Is the summer really over? I feel like I blinked and now we are facing fall in a couple of weeks. I know of some school districts that have already opened school and with that comes immense pressure to get the kids ready and out the door fast. These back to school organizing ideas are meant to make our lives easier during the school year.
If your kids are already in school more power to you as we still have a few weeks before the craziness that is the school year starts. New classes, new friends and new schools are what we must deal with this coming school year.
We all know the drill but how can we make the transition better for our kids? There are some things that we can do to make the back to school process less painful and a bit more organized.
These back to school organizing ideas will prove to be useful during the next couple of months. I will attempt to break them out by the things that need organizing to make the process more streamline.
1. Organize Clothes
Start by organizing clothes and shoes in a way that is easy to find during the morning rush. Organize clothes by type. Shirts, shorts, dresses, socks, t-shirts, pants and underwear should go in separate sections. This sounds like a huge undertaking but it will save you hours of frustration and morning arguments trying to find a favorite dress or shirt. Start organizing right now in sections and phases and remember it doesn’t have to be done in one day.
Add on decluttering and you will be way ahead of the game. Children outgrow clothes so fast you may find that your child’s closet is filled with clothes that don’t fit them. This is one of the most important back to school organizing ideas that will be useful even in the vacation months.
One way to do this is to get bins, drawers or organizers that are easy to label and find. Break them out in ways that make sense to you. Look at what they did below. I need that for everything in my life!
You can buy the crates, hooks and hangers.
2. Organize Clutter
Have your children flown into the house, dropped everything at the door and consequently everyone who walks in after trips? When you walk into your house are there piles of things at the door that could be a hazard? Alternatively have you been in a mad rush in the morning to leave the house but cannot find anything in the pile of things that’s by your door?
Relax though there is a solution though to this problem. The second of the back to school organizing ideas involves having what I call controlled clutter. This would involve setting up a place for all the stuff the children have on them when they walk in. That’s shoes, boots, backpacks and jackets. Anything that they put down as soon as they walk in.
The best recommendation is to have a mudroom. This may be in the garage or in your entryway if there is enough space. If this is not available then you can use these tools that work well for me. Invest in some hooks and a bench that you can buy on Amazon as well. Set them up near the entryway and establish a rule that everything must be set in its designated place.
3. Have a designated homework section
Most parents want to know the homework their children have, when it’s due and if they need help with it. Growing up we did our homework in the dining room and that’s where my father expected to find finished homework ready for signoff. I’ve heard of people allowing their children to do their homework in their rooms but that creates so many uncontrollable variables.
As a parent you end up wondering it the homework was completed or if it was packed in the backpack? Was it done correctly? If the children aren’t in a location that is centralized where you can see them working then it sets all the variables above in motion.
The solution for this is the third back to school organizing idea. Create an area or room in your home that is specifically for the completion of homework. Ensure that it is clutter free to avoid confusion with your own stuff. I love the simplicity of this area.
Overstock always has great furniture that you can get at a bargain. Just look at this cute little chairs!
4. Communicate
How we communicate with each other is critical to the success of a school year. The fourth back to school organizing idea is important because we need to have good communication at all times and especially as we get ready to go back to school. As a parent or guardian we juggle so many balls and with the school year beginning we need to bring our “A” game when it comes to everyone having the information they need to succeed.
From school plays, school games, drop off schedules, doctor appointments and so much more you and your kids need to have accurate information. It doesn’t have to be fancy but it can also not be a sticky note on the fridge that will probably get smeared over.
First off there needs to be a calendar, a binder for critical information and a board if needed. Pick a wall in your home that you can use as a ‘command center’. Let everyone in the family know that they need to look at the board from time to time to know where they need to be. Teach the family how to update it. Take photos of the calendar to serve as reminders. Get as creative as you want.
5. Create a routine
Creating a routine will prove to be critical during the school year. Children thrive on routine. From a morning routine to a bedtime routine kids need to know what is expected of them. It doesn’t matter how old the kids are they secretly love direction. This back to school organizing idea can be implemented in other areas of the family life as seen in this article.
As the school year starts establish a routine for when the children wake up which will become your morning routine. What do they need to do and in what sequence? Be strict about it. Children like having structure and it creates a sense of responsibility.
Set a routine for later in the day when the children come back from school. Will the children be expected to take baths and will their be snacks laid out for them? What time should homework be completed and lastly what time is dinner?
Next set a routine for bedtime. What time should everyone be in bed? Have they laid out their clothes for tomorrow? Did you remember to pack the children’s lunches? Do they need to complete their chores?
This type of routine and structure sets the children up for success.
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