It’s the first week of September! This means the kids are heading back to school! With this transition comes an adjusting period for your children, yourself, and your home. The backpacks and homework seem to pile up quicker than ever. Here are some tips for avoiding the annual back-to-school clutter and stress.
Make a list. Sports games, practices, parent teacher conferences and appointments are just a few things that are added onto your usual workload this month. Start making daily lists of what needs to be accomplished for the day. A daily list on the fridge or a visible spot will make sure everyone is on the same page. Chores wont be skipped and sports games wont be missed!
Unpack immediately. Getting in a routine can be difficult especially for children. From day one making sure your children know their tasks when they enter the door will make for a smooth evening. There’s nothing worse than starting your day off with a forgotten homework assignment or cleaning the sticky jelly out of a lunchbox that sat overnight.
Organization is key. No matter what the age all children and teens are prone to loosing important permission slips, homework assignments, and report cards. Creating a mail box or drop box at your home for permission slips and important information will encourage your kids to empty their backpacks and make sure the proper paperwork ends up in your hands…not the bottom of their backpack.
Color code…your children. It may be a crazy thought to have your children color coded but in reality it can be very helpful. Mornings can run extra efficiently if each child has their own color or pattern for folders, tupperwear, and supplies.
Create a parenting binder. It is crucial to be on the same page with your spouse or significant other in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. Having a binder or folder that is easily accessible by all family members can make sure that everyone is held accountable. Here are a few things that should go in a family binder:
- Immunizations
- School schedule, teacher contacts and phone numbers
- Medications
- Doctor’s contact
- Sports schedules
- Weekly calendar
Designate days for chores. With all your focus on work, school, your children and their activities, you may notice your home can suffer. When you spend all day running around the last thing you want to do when you get home is clean. Try to designate specific cleaning tasks to days of the week. Put it on a calendar that is visible to the whole family. Thursday is floors day, Friday is dusting day etc. This will hold you accountable and make it easier to make sure all tasks are finished throughout the week.
Getting in a routine is crucial in order to make sure your family runs like a well-oiled machine. Transition periods can be tough for many people, to make it easier make sure the lists, calendars and daily plans are made. As long as everyone is on the same page, your days are bound to run as smoothly as possible. Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy every bump along the way!
