I have always said that August felt like the Sundays of summer. School starts back again soon and if you are anything like me, you will want to prepare yourselves as well as your children for that transition from summer mode to school mode. One way we make the transition is by staying organized in any aspect that we can be organized in. We understand the importance of organization and are here to offer some practical tips to help families get ready for the academic year.
The first thing we recommend is getting a family calendar. This shared calendar can be digital or physical. Our family truthfully does both just so we have one on the go and one of the fridge we can reference easily first thing in the morning. By having a shared calendar, it becomes the central hub of information of what’s going on for the day, week or month and ensures that everyone is on the same page. Another helpful trick is color-coding your calendar either by specific activities or assigning family members by color. This makes it easy to see who needs to be where quickly at a glance and enhances the calenda’s effectiveness.
Next you will want to set up a dedicated homework/study space to help improve your child’s focus and productivity. Typically this space is to be free from distractions and have any necessary tools and supplies your child may need such as pens/pencils, paper and even a calculator. Encourage your child(ren) to utilize this space to help develop good study habits. Also, you should set time for homework each day which can further provide more structure and help your child(ren) with time management.
Another great way to stay organized is meal planning / prepping. By preparing your meals ahead of time, it can help save time and reduce stress during busy school evenings. Also, just by knowing what’s for dinner each night can help eliminate the need for last-minute decisions and preparations. You could also prep ingredients or entire meals in advance to make dinner time quick and easy.
Don’t put all the planning and organizing on yourself. Include your kids in the process too! This helps teach them to pack their own backpacks and lunches the night before as well as laying out their clothes. By involving your kids in the organization process, it can help teach them to be independent and responsible for their own part of the process. It is also beneficial to you because these small steps can make your mornings less stressful and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
Lastly, you will want to regularly declutter and organize your school supplies and personal items to keep things in line. Be sure to have designated spots for supplies, backpacks and other items and make sure to tidy up these areas weekly. This practice will help keep the home environment organized but also teaches your kids the importance of maintaining and managing their belongings.
When you implement these helpful tips, you are ensuring that you will have a smooth and organized transition into the new school year. With some planning and preparation, back-to-school time can be a positive experience for both kids and parents. Have fun organizing!!
Check out other fun tips and tricks in our Back-To-School Guide!
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