Back to school can be a stressful time of year. Families must change from the laid-back summer schedule to the non-stop school and activity calendars that keep moms jumping from one activity to the next without a moment’s rest. Fortunately, we are here with these easy tips to help you stay on top of everything during this busy time:
Plan Ahead
The only way you can take control of your time is to consciously map it out. Simply put, use a family-oriented planner that lets you track all family members’ schedules in one place. When you monitor your family schedule, you can then plan how and when to accomplish important back-to-school tasks, such as replacing clothes, purchasing school supplies, and having everything ready to go for the night before back to school. Stock your kids’ homework stations with the basics like pencils and paper while purchasing other classroom items. Take it one step further by creating an emergency project box full of grade appropriate tools. Visit department stores for an ample supply of poster board, report folders, markers, glue sticks, and an assortment of interesting arts and crafts items to allow your child’s creativity to shine, one project at a time.
Plan for Paper
Before you start stacking all those important school papers in a long forgotten corner of your kitchen, or on top of last month’s bills, organize everything by using in/out boxes for each family member. Show everyone where to place their papers and then sort them daily with your planner noting key deadlines and tasks. When setting up your own filing system, think about creating monthly pockets for everything from school-related projects and fundraisers, to teacher newsletters and activity rosters. With some organization you will be ready for the first round of parent/teacher conferences.
Plan to Purge
We all do better with a clean, organized environment. If you haven’t yet gone through everyone’s closets and dressers to evaluate wardrobes for school, do it as soon as you have your routine in motion. Make room for the year ahead by rounding up all outgrown items, discard everything that can’t be repaired (clothing and toys). For items in good condition, arrange for a charitable donation or enlist your kids’ help and plan a yard sale in late September. Take advantage of your clean slate and give each room a quick cleaning with an all-purpose cleaner. From scrubbing baseboards to replacing air filters, flipping mattresses and cleaning windows, fall is a great time to freshen your home and welcome the change of seasons. And for moms of older kids, get their help as you plow through this process. Respect and responsibility for both our possessions and environment are life skills worth teaching.
