10 Back-to-School Organization Tips to Help Your Children Thrive

by | Aug 13, 2020 | Blog

The heat is still on, but the dog days of summer are coming to an end as the school bells start to ring once more. Not only does that bell start the school day, but it also kicks off busy mornings, evenings, and everything in between.

We work with a lot of busy parents, and one thing they almost always say is that they would love to have calmer mornings and more relaxed evenings. But they really don’t know how to make that happen. We believe that, even though the school days can be hectic and unpredictable, you can bring calm to the chaos with a little organization. That’s why for this post, we are sharing some back-to-school organization tips that will help you reduce stress and cut out time wasters.

Create a Functional Mudroom or Entry Space

Stop searching all over your home for backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes, and other school staples by turning your mudroom or entry space into a catch-all. Some things to consider when creating your mudroom:

  • Hang plenty of hooks for jackets, backpacks, and other hanging objects
  • Adding a bench will give your children a spot to remove dirty shoes before tracking dirt into the house
  • Get a basket for everyone, put their name on it, and have them store other small items

Once you create the space, encourage your children to always put their items there when they walk in the door. You’ll spend a lot less time frantically searching the house for a lunchbox each morning.

Embrace the Homework Station

Create a place in your home that will help your children thrive when it comes to learning and homework. Start by setting up a desk in their room or family area that has all of the school supplies they will need to do their assignments. If you have multiple children using one space, use colorful baskets for each child. Put the school supplies they need in their basket and make sure they know which one is theirs.

Establish a Routine

Throughout the summer, your kids got used to sleeping in, staying up late, and not having much of a regular schedule. Simplify mornings and nights by helping your child establish a routine. You can also post an illustrated morning and evening routine chart to help them become more independent. Scroll to the bottom of this post to download our free routine charts.

Get Everything Ready the Night Before

Even if you don’t hit the snooze button, time is always limited in the morning. While you are trying to get ready for work, you’re also waking your children, making breakfast, and getting them ready for school. Don’t add more stress to an already busy morning by preparing for the next day the night before. Have your children pick out their outfit and shoes, pack their backpack, make their lunch, place instruments and sports equipment by the door, and more, so that you can limit the number of tasks you have to worry about at the start of each day.

Build a Family Calendar

Families are always on the go, and each person will likely have something different going on. Get your days, weeks, and months more organized when you create a family calendar. When your children get their monthly calendars, condense them down to one calendar. Don’t forget to add your important dates, family events, and holidays to the calendar as well. Hang it in a central location, and on Sunday evenings, grab the calendar and discuss the week with your kids. You’ll all feel better prepared to conquer a new week.

Beat after School Hunger Pangs

How many times have you heard your kids say, “I’m hungry” before a hello after that school bell rings? Start getting a hello first when you bring snacks to-go. Use a car organizer to hold snacks, drinks, brushes, wipes, and other school necessities for your kids.

Create Small Car Kits

After school can be jam-packed and unpredictable at times, so it’s better to be prepared for the unexpected. Creating small car kits can ensure you have the items you need when your day takes a turn into the unknown. Get small make-up bag sized clear totes and add like items to create small kits. Not sure what to add? Some of our recommended kits include:

  • First Aid Kit that has a variety of medical supplies
  • Technology Kit that has extra chargers, batteries, screen cleaners
  • School Kit that has pencils, pens, calculator, scissors, glue, and other necessary school supplies
  • Cleaning Kit that includes cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer, stain remover stick, glasses cleaner, and more

Sort Your Laundry as You Go

School clothes, uniforms, work clothes, and towels will start to add up as the days go by. Get ahead on your laundry with the right organization system. Consider getting a three basket laundry organizer so that you can separate the dirty clothes into lights, darks, and delicates (or other categories) throughout the week instead of on laundry day. You’ll also know when it is time to wash if one basket gets fuller faster than the rest.

Plan Meals in Advance

Save time every night by planning your dinners in advance. Before you go on your weekly or biweekly grocery shopping trip, plan out every meal. Not only will this prevent food waste, but you’ll also eat healthier, and you’ll have more time to do the things you enjoy. If you aren’t sure how to get started with meal prepping, check out our tips on how to make meal preparation easier.

Start a School Supply Stash

How many times have you heard about a school project last minute that required you to have to go to Target at 8 p.m. to get a poster board for a project that is due the next morning? Prevent frantic late-night trips to the store by creating a stash of school and project supplies. Of course, you will need things like pencils, pens, and paper, but don’t forget items like poster board, construction paper, glue, and more.

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