Back to School – Easy as 1 – 2 -3!

Can you believe that it’s already August? Where did the time go?! We’ll never be ones to wish the time away (can summer stay just a few more months?) but even the biggest of summer enthusiasts know that the school season is right around the corner. Mathematics, and English, and History… oh my!

Whether you can’t wait for school to kick back up or are dreading the return, the best way to avoid the ‘back to school’ panic is to start in on a few easy tasks early and give yourself a head start. Of course, we have you covered with where to start!

Here are a three of our favorite organizational tips for getting yourself (and the kids!) ready for the upcoming school year.

1.     Declutter the Closets

Out with the old and in with the new! While taking on the entirety of your kid’s bedroom might be a big commitment, starting with the closet is a smaller task that’ll feel just as rewarding. For a little extra family bonding, ask your kids to help you out. Getting them involved is a great way to share time while also laying the groundwork for some good organizational habits!

Create three piles: keep, donate, and toss. With that set up, let your kids help you go through their stuff and decide what stays, what gets ditched, and what goes on to live in someone else’s closet.

When you’re ready to start putting things back, take a moment to decide what placement is best. Bedroom favorites and seasonal go-to’s should stay close to the front as to avoid having to ‘dig’ around for them. Items that have gone out of season, or that are used more rarely, can be tucked into the back.

Pro tip: Use labelled storage bins in closets to help keep things tidy and organized. It also gives everything in the closet a designated place to be – which can help keep your space uncluttered.

2.     Set Up Study Spaces

Just as with most projects, it’s all about location, location, location!

A designated study space can help kids settle in and focus on the work at hand. Study spots don’t have to be in an office or spare room either (though if you have one of those, that’s great too!) With a little ingenuity and preparation, there are lots of spaces that can be made into a great little study area.

For example, the dining room or kitchen table can be a perfect work station for your kiddos. Large tables have lots of room to spread homework and supplies across which makes them ideal spots to work on projects. Any spot can truly work as long as it’s relatively quiet and there is enough room and table space to work comfortably.

It’s also important that all necessary supplies are easily accessible.

Drawers or cabinets are great places to store school supplies but avoid the clutter by using drawer dividers or silverware inserts to keep things from rolling around or getting lost.

Shelves are also your friend when it comes to capitalizing on space. They make great places to keep textbooks, extra paper, notebooks, and other ‘clunky’ items that tend to take up a lot of real-estate.

When it comes to your tabletop surface, use a desktop organizer (you can usually find these for cheap at a dollar store), an old utensil holder, or even a cup to keep your markers, pens, and pencils from rolling around and getting misplaced. For smaller items like paper clips, white out, and erasers, use small jars or containers with lids. 

3.     Set a Super Schedule

One of the trickiest things about the kids heading back to school is the balancing act that comes along with it. Basketball practice, band rehearsal, birthday parties, show and tell days… the list seems to go on forever! A family is made of a lot of moving pieces and everyone’s got a lot on their plate so it’s important to take time to lay out what it is, exactly, that everyone has going on.

If you have the space, calendars, chalkboards and bulletin boards are great visuals that can help keep busy schedules on track.

If you don’t, or simply prefer not to have your schedule on display, consider using a digital calendar/scheduler. Smartphones and laptops have them at the ready and there are plenty of apps available that allow you to share your schedule across devices (you might already have a Google calendar, or check out TimeTree – it’s free and a personal favorite).

Maybe it goes without saying but we’re going to say it anyways: whatever medium you decide on, make sure to actually use it. Input any meetings and events promptly so that your plans don’t get overlooked, double-booked, or just plain ol’ forgotten!  

Pro tip: Consider creating a separate schedule with your kids for routine happenings at home such as meal times, homework time, computer time, sleep time, etc. This an activity that can be done with your kids to help them become more engaged with their days, and it will also help them to acclimate to their new ‘school year’ schedule and away from their ‘summertime’ schedule.  Starting your new routine at least a week before school starts will make the back-to-school transition easier and less headachy for everyone. 

We understand that getting the kids up and ready to roll for school can be a full-time job in and of itself. If you’re finding that you need some extra support in getting your home back-to-school ready, we’re here for you! Whether it’s your first time with us or you need something a little extra added to your regularly scheduled clean, we have you covered.

Remember: we love cleaning so you don’t have too!

~Your Friend, Anna