The back-to-school season is usually the most hectic in our household. We've collected some of our tried-and-true tips from moms (and dads) that will make those first weeks of school go more smoothly for your household!
1. SKIP THE STORES
Avoid the crowds and lines, and use Target Driveup or Walmart Pickup to grab your school supplies (set a calendar reminder for a date a few weeks before school starts to get ahead of the game!)
2. MAKE A HOMEWORK CADDY
Make a simple Homework Caddy for your house to keep all of your kids' homework essentials close at hand. We love this one from A Bowl Full of Lemons:
Photo Credit: A Bowl Full of Lemons
3. PLAN AHEAD
Get a simple dry erase calendar for your refrigerator to keep track of all your family’s activities. Keep it in a visible place for the whole family. We love this one from the Container Store for only $13.99!
4. DECLUTTER LIKE A MOTHER
Set your timer for 30 minutes and clean out your kiddos old or outgrown clothes to take inventory of what is needed for the new year.
5. GRAB A BOOK
Check out an age appropriate book about starting school & read aloud with your kiddo - this will be a sweet time for both of you to prepare for the year ahead! When our kids were entering kindergarten, a favorite book in our house was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn:
6. SIMPLIFY CLOTHES-SHOPPING
Keep back to school clothes shopping simple. Buy a few new outfits (and some basics like socks/underwear). If your budget allows, invite your kid to splurge on one fun back to school item that they really want (i.e. a cool backpack or a pair of shoes that they’ve been wanting). To simplify this year, consider creating a capsule wardrobe for your kids. Capsule wardrobes consist of a smaller, more curated set of clothing that you mix and match to create different outfits. It's a great budget saver, and makes getting ready in the mornings with kids a breeze. We love these Capsule Wardrobe Tips from Emily Dixon with One Lovely Life.
Photo credit: One Lovely Life
7. REACH OUT
Send an email to your child’s principal and/or teacher (a positive message at the beginning of school could set you up for a fantastic year!). For example, Dear ______, I just wanted to introduce myself and say I’m excited for this year at _______ School!
8. PREPARE A SIMPLE TEACHER GIFT
As soon as class lists are available, invite your child to write a card or choose out a small gift for their teacher to bring on the first day. It will make her day! Our Scratch-off Teacher Notes are the perfect size for little hands.
9. PLAN AHEAD FOR LUNCHES
The week day of school is going to be a busy one, so plan ahead. Stock up on your family’s favorite lunch and snack items. In our house, we use these divided lunchboxes from Easy Lunchboxes! I keep a stack of them ready, and pack a few days’ worth of lunches on Sunday evening to make mornings go more smoothly!
Photo credit: @FamilyFreshMeals
10. BE A CHEERLEADER!
Commit to encouraging your children throughout the school year. Grab a few packs of our Lunchbox Notes and fill out a handful ahead of time! Keep them right by your lunchboxes so you can easily remember them throughout the year. You can snag your own Scratch-off Lunchbox Notes here!
What about you? What are some tried and true tricks that you've found help make the beginning of the school year a little less stressful? Share below and let us know!