If you’re like most of us, you need a little motivation to transition from the relaxed, barefoot days of summer to back-to-school shoe shopping. That’s what Back to School Month is all about. Back to School Month has been celebrated for nearly 60 years as a way to get parents, students, and teachers ready to tackle the new school year. Is your home back-to-school ready? We’ve got some tips to inspire you, or at the very least get you an A+ for effort.
Declutter the Home Base
Before you head out to buy anything new, purge last year’s piles. Take stock of backpacks, sports gear, clothing, lunch containers, and school supplies. Get rid of things that are broken, outgrown, or too worn out to use. Throw out last year’s school papers. If you declutter, destress, and begin with an organized house, it will be easier to maintain the chaos you know is just around the corner. Create a designated area for each child to put their “stuff” that they can use every day.
Read our article Storage 101: Top Organization Strategies
Shop for School Supplies Early
Back when kids walked uphill to school, both ways, they were only required to bring their lunch in a bucket. When they arrived in their classroom, they were handed chalk and a slate. These days, the variety of supplies needed for the average child to get through the school year can mean anything from sanitary wipes to laptops.
Fortunately, many schools provide a list of supplies your child will need for the upcoming school year, which is a big help. Take inventory before you waste money on supplies you already have from years prior. Kids can re-use pencil bags, book covers, calculators, etc.
Designate an Area for School Supplies at Home
Once you’ve taken inventory and purchased new items, designate one spot in your home to keep school supplies. This way when your child needs index cards or poster board for a project at home, you won’t spend extra time looking around the house or having to buy at the last minute.
Get Back on Schedule
Before the early mornings are upon your family again, get your kids used to the impending new schedule about a week beforehand. Wake them a little earlier every morning if they’re used to sleeping in, and send them off to bed a little earlier if they’ve been staying up all hours of the night. This will make the first “rise and shine” and little shinier.
Get Your Calendar Up
Dry erase calendar boards work best for this as opposed to a regular wall calendar. Most family’s activities require plenty of room to display, as many days have more than one activity listed. Dry erase calendar boards come in all shapes and sizes and are pretty easy to find. You’ll earn good marks with this helpful tip: assign a different color marker for each family member. You’re welcome!
Create a Quiet “Homework Zone”
If your child has a desk in their bedroom, great! However, many of us don’t have that kind of extra space. Dining room tables are tempting, but let’s face it. The after-school kitchen activity is non-stop until well past the dinner hour. Consider creating a make-shift desk in the corner of the family room or living room. Give your student a consistent place to unpack their books and go to work every day, without a lot of distraction.
Take Inventory of School Clothes
Just like school supplies, take an inventory of what clothing your child has to begin the school year. Pass along what they’ve outgrown or destroyed. Shop for new staple items if necessary, and, depending upon the age of your student, let them plan their first week of wardrobe to avoid last-minute surprises.
Get Your Kitchen Ready
Bid a (temporary) farewell to late-night, summer-casual dining from the fridge. Dinners during the school year tend to be earlier and scheduled. Take time to plan out a few dinners for the upcoming week. Also, prep items for school lunches on the weekend. Put carrots, crackers, cheese, pretzels, and other lunch items into baggies or other small containers. This makes it easy to grab and go in the morning.
Spend a Little Quality Time…Together
Carve out some quality time to spend with your kids. Do something simple, such as playing a board game, taking a hike, going for a swim, or playing a round of mini-golf. The perfect way to make the grade with your family this month? Enjoy each other’s company before the bustle of fall sets in.