Back-to-School Organization Tips for Families

Can you believe it’s already August?! Time really flies and just like that it’s time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the busy school year ahead. 😭  Well, I guess that all depends – maybe you’re ready to get your house back and send those little ones off to school… In that case 🥳🎉! 

Get your house ready for the busy months ahead by focusing on the following: 

Get your system in place to beat school clutter before it starts. Admit it, there is a pile of last year’s school work and art projects in their backpacks from May. Most families already have memory boxes for the kids in place, however, they do need to be maintained. Take the time to set up systems for artwork, creative writing pieces, and notes to go into the memory boxes on a regular basis so the new procedure is second nature when school is in session.  I like keeping a basket to put my kids’ creative work in throughout the year.  I limit the pile by only keeping artwork, writing, and notes that truly come from them (no workbook pages, research papers, tests, etc.). Then in the summer, I look through it again and file away the best work that represents their growth in storage bins categorized by their grades.  

Back-to-school shopping is in full swing!  Before blindly purchasing everything on the HUGE school supply list, take a moment to shop your home before heading out for the store. There’s a strong likelihood that last year’s backpack, calculator, and protractor are just fine for this year. And there’s more than a chance you’ll find a forgotten (but brand new) box of pencils, pens, markers, or even crayons somewhere in the house. 

Now that you know what you have, create an abbreviated school supply shopping list. This will help you stay on track and make sure you have everything your kids need for the new school year (and skip the purchases you don’t need to make).  It’s also a great opportunity to have your kids help by donating all their gently used markers, crayons and other school supplies to other students in need.  A pair of scissors or a pack of pencils may seem like a small gift, but for a student without them, it can mean having the opportunity to actively participate in the classroom.  Click here for more information and how to get your kiddos involved.  

Work with your kids to organize their bedrooms. This activity will help to remind you what they already own in terms of clothes, shoes, and school supplies from last year, with the goal of cutting back on unnecessary purchases for the new school year. It will also give you the chance to purge unwanted items or donate what no longer fits. Be sure to keep your cool and make organizing their room a fun (not stressful) experience! No tantrums required. 😉 

Structure in the mudroom or entryway is key. The mudroom is a tight space that tends to create a traffic jam when everyone is heading out for the day. Having a well organized mudroom or entryway is key to getting everyone out the door in a timely fashion. Create a separate bag for each child and for each after-school activity so everything they need to bring to each activity is ready to go.  Preparing the bags throughout the week will save stressful times when you are trying to get them to their activities on time.  Discover our  pro tips on keeping the mudroom tidy and efficient in our article "Four Areas of your Home to Keep Organized". 

Back to school season can be a busy and stressful time, but it doesn't have to be! Try following these tips to make the transition a little smoother for everyone involved. And if you need help getting your home organized and ready to take on the back-to-school season, SimplyOrganized is always here to help!