When we had to start crisis-schooling due to COVID-19, it quickly became clear that organization can be the difference between success and chaos. What lessons can we apply to the start of a new school year? Whether it’s establishing a great workspace or managing all the papers, setting up a few systems for good back-to-school home organization will pay off in preserved sanity—your sanity, Mom. And can you put too high a price on that? We didn’t think so.
Dive in with these 7 ways to get your home back-to-school ready, no matter what kind of schooling you’re doing!
Plus, our Back to School Printable Collection makes your life easier and the school year better! The collection includes:
- Teacher Conference Worksheet
- Reading Log
- Reading Chart
- Screen Time Tracker
- Lunchbox Notes
1. Create a homework station for your students.
It can be as simple or as elaborate as you see fit, but a designated space where all the study supplies live can make afternoon homework time a little easier.
2. Create files for paperwork each child brings home.
Remember those great filing systems we talked about in iMOM’s Home Office Organization Tips? Make sure you set up some for each child. We recommend at least two per kid: one for parent information related to academics and one for forms and schedules related to extracurriculars. You also can set up files for the work they bring home that you want to keep.
3. Get your kids trained in the after-school flow.
Teach your gang to go through a series of actions each afternoon to learn personal responsibility, organization, and to be helpful around the house. It can include what to unload from their backpacks and where to put it, what to do with lunchboxes and uneaten food, and, of course, what homework needs to be done before playing.
4. Set up a lunch packing station.
Create an area of the fridge and/or pantry dedicated to the supplies and food items needed to pack a healthy lunch. It will help you in packing for smaller kids and will help older kids do it for themselves more easily! It’s just one of several ways to make school mornings easier.
5. Create a holding area for sports equipment in the garage.
Sports equipment can smell like a herd of goats (trust us, it’s bad) when stored in your home or your car. Solution? Keep everything handy in bins or lockers in the garage. It can air out overnight and it’s ready to grab again when you head out in the morning!
6. Stock up on healthy and quick breakfast items.
Back-to-school home organization should extend into the food spaces, too! Make sure your freezer and pantry are chock full of easy, on-the-go breakfast options. We love make-ahead freezable egg and sausage muffins!
7. Establish a family calendar.
Whether you use an old-school paper calendar on the fridge or one of the slick apps designed for families on the go, get everybody’s schedule in one place so both parents can access it easily.
Do you have a tried and true back-to-school home organization tip? Tell us about it.
