Adios summer holidays. Hello new school year! For children and parents alike the start of September is a frenzy of activity – from buying backpacks to setting up a new routine.
If you want to start this school year with A+ preparation, try these awesome back-to-school organisation tips.
1. Create a calendar
Keep on top of assemblies, sports days and class trips with a family calendar. Fill it out as far in advance as possible and include appointments and work commitments for all the family.
Pick the format that suits you:
- Laminated wall chart: Combined with dry erase pens this is a great option. A different colour per person will make it easier to scan. Place it in the hub of the home, and you can add and delete as needed throughout the year
- Online calendar: Use an online calendar or app (e.g Google Calendar, Family Wall) which can be shared with all members
- Paper Diary: A traditional diary will also work, but someone needs to be the ‘owner’ to keep it up-to-date
2. Label, label, label
Kids stuff will go missing, so make sure you have everything labelled. Stamp blocks are a great way to quickly label clothes – try a company like Stamptastic to create a bespoke name stamp for you. Pre-printed stickers are brilliant to cover lunchboxes and water bottles.
3. Perfect the morning routine
It always takes longer than you think to get kids out of the house, so factor this into your morning routine. It is a good idea to set alarms at strategic points to keep you on track – for example, alert everyone 10 minutes prior to leaving so the process of putting on shoes can start.
4. Organise your hallway
Minimise any obstructions and make the morning exit as stress-free as possible.
Now is a good time to de-clutter the hallway. Summer shoes and hats/sunglasses can be put away in storage, leaving access to the morning essentials. If you have space, create a basket for each child where they can put book bags and accessories, saving time to locate everything.
Find more hallway organisation tips here!
5. Meal Plan for the Week
Deciding what to have for dinner is always a chore. Plan your week in advance so you have one less decision in the day.
Even better if you can meal prep the weekend before; batch cook Bolognese or cut up vegetables in containers to save you time at the end of each day.
6. Create a Homework Station
Dedicate a space and time for homework – to create the routine and give your child space to focus.
Use files to stash away papers when no longer needed, and make sure you have good stationery storage too so everything can be packed away easily after use.
7. De-clutter the wardrobe
School uniform will be taking centre-place in the cupboards, so now is a good time to de-clutter the wardrobe.
Sort through and sell/donate any clothing that your children have outgrown. For any summer stuff you want to keep, use a local storage centre like Shurgard. This frees up space at home, and keeps everything clean and ready for next year.
Preparation is key! Getting yourself and the kids organised, will make the transition back to school much more enjoyable! Let us know your top tips too.
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