Prepping the family + home for a new school year
“The first five days after the weekend are the hardest.” This is funny, but some weeks it’s true and mornings are certainly the most challenging part. Guys, I don’t even have kids in school and this list was easy for me because A.) I’m an organization nerd and B.) Most of these tips apply to all humans. Ultimately, it’s all about creating a routine and a plan. I’ve put together a list of some ways to prep the family and home for a new school year (or simply a fresh start in general).
Sleep schedule – This doesn’t directly relate to the home, but let’s be honest it’s the most important thing we can do for ourselves. Take it from me - I’m a huge fan of sleep. New baby over here and I was terrified of losing some of those precious hours. I’m simply one of those people that requires quality sleep to function and substituting caffeine just doesn’t work. Regarding children that are constantly growing, nourishing them with adequate sleep is obviously a must. Try to establish what the school year bedtime will be with them and get into that routine well in advance so it’s not like pulling a small person zombie out of bed when the school year hits. If they are old enough, set those alarms for them so if anything, they get a pre wake-up call prior to you running in with your hair on fire.
Set up a homework station – Establish a time and place for the homework to get done. If there’s an allocated area that is quiet without distractions it’s much easier to get into the zone (and without negotiating) for getting the work in and getting out.
Organize the paperwork – This has got to be endless: homework, permission slips, parent notes. I get giddy about organization and there are some really great ways to tackle this one. Ideally a drawer would be great or anywhere that’s out of sight on a regular basis, but if that’s not an option for you, below are some affordable freestanding pieces to purchase.
A home for all of the things – my husband is infamous for walking in the door and dropping all of the things on the floor (don’t tell him I’m calling him out) and I’m known for nearly having a hernia if there is a pile of things upon entering. This obviously is an equation for disaster and I can’t imagine if there were small people in the mix with all of their school stuff and clothes/ shoes. If you have any form of entryway, mud room, or heck even a little niche as you walk into your home, I’d strongly consider adding some kind of furniture piece or system designated to these items – and let’s be real, your sanity also. Built-in storage is ideal, but since that’s not always an option, I’ve captured a few of my favorite freestanding furniture pieces:
A Calendar – With busy schedules it’s critical to communicate what’s happening when. If a simple calendar on the fridge works for your family, that’s great. If you’d like something more significant and decorative, I’ve gathered a couple of options. These kinds of options can be used for weekly scheduling, meal prepping, grocery lists, chore lists and so on.
Shop for new school supplies - This is a must before the school year and a great way to involve the kids and really get them excited by letting them make their own choices. Also, this is a good opportunity to organize the kitchen cabinets - where will the lunch boxes live? Would your family benefit from a drawer of all of the daily lunch making supplies to make that process a little smoother?
I hope this helps get you thinking about how to prep your family and home for the upcoming months and school year. Until then, be sure to hop on that bike, order the extra scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough, and perfect that cannon ball splash!
