Get Back To School Ready

AUGUST 1, 2020

Get Back To School Ready

Are you getting ready for your kids to go back to school? Things can get chaotic with all of their school supplies and homework all over the place, but these back to school home organization tips will help keep your home decluttered!

Command Center

Planning out your week ahead of time can prevent conflicts when it comes to kids and their schedules. Have conversations with your kids on what long-term goals they want to set for the year as well as short-term goals (i.e. what the morning routine will look like). By creating a visual schedule you can keep the whole family informed of what is coming up!

• Spell out exactly what’s expected in the morning and after school with a routine chart. Knowing their responsibilities, allows kids to adjust quickly.

• Find an unused section of wall or a spot next to the garage so you see it as you're leaving. Use a calendar, bulletin, or dry erase board for to-do lists. A magazine rack or wire basket easily catches paperwork or mail.

  • Chalkboard paint or cork sheeting can create the perfect area without breaking the bank!

Organized Car

• Try a car organizer for things like shoes, extra snacks, tissues, or on-the-go breakfast. This will make your mornings less stressful and will help you to breeze through the drop-off line!

• Keep a pre-made kit in your car so that you always have what you need. Fill one with tech like spare chargers and batteries, one with first aid necessities and another with homework helpers like a calculator and pencils so they can do homework.

Breakfast Station

• By having pre-chosen options for them, you can feel good about what they are selecting while they feel they have autonomy over their choices.

• Use a lower drawer of a cabinet or try a section of a shelf in the pantry. Choose a spot that isn’t in the way when you’re cooking or washing up and that is easy enough for them to reach. Clear bins on a shelf make it easy for kids to see and access snacks, cereal, or bars.

• If your kids are also interested in packing their own lunches, you could put these supplies in the same area - just don’t forget bowls, utensils, and lunch boxes so they can finish the job!

Homework Station

Having an area just for homework allows kids to have a place they can automatically go to when it is time to start the work is one of my top back to school home organization tips to keep you organized throughout the year.

• No matter what your school situation is looking like, a kids' schoolwork station is a great idea! Whether you use it as a spot they can automatically go when it is time to start on homework after school, or it is where they tackle the work for the day, with schoolwork being such a part of everyone's lives, it definitely deserves its own area in your home.

• If you don't use your formal dining room, this can be a good spot for kids to really spread out and get work done while you work alongside them (just make sure to have things in place that allow for the mess to be easily cleaned up should you have anyone over for a socially distant dinner party). Otherwise, the kitchen is a great place to allow them to work while you answer e-mails or get dinner ready!

• Include storage options like shelves, corkboard, pegboard, cubbies, baskets, and containers to keep the space tidy and everything in its place. Use bookcases, chairs that fit their size, wall shelves, pen holders, etc. Remember to keep things low for young kiddos!

• This is also a great spot for a task bin or homework caddy. Dedicate a place for papers that they bring home and have supplies they may need ready to go in the area. Walking around trying to gather pencils, glue, and tape is a surefire way to encourage procrastination. Keep everything together in a DIY supply organizer and you've lost one big excuse to avoid homework. A college-style shower caddy is also a good way to organize these things. My favorite is using a lazy Suzan and some various pen holders to keep everything in its place.

• Lesser used supplies could be put on a rolling cart and stowed away in a nearby hallway to keep things from being distracting or cluttered but keep what they need nearby.

If your home is still getting out of control or back to school home organization is getting overwhelming, check out our organizing services to see how we can help you stay sane!