Ahh Summer! You love it, in the beginning, but then the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ set in. It’s hot. Your kids are starting to get bored. They are working on your nerves. It can only mean one thing, back to school is right around the corner. Some people panic, some people don’t. Some people rush out and back to school shop, some people don’t.
But what about preparing your house for back to school time?
I wrote an end of the year checklist, now I’m back with a checklist to help you prepare for back to school time and transition.
Here’s a checklist to get your house back in school year mode and help you think clearly about what you need to do to prepare the kids to go back to school.
Arts and Craft Supplies
Your kids have probably been doing numerous crafts and art projects all summer long. Take a look at what is getting low. This is a great time to stock up on water color paints, school glue (hello slime waste) and glue sticks, tape, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, construction paper, etc. Take advantage of the sales!
The Dreaded Junk Drawer
Organize it. Just do it, you’ll thank me later….
Ok, no really. You know it got messy over the summer. Go through the drawer and put like items together and throw out anything that doesn’t belong. Buy some some drawer organizers at the store (you can always take back the items you don’t end up using). Better yet, organize that cabinet that you through all the light bulbs (ok maybe you don’t literally throw your lightbulbs), the masking and packing tape, your flashlights, you get the idea.
The Backpack and Lunch Box/Bag Situation
If you didn’t assess your child(ren)’s backpack and lunch bags for wear and tear, do it now and see if they need replaced. I know my child’s lunch bag needs replacing. My favorite backpacks for built for longevity are L.L. Bean. My grade school age son has the original and my preschool age son has the junior. Each kid has their own color. I had a deluxe one when I hit middle school and it lasted through college. I think I would have still had it if I didn’t give it away.
Back to school and Fall/Winter Clothing
I usually start going through my kids Fall and Winter clothing at the end of July. I see what doesn’t fit and start making a list. I get a few new outfits and wait until after school starts to get more. There are usually great sales and my oldest usually goes through a growth spurt a few weeks into school starting. So what worked doesn’t anymore.
Don’t Forget About the Car
Get an oil change. If you do school drop off or pick up, you should especially get a vehicle tune up.
Snack Organization
Assess your snack organization. Gear up and make room for lunch items. This is a great time to think about what your kids are enjoying for snacks and make a list of what to put in their lunches this school year.
Paper Clutter
As those back to school teacher and bus assignments start rolling in, start a Household Handbook . Buy a binder and sheet protectors (hello, sales) and assign each kid a slip and separate extra curricular activities into another one for each kid.
Prepare for Homework
Designate an area where home is done. Whether that is on the kitchen table, in an office area, on a desk in your child’s bedroom. Make sure it is equipped with supplies. If your designated area is at the kitchen table, have a homework caddy that is stocked with supplies your child might need.
After School Care
If you work outside of the home, take the time now to arrange for after school childcare.
Turn in Summer Reading Program Sheets
It’s time to hand in those library summer reading program sheets and earn your rewards! Our boys participated this summer and our local library even had an adult summer reading program too! So I’m excited to see what I earn.
Of course there’s always the idea of getting your child use to going back to school by slowly getting them to bed earlier as the first weeks of August wear on. I’m not including that in the checklist because that’s a real no brainer and not something you can check off.
Would you like this in printable form? Download here.
Can you think of any ideas I might have missed? Let me know in the comments! I hope you and your children have a great back to school transition and a wonderful school year ahead!
