Back-To-School Organization Tips

Back to school organization tips are essential for smoothing out hectic mornings and establishing a reliable routine. As the start of a new academic year approaches, a well-structured schedule is so important. These tips aim not only to streamline the morning hustle but also to foster an environment supportive to learning. By incorporating these strategies, students and parents alike can facilitate a seamless transition back to the school grind, ensuring each day starts off on the right foot.

Traditionally, the new school year is met with equal parts excitement and anticipation. Shopping for new school supplies, re-aligning routines, and organizing the home, are all part of the “back-to-school” build-up.

Getting your home organized before the school year begins will set you and your children up for success. These back-to-school organization tips will help prevent stressful mornings, clutter-filled entryways, and some of the challenges associated with learning-from-home. Putting in a little effort now will ensure you have both a smooth transition, and a designated place for that bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.

School Morning Schedule

The hustle and bustle of a new school year calls for a sense of readiness only organization can provide. The transition to a new classroom, new friends, and new experiences is made easier with a new school morning routine to accommodate for the the influx of paper, backpacks, and activity.

Back-To-School Planning: The Bedroom

Back to school means a little reset on your wardrobe. T-shirts and shorts need to make room for sweaters and jeans, jackets and running shoes. Take a few minutes and go through everyone’s closet, removing the summer clothes and making way for the items required for back to school. It is a good idea to donate anything in good shape, as your child will have outgrown these summer clothes by next year. By spending time now to organize, you will ensure that every bedroom is decluttered from summer and is ready for fall.

A great idea for avoiding the morning stress of outfit-picking, is to sit down on a Sunday evening with your child and choose together what he/she will wear everyday that week.

- Label wooden hangers with the days of the week and place each outfit in order. Place your child’s underwear in a Ziploc bag, poke a hole through it, and hang it on the hanger as well.
- Furthermore, these pre-selected outfits can also be placed in individual compartments in an over-the-door-organizer, either in the closet or behind the bedroom door.
- For children who enjoy a little more independence, provide a photo of what needs to be included in a complete ensemble. To make it easier for them to coordinate outfits, clothing can then be hung in wardrobe capsules (a small collection of individual outfits) or by colour, season, or sleeve and pant length.
- Additionally, carabiners can be used in a closet to hang belts, hair elastics, and flip flops.
- Lastly, for children boasting a vast array of hair accessories, tackle boxes emerge as a brilliant organizational tool.

School Morning Routine Tips: The Bathroom

Mornings always include a stint in the bathroom. By keeping both the bathroom and the routine organized, your family can get out the door with a minimum of stress.

Create a bathroom schedule and assign a timeslot for each member of the family. This structure will prevent any arguments and allow your children to feel in control of their morning.
Make a bathroom caddy for each child. Include everything he/she will need such as a face cloth, comb, toothbrush, and toothpaste. These caddies are easy and efficient school morning routine tips that can be stored either under the sink or in the bathroom closet.
Another option is to Velcro plastic cups to the inside of the bathroom cabinet door. These can be used to store each child’s toothbrush and toothpaste. Furthermore, labelling each cup will prevent any mix-ups.

The Kitchen

The kitchen, being the house’s hub, can require a considerable amount of back-to-school organization. Simplifying the preparation of school lunches and snacks can be achieved through the establishment of a “prep station“, where essentials like water bottles, containers, and pre-portioned food are stored. Ensuring fruits and vegetables are washed, cut, and stored in clear containers immediately after grocery shopping, contributes to ease and efficiency, serving as practical school morning tips. This strategy aids in quick lunch preparation and satisfying after-school hunger.

Encouraging independency, older children can be guided by photos displaying healthy meal options, enabling them to pack their lunches. This creates a sense of control and decision-making regarding their meals. Introducing a designated “snack station” in the pantry, stocked with healthy snacks, facilitates self-service, especially appreciated after a long school day.

Moreover, creating a dedicated homework zone and personalized “caddy” in the kitchen ensures organization and accessibility, promoting an efficient after-school routine. The versatility of a metal utility cart serves this purpose well, with its multi-level design and easy maneuverability. Incorporating such back-to-school organization from the onset instills good habits, reducing stress for both parents and children.

Transforming a part of the kitchen into a communication hub, complete with a calendar and board, enhances family coordination. This visual representation of the week’s menu and schedule aids in managing time and expectations. Hanging labeled baskets for each child organizes school communication, minimizing clutter.

Finally, allocating time on Sunday afternoons for family meal-planning establishes a solid foundation for the week ahead. Engaging children in the selection and preparation of meals fosters cooperation and ensures a smooth start to each week, reinforcing the importance of back-to-school organization.

Back-To-School Organizing Solutions: The Entryway

One of the keys to keeping your family organized is to create a functional entryway.

Ensure that everyone has their own designated area.
- Add hooks, cubbies and additional storage for backpacks, coats, and shoes. Provide either a label or a photo to designate each child’s area.
- Think about your family’s morning routine; plan to have everything that you will need, placed at the front door. For instance, if you always apply sunscreen before they leave for school, ensure the tube of sunblock is handy.
- Store small tubes of hand sanitizer and masks in the entryway for easy access. Use this stockpile to slip extras into a pocket in every child’s backpack.
- Establishing a habit of packing the backpacks the night before will help to create a less hectic morning routine.

The Family Vehicle

Back to school organization does not need to stop at the front door. After all, your vehicle needs to transition from Summer trips to the beach, back to the school loading and unloading zone.

Over the back of the seats, hang organizational bags filled with healthy snacks, tissues, chargers, pencils, markers, hand sanitizer, and extra masks.

Back-to-School Organization Tips For At-Home Learning

Turning your home into a learning-friendly environment might seem challenging, especially since children often associate home with relaxation and family time. However, creating a clutter-free, organized learning area can effectively shift this mindset. Implementing back-to-school student organization tips helps in developing a conducive space that encourages and motivates children.

Maintaining familiar school morning routines is essential for a sense of normalcy. Introduce a “morning basket” with age-appropriate activities like books or coloring to engage children during breakfast. This gentle start helps them shift from leisure to learning time. Integrating a school calendar into your family communication hub and displaying the day’s agenda keeps everyone on track, particularly if homeschooling.
Assigning individual workspaces and storage for each child enhances organization and focus. Specific seating arrangements prevent disputes and contribute to a structured school morning routine. Ensure accessibility to electrical outlets where needed and use dividers to minimize distractions for children sharing a table. Personalized dividers can be crafted from poster boards and packed away after lessons.
Utilizing a utility cart for school supplies encourages children to maintain a tidy area. Color-coded folders and binders, along with labeled bins for reading materials and ongoing projects, facilitate order. Maximizing vertical space through shelving aids in organizing supplies, books, and games.

Back-to-school organization extends beyond physical spaces; it also involves establishing habits. Organizing various areas of your home, including closets, bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and even vehicles, promotes healthy routines for the school year. No matter where the learning happens, an organized home sets the stage for a successful and enjoyable academic year.