As if summer isn’t crazy enough, the transition to school can make home life even busier and messier. Schedules are a mix of school activities and the last-hurrah-of-summer, and the house is strewn with important school papers and wet beach towels. Here are a few tips to help you organize the chaos this year before school starts.
Clean the fridge out (and off) and restock
Clearing the front of the fridge of summer camp art projects and already-happened wedding invitations will signal a new season and leave room for important phone numbers and all those A+ papers your young scholars bring home.
Then, clean out the refrigerator, tossing all those picnic leftovers, and get it ready for quick breakfasts, packed lunches and after-school snacks. Anything grab-and-go is sure to be appreciated, especially during the first few weeks of school while your family is still getting used to the new schedule. A basket of fresh fruit by the door is also handy.
Take stock of closets and clothes
Courtesy of California Closets.
A new first-day-of-school outfit is a childhood ritual. But before you add to your child’s wardrobe, take stock of what they’ve outgrown during the summer months. And don’t forget the weather will probably be changing soon. See if your kids will be needing any new warmer clothes for the coming season.
A clean and organized closet and dresser will make getting out the door in the morning easier for everyone.
Similarly, catching up with laundry and creating a laundry system if you don’t already have one will keep your life running more smoothly.
Create a scheduling center
This is Mission Control for the family, so it should be in a central place in your home, such as the kitchen or entryway. You’ll want to keep a calendar, filing system, address book, notepads for taking phone messages, and plenty of pens, since they always seem to go missing.
This is also where paperwork should go to be sorted and put away, or signed and sent back to school. Create a system for paperwork and scheduling the family so Dad isn’t slated to tee off with his co-workers at the same time he’s supposed to chaperone a field trip.
Make mealtime easy
Meal-planning will save you time and money — not to mention protect your sanity when you’re running home from work and PTA meetings.
To keep the grownups fueled, set up a coffee station in your kitchen where they can grab a to-go mug easily.
Create a menu, and make a master shopping list to prep for the week. That way, you’ll know exactly what to make when everyone’s hungry, and you won’t waste ingredients.
Keep a list on your fridge to remind you of the week’s menu. And when inquiring minds ask what’s for dinner, you can direct them to the menu.
Prepping a few extra meals to throw in the freezer now will ease the busy first few weeks of school, too.
Tackle the mudroom and entryway
School brings with it a lot of paraphernalia: backpacks, lunch bags, gym bags, artwork, and library books. The mudroom or entryway will be the drop-off point and can quickly become a disaster without a system.
Courtesy of California Closets.
Are shoes taken off here? If so, make sure everyone has a designated spot for their shoes. Same with coats and backpacks.
Lunch bags should go in a specific place, or back to the kitchen to be cleaned out for the next day.
Establishing these routines at the beginning of the school year will help them become engrained so by the time winter, with its extra layers, and spring, with its muddy boots, come along, you won’t be pulling your hair out.
While the transition will take some getting used to, having solid systems in place in your home can help you ease the stress, and focus on the enjoyment of an exciting new school year.
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Related:
- Creating a Homework Station That Gets Top Marks
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