Back to School Organization: Simple Systems for a Smoother School Year
If I’m being completely honest, summer always flies by, and I never stay quite as organized as I plan to when school lets out in May.
Now that my girls are back in school, we’re settling into the rhythm of earlier mornings, packed lunches, homework and backpacks coming through the door every afternoon. It can feel like a lot, especially after the slower pace of summer.
This time of year, I’m not trying to make every corner of our home perfectly organized. I’m simply looking for the places where a small system could make our days feel a little easier.
Here are a few simple back-to-school organization ideas that can help bring some order back into your home.
Give Backpacks a Home
Backpacks have a way of landing wherever they’re dropped, usually right in the middle of the floor.
Creating a designated place for them near the door gives everyone an easy landing spot as soon as they get home. This could be a row of hooks in the mudroom, a hook inside a closet or even a basket for each child.
The best system is the one that works with your family’s natural routine. If your children already drop their bags near the garage door, that’s probably where the hooks need to go.
When backpacks, jackets and activity bags all have a home, mornings become much easier because everyone knows exactly where to find what they need.
Create One Place for School Papers
Between homework, permission slips, artwork, schedules and school announcements, the paper can pile up quickly.
Instead of letting it spread across the kitchen counter, create one designated place for anything that comes home from school. I like separating papers into two simple categories: things that need my attention and special pieces we want to keep.
A wall-mounted organizer, file box or a few labeled folders can all work. You don’t need an elaborate filing system. You just need one consistent place to check when something needs to be signed, returned or added to the calendar.
It also helps to go through this area regularly. Recycle what you no longer need, respond to anything time-sensitive and move keepsakes into longer-term storage before the pile becomes overwhelming.
Make Lunch Packing Easier
Packing lunches is one of those small daily tasks that can feel much more complicated when everything is stored in a different place.
Try grouping lunchboxes, containers, reusable bags and grab-and-go snacks together. Even dedicating one drawer, cabinet shelf or section of the pantry to lunch supplies can make the routine feel easier.
For younger children, placing approved snacks where they can reach them can also encourage a little independence. They may be able to choose a snack or help pack part of their lunch without searching through the entire pantry.
The goal is to remove as many extra steps as possible, especially on busy mornings.
Set Up a Homework or Craft Station
A homework station doesn’t need to be a Pinterest-perfect desk or an entirely separate room.
A simple bin, drawer or rolling cart filled with pencils, paper, markers, scissors and other supplies can turn almost any surface into a place to work. When homework is finished, everything can be gathered and put away again.
If you have the space for a dedicated area, make sure the supplies your children use most often are visible and easy to reach. Clear containers or simple labels can help them find what they need and put it back when they’re done.
The easier a system is for your children to use on their own, the more likely it is to last.
Start with the Part of Your Routine That Feels Hardest
You don’t need to reorganize your entire home because school has started again.
Pay attention to the part of the day that consistently feels the most stressful. If everyone is searching for shoes and backpacks in the morning, start near the entryway. If paperwork is taking over the kitchen, create a paper system. If lunch packing is slowing you down, begin with the pantry.
A few thoughtful systems can make a noticeable difference without requiring a complete overhaul.
At Arrange Jackson Hole, we create personalized organization systems that work with the way your family actually lives. If the start of the school year has highlighted a few spaces that aren’t working for you, we’d love to help bring a little more ease and order to your home.