It’s about this time in July that moms suddenly realize that the end of the lazy summer days will be here before we know it and it’s time to get prepared for what’s ahead. As the summer winds down and the new school year approaches, many moms (like us) find themselves balancing a mix of excitement and relief that a more normal routine is coming. As well, sometimes there are feelings of stress. It’s not just stress with buying supplies and new outfits—the return of school floods us with numerous to-dos. From fall sports tryouts and physicals, to Parents Association meetings and planning back to school class activities, the list is long.
We’ve developed a practical guide to help moms get everything in order and start the school year on the right foot. Getting organized and prepared doesn’t have to be very overwhelming. With a little planning and some routines in place, we hope you’ll be ready to face the back-to-school season confidently without a lot of stress—making it a positive experience for your entire family! Wishing you good luck this school year ahead.
1. Create a Family Calendar
Start by setting up a family calendar—digital or paper—that includes school schedules, extracurricular activities, appointments, and other important dates. This helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces last-minute surprises. Consider using apps like Google Calendar or Cozi for real-time updates and shared access. If you are “old school” (like us), consider investing in a family desktop planner like these below.
These notepads by Kelly Hughes Designs are great to keep your day-to-day organized and get clear on your own schedule and what’s a priority.
This pad helps organize family members busy weeks ahead with a dedicated row per person. Quickly and easily scan what is going on with this notepad!
2. Organize Supplies and Back-to-School Shopping
Thankfully, school supply shopping has gotten easier over the years with some schools making their lists available at Target or Walmart, or an innovative company like “First Day School Supplies” where you can order an entire kit with the click of a button. If your school doesn’t have these easy options, make a list of school supplies based on your child’s grade and teacher’s requirements communicated through the school. Shop early (July) to avoid the last-minute rush and to find the best deals. Don’t forget essentials like backpacks, lunchboxes, and clothing. Organize supplies into designated bins, drawers at home, or even right into the backpack so they’re ready when needed. We love these storage bins found at More Than Paper that are great for extra paper, school supplies, and office items.
This natural canvas storage bin has sturdy handles and construction making it a great way to store just about anything with style. You can monogram or personalize how you see fit, too!
Want a personalized cooler for lunches that can grow with your child, these are super popular:
3. Establish Morning and Evening Routines
Consistency is key to a smooth transition. Start adjusting bedtimes at last two weeks before school begins to ensure your kids get enough rest. Don’t wait until the last week or night before to return to a normal bedtime routine! If you can, plan and practice morning routines—showering, dressing, brushing your teeth, breakfast—so everyone knows what to expect. Evening routines like homework time, reading, and preparing school bags can also help set a peaceful tone for bedtime. Make sure your kids are getting off screens at least 1 hour before bedtime to foster deep sleep and less stress – this is what the experts say is best!
4. Meal Planning and Prep
For moms, we cannot emphasize the impact that meal planning can have on simplifying your life. Meal planning can save time and reduce morning (and evening) chaos when there are practices, games, recitals, rehearsals…and life! Prepare breakfasts and lunches in advance or assemble ingredients the night before. Involve kids in packing their lunchboxes—it teaches responsibility and makes them more excited about their meals. We have a few grocery pads and meal planning notepads that can help you get excited about all this planning. Check out our favorites below!
They key to meal planning is getting organized at the grocery store. Get organized with these personalized grocery pads that organize your shopping list into categories, making your shopping trip a breeze. Keep these pads within easy reach, and you’ll have plenty of organized shopping trips in your future.
5. Set Up a Homework Station
Another great idea is to set up a specific spot in your home for homework and study. Keep supplies like pencils, paper, and calculators nearby. Having a dedicated workspace helps children focus and makes it easier for you to monitor assignments. We recommend a good wireless printer, stocked and ready to go with ink and paper, so that children can print out assignments or papers and reports. Another great thing to have on hand? Poster board. How many times have you had to run to CVS or Walmart last minute because your child suddenly has a project due tomorrow that requires poster board? We also recommend stocking up on pencils (you can never have enough), highlighters, annotating tabs for the older ones, and index cards. Index cards are ideal for making your own flashcards (though now, Quizzlet and other online digital platforms have replaced much of that!)
Another cute addition to the homework station, a cute desktop calendar so that today’s date is always known:
6. Review and Organize Paperwork
School forms, permission slips, report cards, and newsletters can pile up quickly. Create a filing system for your home, either a physical folder or digital storage—to keep everything organized. Regularly review and discard outdated papers. There’s a great meme that circulates at the beginning of every school year about needing to quit your job to keep up with all the school communication. If this sounds familiar (and overwhelming), consider checking your email only once a day (in the evenings) and give yourself dedicated time to deal with school-related emails.
7. Plan for Extra Activities and Transportation
Do you know that phrase work smarter, not harder? What about “it takes a village to raise a child”? Get smart about your transportation and use the support of other families when you can. Coordinate carpool schedules with other parents – chances are there are opportunities for you to reduce your driving time. Confirm extracurricular activity schedules with coaches and mentors and check to see who is on your team. Being proactive and planning early can help avoid last-minute scrambling and will create a system that you can work with. For example, if you know another family that is on the same baseball team, you could agree that you will always drive them to practice, if the other family doesn’t mind picking them up.
Family calendars like these will help you plan for extra-curricular activities and make it easy to spot when you have conflicts and need to coordinate carpools. This one is a great price, too! You’ll get 60 sheets for $25!
8. Prioritize Self-Care
Don’t forget about YOU! Remember to schedule time for yourself whether it’s a walk in the morning, a quick workout, reading, or a relaxing bath. Taking care of your well-being will give you the energy and patience needed to support your family through the busy school year. We know that it can be a lot!
One final tip? Try to embrace some flexibility and go with the flow. Even with the best planning, things will not go perfectly. Stay flexible and keep a positive attitude, as best as you can. Always remember that this period in life won’t last forever… When you start thinking about it that way, we’re willing to bet you may just have some perspective and get a little misty-eyed.
