Back to School, Back to a Routine

article by Erin Sharplin Love
erinlove@panachebyerin.com

Well, we have managed to get here again!  A new school year is almost here and that means hectic schedules, alarm clocks, homework, projects, and paper piles.  Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with it all, but with a little organization you can create order out of the chaos.  It is all in the routines you set and stick to.  Check out my tips below: 

This is your reminder to take the time to transition!  Don’t let the school year sneak up on you.  Begin easing your children into their new sleeping routine gradually.  For instance, begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier until it’s closer to the hour they will need to awake for school.  Also, begin going to sleep earlier to help combat any grouchiness.

Prepare the closets!  Go ahead and clean out and reorganize their closets now.  Get rid of anything that they have outgrown since last school year and set aside a space in your child’s closet specifically for new school clothes.  If your children do not wear uniforms, it may be a good idea to put together outfits to avoid a war in the mornings.  Or if you need to shop, check out the next tip.

Make a plan before you shop.  The beginning of the school year is always the biggest shopping time for stores, so it’s a good idea to be prepared.  Make a list of what your child needs so you won’t wander aimlessly and then leave with nothing, or worse, leave with way more than you need.  Better yet, avoid the stores altogether and shop online!

Create a “School Stop.”  This could be in a mudroom, laundry room, or simply inside the door they use the most.  I suggest hanging a coat hook for the backpack and placing a roomy basket underneath for papers and other paraphernalia.  If you didn’t previously have a “School Stop,” it would be a good idea to explain how you expect the area to work.  Stopping paper clutter at the door is a must!

Make a plan for those piles of paper.  I suggest that you go ahead and devise a plan for what you will do with the paperwork that is soon to bombard you.  In our “school stop,” for instance, I have a folder for Eli and one for Everly.  Any weekly papers that I need to keep or refer back to are placed in that folder.  Another routine I stick to is to go through their backpacks and folders daily and take any action that is needed.    

Create a homework station.  Make doing homework a little easier by creating a space where all necessities are within arm’s reach.  This space should be the same spot that homework is completed each day and it should be quiet and as far away from distraction as possible.  Our homework station is at the island in our kitchen.  I can keep an eye on them and there isn’t much to distract them if the TV remains off.      

Invest in a large calendar or calendar system.  If you haven’t already, I suggest purchasing a large calendar that you can put in a central location for all to use.  When you begin receiving special dates from the school and/or sporting teams, put them in the calendar immediately.  If you prefer to go digital, there are several choices to consider.  

Consider your nightly routine.   A nightly routine will save you from becoming crazed every school morning.  The more you can do the night before, the better.  For instance, go ahead and think about what you will be cooking for breakfasts and packing for lunches so you can prepare them the night before each school day.  Get backpacks packed and ready the night before, as well.  I have made it a routine to choose outfits, pack lunches, check backpacks, layout breakfast and vitamins every night before bed.  I can’t tell you the difference it makes to our mornings!

Remember…you can never be too prepared!  

Happy new school year!!