Goodbye summer holidays. Hello new school year! For both children and parents, the start of term is always a busy time.
If you’d like to begin this school year with a head start, try these great back-to-school tips.
1. Keep a family planner
With a family planner you’ll never forget an appointment, sports day or school trip again.
Fill it in as far ahead as possible with everyone’s activities and commitments. Choose the option that works best for your household:
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Laminated wall planner: a great choice when used with wipeable pens. Give each family member their own colour for extra clarity. Hang it in a central place so you can add or remove things throughout the year.
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Online planner: use a digital calendar or app that can be shared with all family members.
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Paper diary: the traditional diary works perfectly well too – just make sure one person is in charge of keeping it up to date.
2. Label, label and label again
Children are forever misplacing things. Make sure everything is labelled.
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Clothing stamps are a quick way to mark lots of different items.
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Name stickers are ideal for lunch boxes and water bottles.
3. Perfect your morning routine
It always takes longer than expected to get the children out of the house. Allow plenty of time in the mornings.
To stay on track, set little reminders. For example, give everyone a ten-minute warning before you need to leave – then they know it’s time to put their shoes on.
4. Keep the hallway tidy
The less clutter in the hall, the calmer your mornings will be.
If you have the space, give each child a basket for their school bag and other belongings. It saves a lot of searching (and stress!) when you’re heading out the door.
5. Plan your weekly meals
Deciding what to cook isn’t always easy. Create a weekly meal plan in advance so you don’t need to think about it during the week.
Even better: prepare some meals at the weekend. Make the Bolognese sauce ahead or chop the vegetables and store them in containers.
That way you’ll have more time at the end of the day.
6. Create a homework station
Set aside space and time for homework. It helps establish a routine and allows your child to focus.
Use storage boxes to organise papers and make sure pens and supplies can easily be put away afterwards.
7. Sort out the wardrobe
A new school year is the perfect moment to clear out the wardrobe. Go through everything and donate or sell clothes that no longer fit.
Summer clothes and seasonal items can be stored in a Shurgard storage unit. It frees up space at home and keeps everything clean and ready for next year.
Good preparation is half the battle!
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