The days are slowly getting shorter, which can only mean summer is winding down and a new school year is on the horizon. While most parents are overjoyed, it also means the end of the lazy summer days while the rush-rush of the school year takes over. Make the transition easier by setting aside some time beforehand to get the whole household organized for simpler morning and evening routines.
Mark Your Calendar
Many schools have most of the year planned out, with the dates set for sporting events, band concerts, school dances and more. Combine these dates along with your list of doctor and dentist appointments, family obligations, and other important dates. Make a digital version for your phone to check upcoming events on the go, and consider a printing out a copy to hang up in a prominent place in the house for the whole family to view. If your kids are in the Montgomery County School system, you can see their calendar here.
Inspect the wardrobe
Set aside some time for your children to try on their wardrobe and have a fashion show of the winning and losing clothes and shoes. Make piles of clothes that don’t fit, but are still decent to donate, another for items that need to be mended, and a third for articles that make the grade. Create a list of must-have items for the immediate future and for those you can put off until later in the season. And then start scanning the sales circulars and online deals.
Get Filing
Devise a dedicated filing system now before all those report cards, art projects, and permission slips start to pile up. Consider buying an accordion file or paper tray for each child and place them in a dedicated spot. Instruct everyone to get in the habit of putting items right into their personal file.
Get your digital filing system in gear too. Make sure you have the proper emails for teachers and folders for assignments and essential information that you can access in a jiffy.
Designate a Homework Section
No more scrambling around just before bedtime looking for the tape and scissors for a project you child “forgot” to tell you was due tomorrow.
Gather up and organize all the school supplies ahead of time, everything from the smallest paperclip to the largest stapler should have space.
Have your kids put their backpacks and other homework items they bring home from school in the homework section right away so that assignments and permission slips don’t get lost. Here’s where you’ll want to store the dedicated files you made too. (see above)
Stock up on school supplies
Before you run out and start buying up all the paper and glue in the land, make sure you check your at-home stock first.
Clean out backpacks, drawers, pockets, the car and anyplace else school supplies go to hide and take inventory. You’ll be surprised how many pens, pads of paper, and rolls of tape are probably hiding everywhere in your home.
Door Prizes
Sit down and contemplate your daily routine during the school year. Do you recall one or two items you or your kids need to run back inside and grab almost everyday, right after you’re out the door? Save time and aggravation by placing a cute basket, shelving unit, or table by the door stocked with your last-minute essentials like brushes, extra pens, hand sanitizer, and more.
Get to Bed Earlier
If you are like most families, your schedule in the summer starts to veer dramatically from the school year schedule. Let’s face it; it’s hard to go bed earlier when the sun is still out.
Start weaning the household off of the summer night owl schedule. Make an effort to get to everyone to bed earlier and start waking up sooner gradually, so the transition at the beginning of the school year isn’t quite so daunting.
Have a great year!
