Organize Your Back to School Routine

Getting a routine for getting back to school is a necessary evil! On the one hand, you want to be organized, on the other hand it means it’s time to get back into that routine. I secretly LOVE getting school started mostly for the routine – I really DO miss my kids. But, for me, having a routine makes me happier and makes me feel like we’re accomplishing so much more! I challenge you to start thinking about that before-school routine a week or two before school starts! Trust me, it will make the first week of school much easier!

Make a schedule.  Have a schedule for your kids in the morning. From toddler through high school, my kids  have thrived having some type of schedule like  this kids’ schedule that I did for my kids. I keep the schedule inside our pantry and try to keep them moving in the morning – some kids are easier to get going and others are not so easy!

Practice the schedule. Spend some time the week before practicing your morning routine, especially if your kids are little. The older they get, the less likely you’ll need to do this. Practicing it at least a few days before will help you know if what you expect to get done is realistic and whether your planned enough time to get everything done before heading to school.

Here are a few more things we remember before heading to school:

1. Label: Anything that goes to school, be sure to put their last name on it {jacket, lunchbox, backpack, water bottles}.
2. Have a planned place to meet after-school. Some schools only allow them out of one gate, but just giving them an idea of where Mom will be waiting helps them to know where to look for you, especially the first few days of school.
3. Be flexible with your morning schedule. Understand that you may need to change it and work out some of the kinks if it’s not going as well as you’d like and give PLENTY of time to do their tasks.
4. Carpool.  If you can get a group of moms in your neighborhood to take turns picking up the kids from school, it will be SO nice.
5. Be sure to give the kids an idea of what you expect after school. My kids get a snack as soon as they come home and we usually sit and chat for 15-20 minutes. Then, they start on their homework. I try to limit after school activities as much as I can.
6. No TV!! This is a big NO in our house in the morning and after school. It totally slows them down and then they have to leave in the middle of a program. Instead, choose some fun music to listen to get moving.

Get more back to school ideas and more, visit me at Organizing Made Fun and get your whole home and life organized with inspiration in every room and every way you can think could get organized!