Whether your kids are entering kindergarten or starting their senior year of high school, the return to school at the end of summer break is a huge transition—for them, but also for you. There are things to buy (backpacks, notebooks, all the snacks) and do (health forms to complete, sports teams to sign up for). Plus, there are new routines to be established.
It’s tempting to leave these tasks until just before the new school year—you deserve to enjoy the last few weeks of summer, too, after all—but crossing even a few things off of your must-do list now will make the start of back-to-school season smoother for everyone. Check out these smart ideas and tips from organizing experts.
1. Corral entryway clutter
When school is in session, entryways tend to turn into dumping grounds for shoes, backpacks, jackets, and just about anything else kids have to wear or carry. Whether you have a hallway, a mudroom, or little-to-no storage space at all, there are simple ways to corral the clutter. Start with a few wall hooks. “They are particularly effective for hanging jackets and backpacks immediately after school,” says organizing expert Cathy Orr, the co-founder of and The Uncluttered Life.
For shoes, try creating a drop zone with storage, recommends Orr. “This can be one of several things such as a shoe rack, shoe cabinet, or large basket for everyday shoes,” she says. “Baskets always work well for hats, gloves and scarves during cold, winter months.”
A cubby or a locker (if you have space for either) can be a great way to store sports equipment so that it all stays together, she adds. If you don’t have room indoors, you can also clear a space in the garage.
2. Designate a snack system
If you have granola bars in a cabinet, fruit in the refrigerator, and bags of chips in the pantry, it’s harder for kids to find an after-school snack on their own, leading to the inevitable ‘Mom, what snacks do we have?’ yelled from the kitchen.
Set up a dedicated snack zone that’s easily accessible, says Orr. “This can be on a pantry shelf, in a drawer or on one shelf in the refrigerator,” she says. “Contain items in clear bins for visibility and label everything so your kids know where to find things and you know what needs to be replenished. Always put these at eye level so your kids can reach them on their own. Rotate and replace items occasionally so things stay fresh and don’t get repetitive.”
3. Do self-serve for breakfast
The same idea for a snack zone can work for breakfast, too. Let kids help themselves to morning meals by dedicating a pantry area and a refrigerator shelf to items such as cereal, breakfast bars, protein shakes, yogurt, fruit, overnight oats, breakfast burritos, and homemade muffins. Keep everything at eye level in clear bins or small baskets, says Orr. “Try to do any food prep weekly to eliminate chaotic mornings,” she says. “And again, rotate inventory and restock the bins after each trip to the grocery store.”
4. Make everything accessible
“Systems for organizing should always be one or two steps,” says Cheryl Russo, owner of Organizing by Cheryl. “This applies to anything that you want to keep organized. I recommend no covers for bins that house packaged foods. It’s a quick and easy system to maintain: Open the drawer or pantry door, then grab a snack! If something is more difficult to put back than to take out, then no one will put it back.”
5. Empty backpacks immediately
As any parent knows, children’s backpacks are often where permission slips, craft projects, and uneaten snacks go to die. If you wait until Friday to empty these things out, there’s no telling what you might find in there.
Instead, make this the first part of your daily post-school routine and get the kids involved in the task, suggests professional organizer Kim Shiu of Tidy4Good. “The moment kids walk through the door, the backpack gets entirely emptied,” she says. “Trash goes in the bin, lunchboxes go to the kitchen, and homework gets done. The backpack should go into a designated area, whether that’s hung up in the mudroom on a particular hook, or in their room.”
6. Tackle paperwork, too
Likewise, deal with any papers, forms, artwork, or permission slips that come home from school right away, says Shiu. “Paperwork should be split up into categories such as: ‘action needed’ like permission slips to be signed or homework to check, ‘need to keep’ for important documents for the semester or year, and ‘sentimental’ for things like artwork,” she says.
7. Let kids help
Shiu believes that kids should have as much autonomy as is appropriate for their age. Instead of doing everything for them, think of ways that they can get themselves ready for school. “Maybe it's choosing their outfits for the week, packing their lunch, or writing their extracurricular activities on the calendar,” she says. “This ensures that they're building a sense of responsibility and lessens some of the mental load of parents.”
8. Start shifting habits now
The last few weeks of summer are a good time to start transitioning into a fall schedule. Wake up a bit earlier during this transition time so that early mornings during the first week of school don’t feel too jarring for everyone, says Shiu.
I’ve you’ve read through this list and still feel overwhelmed, don’t stress! “As a parent, give yourself grace,” reminds Shiu. “Not every system or routine has to be fully established yet. Enjoy the time with your kids as they return to school.”
