11 Ways To Get Organised for Back to School
September is underway and the children are finally back to school! I for one am ready to reclaim my personal time and space. Equally, getting back into a routine, adjusting to new schedules and getting slow-moving children out the door feels chaotic and emotional. Both my daughters have “firsts” this week: my 2 year old starts new nursery with her first little tracksuit uniform and my 4 year old starts reception. Having recently returned from holiday, I am not prepared… yet! Below are my so called “top tips” but really this is the list I am working through myself right now. I recommend setting a timer for the most pressing tasks. Do what you can and get comfortable with “good enough”. I know that’s what I’ll be doing in the coming days and weeks.
11 Ways to Get Organised for Back To School in September
Declutter last year’s school items: Olio app is a great place to share old uniform with your neighbours which charity shops won’t accept. Or bag it up for the second hand uniform sale if your school has one.
Label school uniform, bags, lunchboxes, bottles, inside shoes etc: I love these iron-on labels and stickers. This name stamp Stacey Solomon uses looks like another fab option.
Uniform zone: As an organiser, my job is to help families designate a place for everything and create simple systems that work. Whether folded in a drawer, on a shelf or hanging or a mix, an organised zone for each child’s uniform makes the daily routine simpler. Categorise by garment type or keep sets (tracksuit, tshirt, socks) bundled together. I separate school socks and tights from regular socks and tights so there’s less faff. These IKEA Skubb boxes, empty shoeboxes or repurposed containers help keep categories distinct. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just clear and simple. Walk your children through their uniform zone and involve them as much as you can. If they can locate their own items and get ready, win win.
Backpacks, coats and shoes zone: Designating a space for your children’s things as they come through the door goes a long way in reducing floor clutter. A wall hook or two within their reach suits the narrowest of hallways. Baskets on the floor or cubby shelves also work if you have the space for it. I recommend labelling or initialling a hook for each child. This follows what they typically do at nursery and school. Etsy has a selection of initial hooks. Alternatively, your children can draw or decorate their own name cards to bluetack above plain hooks. The more our children get involved in creating the organised systems, the more likely they are to observe them!
Paperwork and homework zones: I swear by a simple magazine file box for children’s papers - oh the endless art, worksheets and so on. Make a plan to recycle what you can on arrival and periodically display and declutter artwork. Any work surface including the kitchen table is a workspace. By designating a home for required stationery, there is less build up of surface clutter. After all, clutter attracts more clutter. You can put a container of stationery in any pocket of storage, even a kitchen drawer or one shelf of the TV cabinet. The trick is to have a clear “home” where items can go back.
Get your school-related paperwork in order: Whilst we’re on the topic of papers, let’s talk about information overload! I have received hefty introductory packs letters for both my girls as they have their first days at new schools. Invest some time going through any such information, filling out any required forms and doing the admin. Make your default to recycle as soon as you’re done rather than defaulting to keep and store papers. Anything you wish to keep for the term or year ahead can be filed. If you receive a new armful of information this year, it’s probably time to dispose of the previous year’s. An A4 ring binder for each child’s school, medical and other paperwork is my simple filing system of choice.
Enter key dates in the diary ASAP: Most schools have a full calendar of terms dates and inset days available online. Plus school trips and other key events for this term, if not the whole year. Input all these dates in your calendar in one sitting - your future self will thank you! Because my clients can directly book sessions in my calendar online, this is essential for me.
Get familiar with the new weekly schedule of each family member: Once you know your child’s weekly schedule including after school clubs or finishing times, print out or draw a simple schedule with them. Display it somewhere they can refer to it. Simple pictures - like a football for example - make it clear for little ones. I like to diarise extracurricular club emails (ballet, football etc) with the “repeat event” function on my iPhone calendar to quickly record term dates and times at the start of term. Each weekend my husband and I confirm who is doing which school runs that week taking into his changing work travel schedule and my client hours each week. We write it on an A4 weekly planner from Paperchase on the noticeboard along with meals for the week, out or at home. It truly is the most important 15-30 minutes during the weekend to get us ready for the week!
Lay things out the night before: Uniform, bag, water bottle, snack, shoes. The first couple of weeks I know my mornings are going to feel extra hectic, so a few minutes the night before will help! I try to do the same with my own backpack ahead of my client sessions.
Load up your favourite family playlists: Now more than ever, I will lean on the playlists that I’ve honed during road trips this summer: George Ezra, Shakira, Dance Monkey, Encanto, Frozen are current favourites for my elder daughter and Peppa Pig, Nursery Rhymes and Patty Shukla for my little one. Last summer term we started each day listening to Shakira’s Waka Waka minimum five times to energise, dress, and brush teeth. I might be running late for the school drop some days but a brief dance party always reduces my stress levels!
Diarise things that bring you joy in September: Whether it’s your workouts, hobbies, meet-ups with friends, date nights or quiet nights in with a book/movie/series, be sure to fill up your own cup. Maybe you are hit with end of holiday blues or are recuperating from this too-long stint of kids at home. We top up our own reserves of patience and energy by doing something joyful for ourselves, whatever that looks like for us. When you mark children’ parties and extracurricular activities in the calendar, why not diarise those weekly and daily joys for yourself too?
Good luck to you! If you spot me dragging a scooter/bike/buggy or waving Rich Tea biscuits in front of my children as I march up the hill with my children (on those especially tough days) please do stop and say hi!