Do a little planning to help students start school year off right
Organizing and planning for the school year doesn’t mean changes only for the kids. The entire family is affected by new routines, changes in lifestyle and the shift back to learning mode for the year.
Getting everyone in the house on the same page is easy when a plan is made to help young (or old) students get back into dayto-day school and study routines. Whether it be planning what to eat, setting sleep schedules or finding places to store stuff, here’s a bunch of school organization tips to try so the entire family can stay on track.
COMING AND GOING
1. Creating a place to drop backpacks, sports equipment, shoes and coats will help keep everything in the mud room, or by the front door, tidy during the week. Supply each household member with an attractive bucket, tote or basket that will hold all the extras that going back to school brings.
2. An erasable whiteboard calendar is essential for organizing sports, club activities and school, no matter the size of household. Even non-school related activities such as doctor’s appointments, playdates, and vacations can be documented so everyone is kept up to date on schedules.
PRECIOUS FAMILY TIME
3. Picky eaters can create havoc during meal time, particularly in the back-to-school period. Consider keeping dinner time as family time and try to have it the same time every night. Pre-ordered meal boxes are a great way to have variety and ease up on meal planning and grocery shopping.
4. Perhaps one of the toughest challenges of all is getting the new sleep schedule in order. Start practising a few nights (and mornings) before school starts so the first week of school goes a little more smoothly.
ORGANIZE CLOSETS
5. To save time on weekday mornings, fill a hanging closet cubby on the weekend with outfits for each school day for the week. No more time wasted fussing over what to wear to school each morning!
6. Weekend laundry can be overwhelming. Supply family members with their own laundry bags
and tell them which day to take it to the laundry room.
7. Closets brimming over with summer and fall transition clothing and shoes? Invest in flat velvet hangers — they’ll add 30 per cent more hanging space. And install a simple wire shelf one foot above the floor to hold another row of shoes.
SMART STUDY HABITS
8. To keep a focused mind for study time, dedicate a space where homework can be done in the same spot every day. Younger students might need creative supervision at the kitchen island or table, whereas the older ones will need a quieter study space at their own desk.
9. Make a list of school supplies — it will differ for older students who tend to use technology for research, and younger students with hands-on craft needs — and shop for them early (like this week!).
10. Make pre-agreed scheduled times for completing homework, keeping in mind family meals and together time. And, of course, figure out some rewards, such as a little screen time before bed.