And we’re back - to school!
How did that happen? Weren’t we just starting summer holidays?? What seemed so far in the distance just a couple of weeks ago, is upon us and we’re back trying to stay on top of all the schedules, lunches, permission forms and trying to find bristol board at 8:30 on a Tuesday for Wednesday’s science project.
But don’t worry, your friendly neighbourhood organizer has a few ideas to help you stay on top of all the things you need to do and maybe even build a few transferable skills with your kiddos!
These strategies are meant to be done in conjunction with your children. Involving your children teaches organizational skills, fosters responsibility and independence, and sets them up for future success. Getting organized early can make a big difference in how smoothly the school year goes for both parents and kids.
Here’s a list of practical strategies:
Create a Family Calendar: Use a physical calendar, digital app, or planner to track important dates, events, and deadlines for everyone in the family. Include school events, extracurricular activities, appointments, and school closure days (especially if you have kids at different schools). If it’s a paper calendar, keep it in a central location and assign a different colour pen/highlighter to each family member. You can also do this in most digital calendars and apps.
Establish Routines: Set up consistent morning and evening routines. This helps everyone know what to expect and makes transitions smoother. Make lunches with your kids before bedtime if mornings tend to be rushed. This also allows them some autonomy and encourages better nutritional habits. Also encourage your children to empty their school bags when they get home – removing lunch dishes to dishwasher/sink; books to desk for homework and any paperwork in its designated area so it’s not misplaced.
Prepare School Supplies: Take a look at what you have left over from last year before you head to the stationary section, and resist the temptation to overbuy. Make a checklist of items needed for each child and restock as needed throughout the year.
Designate a Homework Station: Create a quiet, organized space for kids to do their homework and keep it stocked with necessary supplies. It can be as simple as a caddy on the kitchen table or a dedicated desk area.
Plan and Prep Meals: Plan weekly meals in advance and consider meal prepping on weekends. This saves time during busy school nights and ensures your family has nutritious options. There are numerous websites that have great weeknight dinner planners and once you get into a routine and get familiar with favourite recipes, it’s easy to weave them through on rotation. You can add them to your family calendar so everyone knows what’s on the menu and help with prep and/or cooking.
School Paper Organization: Set up a filing system for important school documents, such as report cards, returned art work and projects. If you have multiple kiddos, one file for each is a good idea. You can put things into the file and go through what you want to keep at set intervals. This makes end of the year tidying much easier. Consider digitising documents to reduce paper clutter.
Set Up a Drop Zone: Create a designated area for backpacks, shoes, and other daily essentials. If you don’t have a lot of space at your entrance, consider strong hooks for each person with a basket below. Coats and bags can be hung up and small items (mittens, etc.) can be placed in the basket. Designate a space for things that need to be looked at (permission slips, birthday invitations, etc.) by parents and guardians so they don’t get missed.
Review and Update Contact Information: Ensure that contact details for school, emergency contacts, and extracurricular activities are current and easily accessible. Make sure that allergy information is up to date with anyone who looks after your child and that your child knows about their allergies and sensitivities. *Reminder to check expiry date on medications like Epi-pens and asthma inhalers.
Review Budgets: Keep track of school-related expenses, such as fees, supplies, and extracurricular costs. Again, this can be something that can include your kids. Give them a budget for school supplies and be open with how much things cost. It’s never too early to have children realize that activities, birthday parties and events cost money and that these things need to be a part of the family budget.
Schedule Family Meetings: Regularly check in with your family to discuss schedules, upcoming events, and any adjustments needed. This keeps everyone on the same page and helps address any issues proactively. If it works for your family, pick one night a week that you’ll have a check-in, perhaps at dinner. How is school really going? How are your friends? What was fun this week? What’s coming up next week? It doesn’t have to be a Q&A, but as your kids get more used to the idea, the conversation will flow more smoothly.
Implementing these strategies can help reduce stress and create a more organized and enjoyable school year for everyone. And remember – you only get so many first days of school. Have fun and enjoy every moment!