For some families, the thought of their kids heading back to school is a welcome relief. For others, it can cause panic and stress. From clothes shopping, to organizing school supplies, meal planning and more, there are multiple components to getting children ready to return to the classroom. Whichever way you look at it, the end of summer poses a great opportunity for getting your home and your family ready for the new school year. Avoid a back-to-school frenzy by following these tips on how best to prepare:
Declutter & Get Organized
Your home is about to become bombarded with extra books, school handouts, piles of laundry and who knows what else. Do yourself a favor by freeing up some space ahead of time. Your first point of call should be decluttering and throwing out what you don’t need. You’ll be glad you did! Put summer toys into storage in your garage, and make use of under bed and closet space to store summer clothes. A stylish leather ottoman like CORT’s Rectangular Storage Ottoman or Cedar Storage Chest Ottoman is ideal for linen and blanket storage in bedrooms. Finally, it’s a good idea to compare what your kids need against what they already have. This will save you time and money when you head to the store for back-to-school shopping.
Create a System for Backpacks
As any parent knows, kids bustling through the front door, immediately dumping their belongings on the floor, is not ideal for keeping a neat and tidy home. Avoid unnecessary confrontations and mess by setting up a useful system for school backpacks and other loose items like shoes, jackets and lunch bags. This can be as simple as adding extra hooks near your front door that each child associates as their own. Or, get more creative with personalized cubbies and shelving in your entry way. For stylish hallway cabinet options, the spacious mahogany Draycott Sideboard offers plenty of built-in storage. CORT’s eye-catching Multi Squares Chest is also a great option that is both functional and full of contemporary design.
Set Up a Command Center
To make important things easy to find amid the morning rush, set up a family command center in your entrance hallway or above your kitchen office nook. This can comprise of an entrance table, simple writing desk, or shelving stand with organizational tools hung overhead. Your command center can be customized to match your family’s needs. This may include wall planners, cork boards, white boards, file holders, and wall pockets for smaller items (keys, pens, etc.).
Make a Lunchbox Station
Avoid scrambling for lunch box containers, utensils, and sandwich bags every time you make lunch. Instead, dedicate cupboard space in your kitchen so these lunchbox essentials can always be at your fingertips.
Stock Up on Supplies
Get ahead of the curve and stock up on supplies you know your kids are going to need. This will (hopefully) cut down on last-minute store runs, and help position your family for back-to-school success. If you need to, consider hiring a babysitter or designating a family member to take care of your children. You’ll check off your lists quicker shopping alone. We’ve provided some inspiration for your home and school supply checklists below:
- Snacks
- Stationary (pencils, markers, crayons, paper)
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Sports equipment
- Bookshelf to house reading material
- Bathroom essentials
- First aid kit (with bandages, ointment, etc.)
Getting your home and your family ready for back-to-school season requires forward planning and time. That said, it will be worth every minute spent preparing. Take the time to put systems in place that will help cut down on early morning chaos and make the fast-paced days ahead a little bit easier. Finally, remember to try and prepare what you can the night before. You’ll see – it will certainly make a difference!
