Tis the season! Who is ready for back to school?! In just 4 short weeks my daughters will be headed back – one as a second grader (which truly does not even seem possible) and the other as a pre-schooler. This summer has been a pretty fun and laid back one and although it is not over yet – I am still going to use these 4 weeks to begin preparing for back to school time. As I begin my process of making my to-do list for back to school I thought I’d drop some great ideas/tips/hacks to help others as they begin the process of getting ready for school.
Drop Zone – Having a specific location for kids to drop off their backpack, lunchbox, jackets etc. makes getting out of the door in the morning so much easier. It corrals all of the clutter and you are not walking out of the door in the morning sans lunch box or last night’s homework
Easy to Clean Lunch Boxes – Check out these cute lunch boxes from Amazon. They are easy to clean, light weight, affordable and most times will come with an outer zipper pocket for extra supplies.
Power Hour – Grab a timer or use your phone and help your kids get focuses for an hour of study time or relaxation time that is completely phone and screen free. This gets kids used to studying, reading, and gives them (and you) some much needed quiet time.
Master Calendar/Calendar Sync – Get everyone in the family on the same page by having all of life’s events on a calendar that is visible to everyone in the family. I have a big dry erase calendar in the kitchen that everything is written on. If your kids are older, sync all of the digital calendars before the school year begins so everyone knows what is happening week to week.
Lunch Station – During the school year have areas in your kitchen that help make lunch making a snap. Keep the containers, baggies, and utensils all in the same drawer. Make lunch prep easy in the fridge with the use of dollar store containers that can corral the food and snacks used for lunches. Have a magnetic notepad on your fridge to write down what you are running low on so that you are always stocked.
Instant Notes – Grab a pack of blank cards from Dollar General or Target and tuck them into your planner or purse. They are great to have on hand when you need to write a quick note to the teacher in the morning or even a note of encouragement to your kiddo when you know they are going through a rough time.
Power Station – Ensure your child is getting the adequate sleep they need by having a charging area for keeping their devices at night. If they can’t stay away from night-time phone checks, then the charging area becomes mom or dad’s room.
Homework Station – Having a set area to do homework makes it easier on the family when that time comes every night for homework. I have little caddies that I bought at the Dollar Tree that house scissors, crayons, and extra pencils. When my oldest is ready to do her homework, she grabs her caddy (see insert) out of our cupboard and gets to work at the table. This is her designated area for doing homework and studying.
Penny for Your Thoughts – I saw this idea on Pinterest and absolutely love it especially for the older kids. Keep some change in your car and when your child is giving you the silent treatment or seems to be having a rough day, hand them a penny for their thoughts, a nickel for a funny story, a dime for their struggles, or a quart for their best or worst part of the day. This is a great way to enhance communication and shows the that you care.
Busy Box – My daughter gets home from school at 230pm and I don’t get home until 5, sometimes 8pm. I don’t want that whole time to be filled with electronics and tv. They have a “busy” box that they choose from after school and homework is done. It is filled with puzzles, games, worksheets, arts and crafts – just a variety of things that they can choose from that will keep them busy and off electronics until I get home. My husband is home with the girls – so he supervises and helps them choose activities and plays with them which they love.
What are your Back to School Hacks? I’d love to hear any tips or tricks that you do to get ready for back to school in the comments!
Xo
Morgan
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