As August winds down, and the nights start to get shorter, we're all preparing for back to school. We start trading in our leniency with letting our kids stay up a little later for getting back into the normalcy of routine. As bittersweet as it is, there's always a part of us that just wants just a little more summertime. A few more fireflies to catch, one more late-night ice cream run, one more beach day, you get the drift. And although it's not a one size fits all kind of thing; I hope this helps create a general guideline to help make the transition just a little bit easier!
Organize and Declutter Your Space
Start with a home refresh by decluttering key areas like the living room, kitchen, and kids' rooms. Create designated zones for backpacks, lunch boxes, and shoes to keep things tidy.
- Involve your kids by giving them age-appropriate tasks such as organizing their desks or sorting through their clothes.
Establish Routine
Some people keep the same routine all year round, and others, including myself, let loose a little during the summer. Kids go to sleep a little later and have a little more leeway. Transition back into the school year by adjusting bedtime and morning routines a couple of weeks before school starts. Set regular times for waking up, homework, and winding down to build a comfortable routine. This is especially important for children who thrive better with a strict routine.
Wardrobe Organization
Sort through your kids’ clothes to donate or sell clothes they’ve outgrown. This frees up space for new outfits and makes getting dressed in the morning easier. Making sure everything is organized makes picking outfits easy breezy. You can go one step further and really go all out by getting an organizer to pick out outfits for the entire week ahead of time.
Create a Homework Station
Set up a dedicated, quiet area for your kids to do their homework, projects and reading time. Stock it with all necessary supplies like pencils, paper, and a calendar for tracking assignments.
Meal Prep
If your kids bring lunch to school, planning and making meals ahead of time can be a huge time saver on those busy mornings. This also goes for dinner. Meal prepping/planning dinners ahead of time can really help school nights go a lot more smooth, especially on those difficult homework and after school activity days.
Family Calendar
Creating a family calendar in a spot where everyone can see is a must. Everybody is in the loop, knows what’s going on and what to expect. There is just something special about physically writing and looking at a calendar.
