Don’t Panic—It’s Just Back-to-School (And You’ve Got This)

Congratulations, parents—you made it through summer! As we shift gears into the school year, a little preparation goes a long way toward smoother mornings and calmer evenings. Here are four simple tips to help your family get organized and start the year strong:

Set Clear Routines (Morning & Evening)

Kids thrive on structure, and routines build independence. Create a simple checklist for both mornings and after school. Include basic tasks like get dressed, brush teeth, pack lunch, and for the afternoon, snack, homework, playtime, dinner, bath. Visual charts (with pictures for younger kids!) can make routines fun and easy to follow.

Tame the Paper Chaos

School means paper overload. Set up a small system now:

• Pin important memos to the fridge or a bulletin board

• Add key dates to your calendar right away (and toss the paper reminders)

• Use a bin or file folder to store special art or schoolwork you want to keep

  
  

Create a Drop Zone

Even without a mudroom, you can create a dedicated drop zone to corral the school-day essentials. Hang a hook or set a basket near the front door for each child’s backpack, lunchbox, and shoes. This makes it easy for kids to unpack and repack their things, and keeps you from scrambling to find missing items in the morning.

Bonus tip: Make packing up part of the evening routine—less stress, more sleep!

Use a Shared Family Calendar

Life gets busy fast once school starts—think sports practices, meetings, field trips, and birthdays. Keep everything visible in one shared spot.

• Paper lovers: use a wall calendar or dry erase board in a central location

• Digital families: try a shared Google Calendar that everyone can access from their phoneHaving a calendar helps kids build awareness of time and teaches them to take ownership of their schedule. And for adults? It means fewer “Wait, we have what today?” moments.

A little prep now means fewer headaches later. Wishing you a smooth, organized start to the school year—you’ve got this!