Get Ahead of the Game by Organizing These Key Areas Before School
It’s back to school time and getting into a routine is probably something you are looking forward to.
But let’s be honest the morning battles are also coming too.
Getting the kids out the door can be hectic and sometimes you lose your cool because for the hundred times you have told someone to get ready. However, I wanna share some key areas that you can organize before school starts that will help reduce the daily school battles. Or share other ideas if maybe you are needing to revamp your back-to-school systems.
And even if school has already started you can do this during the first week as everyone starts to get in a new rhythm and you figure out what you may need to support you daily.
Mudroom/dropzone
The first area is to create that dropzone/supply area. This area is where everyone is going to leave their things after they get home from school and the area where you are going to keep the needed things for school and afterschool activities.
Our has backpacks, shoes, laptops, water bottles, etc
Now if you don’t have a dropzone or feel a little lost on how to create one of your own. You can get some ideas from my dropzone post “Creating your own drop zone entryway inside your home”
What are the key features of this system
- A place for bags/bookbags etc
- A sorting system for extracurricular activities gear
- A shoe-organizing system
A drop zone is a dedicated area near an entry point in your home where all the daily needed things live that you use when you leave the home.
Take notice though that I called it a system. You see systems and routines are the very backbone to a streamlined home. If you are looking for more systems and routines check out the category systems and routines here.
Preparing for the school year with a drop zone means fewer “Mom where’s my bookbag?’ moments. It’s also a great foundation for teaching your kids that each thing in the house has a home and if you place it back in its home each day you will develop good tidying habits.
And won’t lose your things.
Our drop zone helps me get out of the house faster each day and keeps us organized during the busy week.
Organize Papers & Documents station
The amount of paperwork that flows through any home is crazy from bills to kids’ art projects and school notices.
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed within a short period of time.
I know personally three days of paperwork piled up is all it takes for me to feel out of control.
That’s why having an organized paper and document station is a must-have.
There is no one exact way that works best in my opinion. I believe the best one is that one you will follow through on each day and that actually stays organized in a manner that sorts the papers so you can file, take action on or dispose of them timely.
There are some non-negotiable bullet points though.
- Must have a separate sorting for categories
- Must have a to-be-filed section or set a file time frame
- All sales papers, coupons, and junk mail is sorted and tossed daily.
Remember the goal is to create a system that you will stick with.
I will share how I do my daily in-coming mail process and you can tweak it and get some ideas on how to create your own.
Daily I pick up the mail and walk straight to the recycle bin. Immediately I toss the sales papers, flyers, and junk mail we don’t need and it goes right into the recycle bin.
The rest of the documents get sorted by categories and placed into a pending bin and then later go into my magazine file folders. You can refer to what I was talking about here in my office post
Lunch station/Snacks station
Packing lunch boxes last minute and grabbing half-fast food snack options is something we can all run into when we don’t have our kitchen setup to help us.
Personally, I have a lunch-making station inside my cabinet with all the tools my kids need to make their lunches.
And in the pantry, we have at least two bins that hold kid snacks and lunch packing stuff.
We have found success in having these areas because the kids can learn how to pack their own lunches and know exactly where to grab snack fun in an easy-to-reach area.
It’s part of what I call fostering your kid’s independence.
What are the key areas of the snack and lunch station
1. Determine the Location:
Choose a convenient location for your snack station and lunch prep area. It could be a countertop, a kitchen island, a dedicated table, or even a section of your pantry or fridge.
We have two clear bins from Target for our snacks.
2. Gather Supplies:
Collect the necessary items for your station, such as containers, utensils, thermos containers, reusable snack bags, lunch boxes, etc. Consider having both reusable and disposable options.
3. Organize Containers:
Invest in a variety of containers for storing snacks and prepped lunch items. Opt for containers with different sizes and compartments to keep foods separated and prevent them from mixing.
4. Snack Options:
Stock your snack station with a variety of options. Make sure to rotate these options to prevent monotony. I personally shop weekly and will switch them out each week. I found buying in bulk is hard when it comes to snacks so I don’t do it often.
