid will need when you go to the store, so you don’t end up spending extra money on items that will go unused.
Create a homework zone
Kids and homework go hand in hand. While it may be tempting to simply let them complete their homework assignments at the kitchen table or even (gasp!) on the couch in front of the TV, your child will be more successful if they have a quiet place to study and work. Set up a desk in their bedroom or another room of the house such as the family room, and give them places to store their papers and supplies.
Make a snack station
Busy families are often on the go, and there isn’t always time to sit down together for a proper meal. Make a snack station in your kitchen stocked with healthy snacks like dried fruit, nuts, juice and granola bars. When kids are hungry after school, they can grab their own snacks without having to bother a parent.
Designate a lunch spot in the fridge
Making lunches for school every day can get a little tedious, so give yourself a break and designate a spot in your refrigerator just for lunch supplies. Packing and storing lunches for the morning will be so much easier!
Use these tips to give yourself a leg up this school season by getting your home ready before the first of the year. Do you have any other great ideas that work well for you? We’d love to hear them!
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