Here are 11 useful and easy back-to-school prep ideas that will help you organize your home in no time!
It’s almost that time of year that kids dread and maybe parents look forward to (or vice versa).
Summer is coming to an end and it’s almost time for kids to head back to school!
After a summer filled with vacations, activities, and late nights having fun, preparing your household for the transition back to school might be a challenge.
But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
This post will explain 11 simple back-to-school prep ideas you can use to help organize your home!
Here’s What We’ll Cover:
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Why Is Back-To-School Prep Important?
Every successful project always begins with preparation, and the challenging transition from summer to back-to-school is no different.
By not preparing for the new school year, this difficult transition can be highly stressful and frustrating for both kids and parents.
Decrease the potential for any future headaches and prepare for the back-to-school transition as much as possible.
This will undoubtedly give your children the best chance at starting the new school year as successfully as possible.
Why Does Back-To-School Prep Involve Organizing My Home?
We get it. Maybe when you think of sending your kids back-to-school, you don’t immediately think of organizing your home.
That’s a normal response! There are so many other tasks on your mind, like getting new uniforms, meeting teachers, finding perfect lunch boxes – the list goes on and on.
But the state of your home is vital for succeeding in the back-to-school transition!
Having an organized home will help you in the following areas:
- Provide a calm and stress-free environment for your family
- Help your children start their school year prepared and confident
- Aid you in identifying what your children need at home to take on every school day
- Give your children dedicated work areas and simple processes to follow
- And so much more!
For the smoothest transition from summer to school, think of your home as the foundation that every other task rests upon.
11 Back-To-School Prep Ideas To Help You Organize Your Home!
Here are 11 simple and straightforward back-to-school prep ideas to help you organize your home quickly and efficiently.
1. Establish Your Morning and Night Routine
Before the school year begins, plan what your children’s morning and night routines will be.
For their morning routine, make sure these questions are answered:
- What time will everyone be waking up?
- Will your children use an alarm clock, or will you wake them up?
- What’s the shower schedule going to be?
- Do any household tasks/chores need to be completed before school?
- How is everyone getting to school (bus, car, riding with friends, walking, etc.)
- What time does everyone need to leave to get to school on time?
For their nightly routine, ensure these questions are taken care of:
- What time will everyone be home?
- Are there any tasks/chores that need to be completed before/after dinner?
- When and where will your children be doing their homework?
- Will lunches for the next day be packed by your children or you?
- What’s the shower/clean-up schedule going to be?
- What time does everyone need to be in bed for the night?
These questions can be a lot to keep up with, especially since everyone is so busy.
Consider having your family use a visual tool like a magnetic routine chart to keep everything simple!
2. Create A Study Area or Reading Nook
Having a quiet and calm area to study or do homework will help your kids focus and get their work completed.
Consider creating a dedicated study area or reading nook for this workspace!
For a successful study area, you might need:
- A small desk or table
- Work materials (paper, pencils, markers, etc.)
- Comfortable seating
- Great lighting
- White noise machine (if needed!)
If you’re looking for a cozier work area, try a reading nook!
In a small corner or room in your home, add in:
- Dimmable lighting
- Cozy seating
- Soft blankets, pillows, and rugs
- Fun bookcases
- Candles, incense, or air diffusers
No matter what style of study area you choose, make sure it fits your child’s learning preferences!
3. Clean Out Closets
Cleaning out closets is a popular organizational task you can easily do for back-to-school prep!
Start by removing pieces of clothing that no longer fit, haven’t been worn, or aren’t in great condition.
If you have specific uniforms your children can no longer wear, consider donating them back to the school or to a local thrift store.
Once you’ve completed cleaning out old clothes, move to shoes, belts, and anything else that’s no longer needed.
Having clean and current closets will help your kids get ready for school faster and stay organized throughout the school year.
4. Set Up A Charging Area
The education system is ever-changing, and schools are increasingly adding more and more technology for learning.
It’s not uncommon for students to now have cellphones, laptops, tablets, iPads, and more.
All of this technology needs to be charged every night to ensure it’s capable of working the next day.
Due to this, consider setting up a dedicated charging area in your home!
This charging area can be on a small table, on the end of a counter, or anywhere else in your home that makes sense.
To keep all of the cords and wires maintained and not in a tangled mess, look into adding a multi-plug charging station to this area!
5. Designate A Drop-Off Zone
A great back-to-school prep idea is to establish a drop-off zone!
This is an area by your front door where your kids can drop off all school-related items when they come home for the day.
Hang hooks or add organization bins for the following items:
- Backpacks
- Shoes
- Coats
- Boots
- And more!
Having all of these items in one dedicated space helps reduce the risk of something being lost or forgotten!
6. Make A Lunch Prep Station
Making packed lunches every night or morning can be a real hassle, especially if you have multiple mouths to feed.
But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be!
Set up a lunch prep station and dedicate an area for:
- Easily making sandwiches
- Cutting fruit
- And packing snacks
Keep lunch boxes and reusable bags in this area for ease and convenience!
7. Establish A Family Calendar
It’s no surprise that with school starting, everyone’s schedule just gets busier and busier!
Between school, jobs, extracurriculars, and sports, there’s a high risk of something possibly being forgotten.
Reduce that risk by establishing a family calendar!
Place the family calendar in a visible location, like on the fridge or a prominent large wall.
Get creative with color coordination and fun push pins!
8. Organize All School Supplies
Next on the back-to-school prep list, organize all leftover school supplies from last year!
Take this opportunity to toss out any broken pencils, crayons, or erasers.
If you’re running low on anything, prepare in advance and pick those items up before back-to-school crowds rush your local stores.
9. Add Labels & Baskets
For all of those new school supplies, you’ll need a practical place to store them!
Consider adding in a few new organization baskets to hold these items.
Add descriptive labels so your kids know where everything is located and where it goes when they’re done using them.
10. Plan All Weekly Meals
The last thing you want to do after a long day is think of a dinner idea that everyone in your family agrees on.
Instead, plan out all weekly meals well in advance!
This allows you to plan an accurate grocery list and prepares your kids for what they’ll be eating for the next week.
This weekly 10-minute task can save you hours of planning and preparation time this school year.
11. Ask Your Kids For Input
Finally, ask your kids for their input on back-to-school prep organization ideas!
Here are a few questions you can ask to get started:
- Where would you like to study when you get home?
- What makes you feel ready for the school day?
- Is there anything we should add to the home to help you feel more prepared?
Kids can have great ideas and taking their input can help be beneficial for the entire family.
In Summary: Back To School Prep Ideas For Home Organization
Back-to-school prep doesn’t have to be a difficult process, and neither does the transition from summer to school.
In fact, it can be really easy if you:
- Plan in advance
- Establish your routines
- Clean out closets
- Set up drop-off zones, lunch prep stations, and family calendars
- Add in baskets and labels
- Ask your kids/family for input and ideas
We hope this list gives you the most success possible for this school year!
Happy organizing!
What’s your favorite back-to-school prep idea? Comment below and let us know!
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