As much as we’d love to pull our beach blankets over our heads and pretend that summer is not actually going to end, we know the truth. We’re reaching the end of summer, and soon it will be time to go back to school.
Whether you’re homeschooling your kids or sending them off to school in the fall, here are seven ways to prepare your home for the new season ahead.
Declutter
Clutter is an impediment to focus, peace, and well-being. Things can pile up fast: from papers to toys to knick-knacks, the stuff in our lives can easily transform from being a blessing to a burden if we don’t keep it in check.Give back-to-school season that fresh-start feeling by kicking your clutter to the curb.
Assess Supplies and Gear
Once you’ve gotten rid of what you don’t need, you need to assess what you do need. Check school supply lists, determine if last year’s clothes and shoes still fit, determine whether a new lunchbox, backpack, water bottle, or other tool for school is needed. Make your list and get those items.Set Up Stations
When life gets busy and things kick into high gear you want to set up your home so that it works for you. One way to do that is to set up stations.To keep schedules on track and manage the inflow and outflow of papers, set up a central command station. This may include paper inboxes, a wall calendar, a bulletin board for reminders, a place to hold keys, backpacks and lunch boxes, and a clock.
To make packing lunches easy, set up a lunch station. Use separate bins for the different lunch items in the refrigerator and the pantry. Label the bins, and teach and encourage your children to pack their own lunches from the supplies in the bins. If you restock lunch items each week, lunch packing will be seamless all year long.
Similarly, you can set up a snack station. The transition from school to home is one of the most important of the day. Have healthy drinks and snacks at the ready that can be managed by the children when they get home.