For anyone and everyone with a school-aged child in their life—you know what time of year it is…Back to School!! And today we’re kicking the season off with our favorite tips for the home to set you and your kiddos up for a successful year.
Specifically, we’re focusing on helping you get them out the door on time and prepared every single morning–its possible, we swear! The key is prepping these 7 spaces in your home to get ahead of the school year craziness:
School Supplies
Luckily, schools usually provide a very specific list of items your child will need throughout the year. To ensure you get everything they need, try checking off items as you shop—whether that’s online or in person. For the most thorough shopping experience, we suggest the tried and true options: Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
Family Calendar
A great way to be on the same page with your family all year round is to keep track of all family events and activities on a family calendar. Keep it in a central location in your home, like the kitchen, family room, or main entrance. It’s a great way to track chores, plan meals, schedule school lunches, and generally stay connected with your family when life gets in the way.
Bathroom Organization
One of the things that makes getting to school on time the hardest is getting kids groomed and ready in a reasonable amount of time. The trick is to make it easy for them to take care of themselves by keeping a caddy/bathroom organizer in a place that is easy for them to access and keep clean.
Backpack and Coat Storage
Set up an area where they can put away their items at the end of the day and pick them back up on their way back to school the next day. They’re less likely to misplace items when they have a consistent place to keep them. Establish where this space will be in your home (the mud room, family room, entrance, etc.) and then include a bin for shoes, hats, gloves, and other drop-and-go items.
School Documents and Craft Areas
Find a place to keep papers coming to and from school (release forms, newsletters, crafts, etc.) by the calendar, command center, or your child’s homework area. Be sure to also grab some larger craft bins for any crafts or assignments you’d like to hold onto.
Homework Space
Possibly the most important space on this list is a homework space—give them some options to choose from depending on the needs of their assignment. For example, if they need a quiet space where they aren’t distracted by others, set up a desk in their room with all of the necessary school-list items they need. Another option is offering them a central space in the house—like the living room, dining room, or kitchen counter—where they can be nearby to ask for help if they need it. Similarly, keep school-list items available in a caddy or portable carrier when they aren’t working at their own desk.
First and Last Day of School Pictures
Because its important to have fun and be a little sentimental, grab a sign from Amazon (like this one we love) to make the first and last day of school special. It’s a fun photo-op and you’ll be able to look back at the end of the year to see how much they’ve grown!
