With the end of summer coming up, the back-to-school season has officially arrived. New timetables, full schedules and additional activities all come with the new school year. Getting ready for this can be stressful and overwhelming for all members of the family and it can be difficult to switch from relaxed summer vibes to organised school parent. Having an organised school year is more than just making sure homework gets completed on time. Studies, extra activities, sports and assignments, as well as other family commitments can lead to a jam-packed schedule. Having to deal with this, on top of work stress, home admin and finding time for your partner can put huge amounts of pressure on parents. Creating an organised environment at home not only benefits students but allows parents to feel like they can take a few peaceful moments for themselves.
These tips will help you and your children to create a productive and organised back-to-school system and routine that reduces stress and gives you, as a parent, some much needed time for self-care.
1. Create a Family Calendar
A colour co-ordinated family calendar that includes the monthly or weekly activities for each family member is a great way to stay on top of events, projects, exams, functions, activities, and special occasions. A physical calendar that everyone can see is a good way to make sure the whole household is aware of all the important upcoming tasks or events of the week. Google calendar is a fantastic online calendar that you can use to time block tasks and assign colours to events for each member of the family. Sharing the calendar helps each family member stay as organised as possible and will avoid last minute rushing around for forgotten projects or birthday parties.
2. Set Up a Lunch and After School Snack Station
Create a zone with lunch boxes, water bottles and snacks in your kitchen that will take the stress out of school lunch prep. This zone should be easily accessible for children too, so that they are able to get their own after school snacks. Almost as soon as most children get home, they are after an afternoon snack. Setting up a lunch and snack zone will encourage your kids to eat more healthy, readily available snacks. Decide who will be making the school lunches, and when. A good idea might be to have a rotating lunch duty schedule so that the kids are able to start practicing making their own lunches, and so that moms can get a break from this every now and then!
3. Assigned Backpack and Coat Storage
Having assigned storage for backpacks and coats will reduce after school clutter and will teach kids valuable accountability and organising skills of putting their items where they belong. Before the new school year starts, figure out what your solution to this will be. Adding some simple hooks at the back of the storage cupboard door and putting a label with which hook belongs to who is a great start. Planning ahead and having this sorted out now will avoid backpacks cluttering up the entry way.
4. Have a Good Declutter
Go through last year’s school uniforms, stationery and books and throw out any broken items. Consider donating clothing that is too small, or stationery items that your children do not use anymore. This will create space for the incoming new items and will help your kids develop a habit of being organised and clutter free.
5. Create a Homework and Study Station
Stock up on stationery and homework supplies for the year and create a homework and study station for each of your children. This should be in a quiet place ideal for concentration – away from any distractions and devices. A homework trolley or caddy with compartments for assignments, projects and study notes that are still in progress is a good way to keep things tidy and safe. Folders on a computer or dedicated school device can be used to easily locate work and keep things as efficient as possible. A homework and study station doesn’t need to be over the top, but it is essential for kids to have a dedicated space for school work to stay on top of everything that they need to do.
6. Encourage a Scheduled Routine
Busy mornings and tiresome evenings can be very overwhelming for both you and your children and can cause projects or to-dos to be easily forgotten and overlooked. Planning out a morning, after school and evening schedule and routine may seem tedious and boring, but this will help your whole family stay on top of all commitments and tasks. Schedule in things like shower schedules, what time everyone will get up in the morning, when school lunches will be made and when school uniforms will be set aside for the next school day. Getting into a set routine of when these activities will take place and who will be doing them will allow for a more stress-free and easy school year. Planning out meals for the week will also mean you spend less energy trying to decide what to make for dinner every evening and you’ll spend less money on the weekly shop, too because you already know what you’ll be buying.
7. Don’t Let School Admin and Letters Pile Up
Set up a space where your kids can place any school admin, newsletters or forms that you need to fill in. They can also use this space for homework they’ve completed that you need to check over. This ensures that important school related paperwork doesn’t go missing and keeps your kitchen counter or dining table surfaces clear of any built-up letters and forms. This space should ideally be located in close proximity to the family calendar to make it easy for important events or tasks mentioned in school letters to be added straight into the calendar.
8. Make Time for Fun and Self-Care
In the rush of the school year, it’s essential not to neglect precious family time, fun and self-care. Schedule family time, fun activities and time to unwind in the family calendar so that everyone knows that this time is sacred and important. Making the time for self-care will allow you to decompress and relax and will promote better productivity and focus for everyday activities. It will boost your mood and help you tackle this upcoming school year like a pro.
I hope these helpful tips will guide you and your family to have the most organised and stress-free school year yet!
If you need any help organising your home, please feel free to contact me here.
