As it does every year, summer is quickly coming to a close. That means that a new school year is about to start! If you’re the parent of a school-age child, school starting again is a blessing but also can be frustrating and stressful. There’s school shopping to do, schedules to organize, lunches to make, and paperwork to fill out. Depending on how many children you have, getting ready for school each day can feel like a full-time job! To help, NSA Storage collected the following seven time-saving back-to-school organization tips just for you!
Why is Back-to-School Organization Important?
The thing about organizing for back-to-school is that it reduces stress for everyone in your family. For your kids, being organized means fewer days being tardy, homework being done on-time, and better overall grades.
For parents, being organized can save you time and energy, reduce sibling rivalries, and ensure your kids do well in school. You’ll spend less time searching frantically for school forms, clothing, backpacks, snacks, books, and all that other school stuff.
In other words, when you’re organized for back-to-school, you won’t find yourself running around like a silly goose every school day!
1. Start a Before Bed Preparation Routine
Organization experts agree that preparation is the key to making school mornings less stressful. To do that, one great idea is to start a before bed preparation routine for your kids. For example;
- Have your kids set out the clothes they will wear the night before
- Let the kids pick their snacks
- Check homework to make sure it’s done and ready
- Have backpacks and water bottles filled and ready to go
- Check and fill-in any important school forms
The better prepared you are before the school day starts, the easier your mornings will be!
2. Use Checklists
Checklists are a parent’s best friend. They help your kids stay on track and help you to know that everything that needs to be done is done. Below is a basic checklist you can copy.
Morning Checklist
- Get out of bed on time
- Shower and brush teeth
- Grab any homework or school forms due that day
- Pack backpacks with books, lunch, and snacks
- Eat a healthy breakfast
3. Set Up a Family Command Center
The larger your family, the more important a “command center” becomes. This is a spot in your home where you can keep track of everything related to school. Using a large whiteboard or pinboard you can;
- Post school start times, and bus pick-up times
- Keep track of after-school activities and sports
- List upcoming special school events and dates
- Have a spot to place finished homework for checking
- List chores that each child needs to handle
- Have a count-down calendar until the next school break
4. Carve Out a Homework Zone in Your Home
Let’s be honest; most kids don’t like homework. That said, homework is an important part of school. It will help your child do well, get better grades, improve their intelligence, and accomplish more in life.
To help, setting up a “homework zone” can be very helpful. It doesn’t have to be fancy or, frankly, cost you anything, but should;
- Be in a well-lighted area
- Be quiet and away from distractions
- Be stocked with basic school supplies like paper, pencils, scissors, glue, etc.
- Have good access to wi-fi.
Also, let your kids help you set up the homework zone because ownership empowers children. If they set it up, your kids are more likely to use the H-zone rather than avoid it.
5. Put Together a School Supply Station
Once you’ve purchased all of the supplies your kids will need for school, your next task is to set up a supply station. That way, when someone needs something, they don’t have to search, stress, or interrupt your busy day to find it. Your supply station should be stocked with:
- Pencils, pens, crayons, markers, and colored pencils
- Paper
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Scotch Tape
- Folders and notebooks
- Stapler or paper clips
6. Have a Designated “Drop Zone” for Backpacks and Finished Homework
Like the supply station, having a drop zone for backpacks and homework is a stress-buster. Again, it doesn’t need to be fancy, but should include:
- Plenty of hooks to hang everyone’s backpack
- A tray or other storage device for homework, permission slips, and other forms
- A rack for shoes and boots
Your drop zone should be near an entrance that everyone uses. That way, as soon as they get home, your kids can drop everything but still stay organized.
7. Prepare Lunches and Snacks Ahead of Time
Unless your kids get all their food from school, this tip is a no-brainer! By preparing their lunch and snacks the night before, you save yourself a lot of time in the morning.
That’s time you can use to help your kids get dressed, practice for a test, or eat a good breakfast! Here are a few food prep tips to help:
- Have plenty of low-cost plastic food containers on-hand
- Pre-portion snacks like apple slices, grapes, crackers, etc.
- Prep several things and let your kids choose what they want.
- Prepare sandwiches and other time-consuming lunch items the night before.
NSA Storage Can Help You Stay Organized
Going back to school is a rite of passage for kids and their parents every year. We hope the seven back-to-school organization tips provided today will make it easier on everyone, and less of a chore. If you need more storage space this school year for sports equipment, school supplies, holiday decorations, etc., NSA Storage can help! Our clean, safe, and secure storage units come in a wide variety of sizes to suit every need.
You can reserve a storage unit online or visit your local NSA Storage center to get your storage unit today. Until then, best of luck helping your child thrive this school year!
