by Blake Herzog
We’ve all love our lazy summer days at home with the kids, but it’s already time to think about getting organized for the next academic year to avoid that last-minute push before the first school bell rings!
Add bookshelves — If you don’t already have enough, now’s the time to ensure there’s easily accessible storage for textbooks, old favorites and new discoveries that will help to nurture a lifetime love of reading and learning.
Establish study areas — This can be as simple as a kitchen table or as detailed as a separate desk with a laptop, depending on your space and needs. What’s most important is for there to be few distractions but still be close to parents for feedback.
Build a backpack station — Add shelves to the entryway, mudroom or wherever else make sense so backpacks, jackets and other daily supplies will have a place to go when kids get home and before bedtime.
Stock up on and organize supplies — Get out those lists and check them off early, ahead of other families and possible supply-chain hiccups. Then find some divided drawers, baskets and cups and other containers to set them up for the year.
Create a family calendar — Hang one large calendar on a wall everyone can easily see for reminders, homework deadlines, sports practices and games and other scheduling. You can also add message boards, folders for homework assignments and more.
Organize closets — Have the kids help you decide where to put school uniforms, underwear, socks and shoes and other gear so they will be easy to grab and go.
Get bathrooms in order — Sort soap, shampoo and other toiletries for each child into separate bins to eliminate confusion and turf wars in the mornings and evenings.
Set up a snack station — Put healthy grab-and-go snacks in separate bins in the pantry or on the kitchen table, and add more in the fridge if your kids are old enough to make their breakfasts and lunches.
