In the past, we shared 6 Expert Tips to help get ready for the new school year. This year, we’d like to add a few time-saving tips to help you and your family make the best of back to school!
1. Plan Ahead
Last year, we recommended pre-sorting snacks and food items to make packing lunches more efficient. There are other ways to get ahead of the game, too. Spend some time on Sunday evening in a family meeting. Mark the calendar, plan meals, and make to-do lists to prepare everyone for the week ahead.
Kelly at Here Comes the Sun, takes this opportunity to check the forecast and plan outfits for the week. Here is her back to school clothes organizational system for kids.
2. Stock up on Supplies
While you’re school supply shopping, be sure to pick up some extras for homework and at-home projects. You can keep these supplies organized in the homework station we helped you create last fall. All you need is a small caddy. Becky at Clean Mama™, shares her practical and trendy example using canning jars.
If you have a heart for charity, classrooms are always accepting donations. Pick up extra supplies to donate to local schools. Here is a list of 21 Classroom Essentials for Back to School (as Chosen by Teachers).
3. Set Up Systems
School and paper go hand-in-hand. Prepare yourself by setting up organizational systems ahead of time to make sure you don’t lose keepsakes or forget to sign and return important documents. A Bowl Full of Lemons’ blog post details a great organizational system for school projects and keepsakes.
Erin at Sunny Side Up shares a great system for organizing incoming and outgoing paper. Check out #6 on her list of 10 Things to Do Now to Get Organized for Back to School.
4. Routine
Many people focus on perfecting a morning routine, but establishing a consistent afternoon routine is just as important. We love these awesome tips for creating a stress-free afternoon routine that we found over at Simple as That. While some may have homework on the top of to-do list, others may need a snack or require rest. Find what works for your family, and put it into practice.
When you are already implementing new routines, it’s a great time to create or adjust a chore system. Last year we recommended this fun chore jar & reward chart, but here are an additional 17 Ways Chores can Actually Be Fun for Your Kids.
5. Eliminate Clutter
We all know about spring cleaning, but the best way to start a new season is with a clean slate. Purge unnecessary items from your house to save time and stress during the school year. Tipsaholic explains How to Purge Your Home: 10 Easy Tips here.
After you get through purging, you will definitely want to top it off with a deep clean! Since you’ll probably be busy enjoying those back to school experiences with the special kids in your life, let us take care of it for you. All you need to do is call us at 541-601-6236.