As summer ends, parents and families prepare for the changes in routines and schedules that occur with the start of the school year. Often, families and children experience stress as they transition from a summer to a school schedule.

Putting simple organizational strategies in place at the beginning of the school year can ease stress and help families and children have a smoother transition.

Schedules

Coordinating schedules of all family members is challenging. Hang a large paper or dry erase calendar in a place where everyone sees it daily. Choose a different color for each family member so children can identify their own activities.

Paperwork

Keeping track of the papers children bring home can be overwhelming. Organize all paperwork relating to school activities and assignments in labeled folders that are stored in one place.

Everyday supplies

Create a box of school supplies your children use often like glue, scissors, pencils, crayons, markers, rulers, paper, and sticky notes. Keep this well-stocked box in a central area so children always have what they need for projects and assignments.

Daily life

To help make mornings less hectic, create a closet organizer with pockets or shelves. Label each shelf or pocket with each day of the school week. Have your child help pick out clothes for each day and then put them into the organizer.

To make lunch preparation easy, separate favorite lunch items into plastic containers. Teach independence to children by pre-packaging lunch items so your child can access them easily and put them in their own lunch box. Keep the containers on low shelves for younger children to reach.

Have one central location for backpacks and lunch boxes. When children complete their homework, ask them to put it in their backpacks so everything is ready to go in the morning.

Making even a few small changes in your routine can have big effects in helping your children’s school year go smoothly and be stress-free.