BACK TO SCHOOL, BABY!

It's Back to School time and a great time to reset, but there can also be a hectic pace that may feel challenging. Life is ever evolving with growing kids, so who wants to reinvent the wheel where we can help it? Below are a few ways our family minimizes stress as we approach the fall with our 3 kiddos. It’s not always easy to make these transitions, but we can do it together!

Set Expectations

• What are the new years routines for each kiddo?

• What worked last year and what needs tweaking?

• Are there new chores to incorporate?

• What are the screen time rules on school days?

• Think through morning + after school routines. Consider hanging up a visual checklist for younger kiddos to help with expectations.

Supplies Reboot

• Are your kids backpacks and lunch boxes in good shape and ready to go?

• Keep all backstock supplies in ONE area of the home (closet, mudroom cabinet...) for easy pulling when items run low.

• Use up what you have or donate leftovers to teachers to use for kids in need. We often have composition notebooks with only a few pages used. I just tear those out and cover up old name labels with tape or let the kids cover with stickers.

  Seasonal Clothing Swap

• Consider what the kids have outgrown, particular for upcoming cooler weather.

• Keep ONE location where outgrown clothes can land and a plan for where they go (hand me downs to younger siblings, pass along to a neighbor, consign?).

• Make a list of needs for each kiddo so when you are out and about you can take a look.

• If your kids participates in sports, dance, etc. do they have the items they need? Have you removed any outgrown items?

  Minimal Meal Plan

• It's tacos every Tuesday and pizza every Friday in our house during the school year. Throw in a soup/salad/sandwich night or a snacky supper for a quick and easy go-to.

• Breakfast Restock: My kids are at the age they can feed themselves. I keep bagels, cereal, muffins, yogurt and frozen breakfast sandwiches on hand for them to choose. Do they sometimes complain about nothing to eat? Yes! But there is plenty so they can figure it out. Donuts or pancakes are reserved for the weekend.

  Staying Organized

• Command Center: Designate ONE spot where those school papers and reminders can land for easy reference. The kitchen counter isn't it! This is a great place for field trip forms, birthday party invites, sports schedules, and spelling words to practice.

• A family calendar also makes a great addition to your command center

• Are there carpools that would make the daily comings and goings easier?

• Designate a drop zone for school papers/artwork that comes home. If possible process paperwork daily or at least weekly. Recycle as much as possible as soon as it comes in.

• Create a home for backpacks (hooks on their level work great) and shoes kicked off at the end of the day. Can you incorporate a basket in the mudroom or near the door they come in?

New Year (School Edition)

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?