It's always so hard to believe when the school year creeps up. We are all simultaneously ready for some routine and holding tight to adventurous summer days. Spending final hours at the pool, enjoying the city and day trips are a treat. We also have to do some prep for the school year ahead.
Before my oldest began kindergarten I wanted to create a Command Center in our kitchen to house all the paperwork that comes in. I knew it would get lost in a pile if I didn't keep it in one place. Alongside a large calendar, school schedules, projects and homework, invitations and details on sports and after-school activities stay organized.
As a quick weekend project you can create your own. A bulletin board covered in fabric, large glass frame for a calendar you can update with dry-erase markers, and hooks for backpacks make will create a work-horse space that WORKS!
Lastly, creating routines that help the morning + after school flow are key. Here is what we do to make the busy days a little less stressful...
Evening Offense - Pack Lunches, Prep Coffee Pot, Run Dishwasher. You could also lay out clothing for the next day.
Weekend food prep - keeping a few items in the freezer is a lifesaver for me, someone who isn't all that handy in the kitchen. Double-batching muffins, waffles and soups make the meal-times that are a little more rushed, less painful. I also want to have easy to grab snacks ready for ME so I don't eat my kids junk food, ha! Hardboiled eggs, Brown Rice + Stir Fry or beans for lunches, Snack bags of nuts, healthy muffins like these, and energy bites are my go-to's.
Photo + Recipe: The Roasted Root
Routine + Chore Charts - These have varied for us over the years, but currently they hang right next to their backpacks, a quick checklist laminated for durability.
Homework Station - Our kids are still young enough we like to focus on homework in the kitchen. Setting up a drawer with supplies they might need - pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and scrap paper make it easy to get started without hunting for supplies.
How do you prepare for the school year? How are you enjoying the final days of summer?