Back-to-School Made Easy: How to Set Up Kid-Friendly Organization Zones
Ready or not, back-to-school time is around the corner! Using the last few weeks of lazy summer days to establish a streamlined system for the busy school days that lie head will set you and your kids up for the best school year ever.
Thinking through your typical school day routine, what parts tend to flow smoothly? What steps seem to be the most chaotic? By establishing zones for each part of the routine, you’ll take the guesswork out of where things belong.
Zone 1: Backpack and Shoe Drop-Off
Create a designated space near the front door or entryway where kids can easily store their backpacks, shoes, and jackets as soon as they walk in.
Use cubbies, hooks, or built-in cabinets to keep everything off the floor and in its place. Add a bench for putting on or taking off shoes and bins or trays to contain dirty shoes and keep things tidy.
This zone helps prevent morning scrambles and keeps your home clutter-free. Who could say no to that?
Zone 2: Lunch Prep & Snacks
Streamline busy mornings with a dedicated lunch prep station in your kitchen. Stock a cabinet or drawer with lunch boxes, containers, water bottles, utensils, and napkins for easy access. Use clear bins in the fridge and pantry for grab-and-go snacks, fruits, and drinks.
Label everything and walk your children through the routine so they can help pack their own lunches.
With an organized lunch and snack zone, you'll save time, reduce stress, and make packing lunches a breeze.
Zone 3: School Supplies
“Mom, where’s the notebook paper?!” Sound familiar? Setting up a spot for extra school supplies like notebook paper, scissors, pencils, binders and glue sticks will make it easy to find these items when they are needed.
Here, we used magazine holders for paper and notebooks and clear bins to contain smaller items like scissors and pens.
Zone 4: Sports Gear
Keep all athletic equipment organized and ready to go with a dedicated sports gear zone.
Kids’ sports gear can often be large and clunky, so to free up room in your home, choose to store it on shelving in the garage, a mudroom cabinet or hall closet.
Use shelves with labeled bins or hooks to separate gear by sport or child. A laundry basket nearby is perfect for sweaty clothes and dirty gear. This zone keeps everything in one place, making it easy to grab-and-go for practices and games during busy weeknights.
As you should with any new system, make sure everyone who will use it knows how it works. Set expectations early for how it will be maintained (ex. As soon as you walk in the door after school, your backpack needs to be hung up.). Take 5 minutes before bedtime to get everything put away in it’s designated spot .
These simple, designated areas will help streamline daily routines and make the school year run smoother for the whole family.
If you are hoping to implement these organizational systems in your home to prepare for the upcoming school year, we are here to help! Click here to schedule your free consultation today.
