Less Mess, More Success! How an Organized Home Can Set You Up for a Stress-free Return to School

The neighborhood pool is still open, kids are still riding their bikes and stopping to get popsicles at the ice cream truck, and your bottle of sunscreen is still out on the counter... how can it possibly be time to start thinking about the school year?! As the days start to get shorter, now is the perfect time to prepare your home for a smooth transition for your young scholars. Here are some tips to get you started.

Carve out a landing zone in your entryway

Set up a small area near your front door with cubby shelves for backpacks, books, and lunchboxes to simplify your leaving and returning routine. With a designated place for everything, the morning chaos will dissolve and everyone will head out for the day on the right foot. 

Create a Family Command Center

Install a magnetic board and dry erase planners near the front door or kitchen. Use them for reminders, lunch menus, after‑school activity schedules. Visible, centralized info means everyone's on the same page about what needs to happen and when.

Set up a dedicated, personalized homework station

Organizing an area your kid can use for homework, with all the office supplies they need, is a no-brainer if you have the room. Why not take it one step further by helping them personalize the space with items that speak to them, like magnets in the shape of their favorite animal, or organizing bins in bright colors that make them smile. This will turn the space into a place your kid can call their own, give them a sense of pride of ownership, and may mean an easier time getting them to sit and do that homework.

Start a paper purge routine

When the school year begins, start a habit of going through all those school papers once a week, and decide together which to keep and which to recycle. Doing this weekly will keep the task quick and prevent those daunting piles from building up. 

With these tips, you’ll be fully prepared for more streamlined mornings and a smoother routine, and help everyone feel ready and confident for the new school year.