Can you believe it’s time to send your children back to school again? (Now, don’t get too excited, or they might notice.) Parenting experts suggest that getting your children back on a regular schedule a few days before school starts is a good idea. Ideally, wake your children at their usual school-day time in the morning. Additionally, put them to bed earlier. Creating an activity they will look forward to in the morning might be a reward for getting up early.
Planning
In families with school-aged children, the biggest challenge seems to be getting everyone out the door in the morning on time. Throughout my career as a professional organizer in Halifax, I have helped many families improve their back-to-school routines. I find that planning is essential. Here are some things you can incorporate into your plan.
- Prepare and pack lunches the night before. Buy a few sectioned lunch containers that hold the lunch, juice, snacks, etc.
- Plan breakfasts the night before. This will save you from early-morning, pre-coffee decision-making. Additionally, setting the table the night before will save you even more time in the morning.
- Create a regular weekly grocery schedule to ensure you always have enough on hand.
- Have your children shower and bathe the night before. If they wish to shower in the morning, put a 10-minute timer in the bathroom so they don’t spend “ages” there.
- Choose clothing for the next day. Check the weather forecast and have your children prepare their outfits for the next day. They can place their outfits in a nifty hanging closet “days-of-the-week” organizer.
- Pack the backpack the night before. Double-check that your children have their homework, signed notes, physical education clothing, and other materials. Hang the backpacks by the door for easy access.
Regular Routines
I’m a big fan of routines because they are essential for keeping your home and family organized. Here are some suggestions for an after-school routine.
When the children arrive home, have them empty their school bags. Help younger children and guide and encourage older ones to do it themselves.
- Put paperwork for parents, such as school forms that parents need to sign, into an inbox.
- Toss phys. ed. clothing in the laundry basket and lay out shoes and non-washables to air out. Parents of budding athletes could place a small laundry tote at the door to ensure they get all the sportswear to the laundry room.
- Place lunch boxes in the kitchen. Older children can unpack their lunch boxes and place containers in the sink or dishwasher.
- Have a quiet moment with a snack and a drink to refresh and rehydrate.
- Complete homework assignments. If the child doesn’t have homework, designate this time for reading or art. Young children may only need 20-30 minutes of homework time, but as they age, you may need to increase this to an hour or so.
- Free time until dinner! Play is the reward for completing the first five steps.
Helpful Organizational Systems
Build a family management binder. Use a binder with sheet protectors and pocket dividers to organize your family’s paperwork. The Schedule section is one of the most important because it’s where you list the information about all the activities and commitments. Also, record these events and appointments into an online calendar (e.g., Google, Outlook, Apple, etc.). Additionally, schedule time blocks for homework, physical fitness, and leisure activities. Highlight birthdays, parent/teacher days, PD days, and other school activities.
Designate homework areas: Each child should have a homework area to keep things that may not be going back to school the next day. A sturdy, washable basket with their name on it works well.
Create a laundry schedule. Put a load of clothes in the washer before the kids get up in the morning. Then, transfer it to the dryer before you leave for work. In the afternoon, when you return home, fold the load and put it away. If your washer has a “delay wash” feature, put clothes into the machine before you go to bed. Then, set the timer so the wash cycle finishes when you get up. Then, you can transfer the clothes to the dryer and have your morning coffee. This system ensures the entire family always has a choice of clean outfits.
Whew! I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of planning to do in the next few weeks. However, I guarantee you’ll be glad you implemented these back-to-school tips when September arrives. By then, your household will run like a well-oiled machine. Need some help? Give me a call. I’d be happy to help you build systems you and your family will be happy with.