5. Beverage Station:
If space permits, you could include a small beverage station with water bottles
and other refreshing drinks your family enjoys.
13. Regular Maintenance:
Set aside a few minutes each week to restock, clean, and organize the snack station and lunch prep area. I like to habit stack this when I go shopping for groceries.
Remember that the key to a successful snack station and lunch prep area is to keep it organized, well-stocked, and tailored to your preferences. This will save you time and effort.
Kids’ closets/clothes
The morning fights about getting dressed aren’t fun for anyone. Nor are the mom where my shirt or pants question all the time.
Depending on your personal preference you may want to just lay your kid’s clothes out for them. Prepping your kid’s clothes in an easy-to-grab-and-see format is my go-to. My kids are able to pick their own clothes out quickly and don’t have to dig.
And sometimes we lay out clothes for the next day too. Just depends on what is going on.
I use a capsule wardrobe for my kiddos to keep things super simple. I also color-coordinate their closets for ease of use too.
Following my decluttering plan which you can find in my ebook. I have my scheduled time where I go in and remove all the kid’s clothes that don’t fit them from the closest and drawers.
This takes me about an hour to an hour and a half each time. I go shopping for at least 10-12 new outfits for each kid and then I will take everything out that doesn’t fit and replace it with the new clothes and reorganize the things that still fit.
But having an organized closet is a must to remove some of the daily friction.
How to get your kid’s closets organized
1. Declutter:
Before you start organizing, go through the closet and declutter. Remove items that no longer fit, are out of season, or are no longer used. This will create more space for the items that your child currently uses and needs.
2. Replace the decluttered clothing with new clothing that fits the kids
3. Pullout any broken hangers
4. Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the closet and keep it clean with clothes that the kids will wear. If there are keepsake items try to use bins to separate them.
Family Calendar
I am a lost soul without my Google calendar. Maybe you are a paper calendar person or use an app.
But for me preparing for the new school year means setting up all my calendars for the year. If this is something that you have never done and often find yourself forgetting teacher appreciation week and shopping for gifts the night of. You might wanna use some of these ideas to come up with your own method.
Once I enroll the kids in school and all their after-school activities. I sit down and do a master calendar drop.
I open up the Google Calendar and sit down and input all the important dates.
- School Calendar
- Extra curriculum activities
- Church activities
- Sports activities
- Any other special dates
As I import the dates I set up reminders to ring the day before, the day of, and 3 thirty minutes before based on what I need.
The next thing I do is create a visual calendar broken down for the week for everyone to see. While our family calendar is shared with my husband.
Having a visual calendar for the kids to see helps them to prepare for the week. My son can read now but the youngest can’t yet. However, she can see things each day and will ask what they say and will use the visual aid to count down days and look forward to what is happening for the week.
This visual calendar is a part of our command center. If you are looking for ideas on creating your own command calendar you must check out my post. I partnered with a few other bloggers and they have some amazing command centers.
I hope you found this post helpful in getting you ready for the new school year. I have a few other ideas that might help with school prep and back-to-school season.
- Creating an after-school routine that supports the whole family
- Ease back-to-school stress with these 15 Super Easy Ways
- How to decide what school papers to keep and how to create a keepsake system
Preparing for the upcoming school year involves more than just purchasing supplies and choosing the perfect backpack. It’s about creating an environment that fosters productivity, smooth running days, and a sense of calm amidst the hustle and bustle. By focusing on key areas of the organization before school starts, you set yourself, and your children up for success.
Starting with the physical space, decluttering and arranging drop-zone areas can greatly reduce hectic mornings.
Time management is another critical aspect of successful preparation. Establishing routines, scheduling, and utilizing tools like planners or digital calendars can help keep everyone on track.
Digital organization is paramount in today’s digital age. Sorting through files, and organizing documents, ensuring that everything you need is readily accessible. This reduces stress and prevents last-minute scrambles to locate essential resources.
Remember, the effort invested in these areas before school starts pays off in the form of reduced stress, enhanced productivity, and a more positive experience for all involved. As I have mentioned in all my posts systems and routines are key. So, roll up your sleeves, dive into the planning process, and get ready to make the most of the school year ahead!