5 Helpful Organisation Hacks and Tips for School
It’s no secret that preparing and organising for school can be a daunting and tiring task in itself. Whether the kids are going back after term break, summer holidays, or a family holiday, there’s always a lot to sort out! But by having routines or systems in place, you’ll find it easier to deal with school-related tasks in the long run.
For some helpful organisation hacks and tips for school, take a look below.
Create a schedule for packing lunches
With so little time after work, the last thing you want to do as a parent is to stay up all night organising school lunches. Try utilising some spare time during the weekend and prepare lunch box meals for the week ahead. Not only will you have more rest time on weeknights, but you’ll also avoid unwanted spending at the school canteen.
On Friday or Saturday nights, create a meal plan you can stick to for the following week. You can even ask your kids what snacks they would prefer to take to school. Once you finalise the plan, write it down on blackboard wall stickers which should be stuck somewhere noticeable, like the kitchen. Then just pick up the ingredients you’ll need for the lunches when you go on your weekly shopping trip.
P.S. Don’t forget to attach those personalised name stickers on your youngsters’ lunch boxes to avoid mix-ups on school mornings.
Ensure a neat and tidy homework/study space
Homework time is vital to the future success of our children, so you’ll want to give them the best headstart with a well-organised study space. A neat and tidy study space doesn’t just look great; it’s also helpful in providing a sense of calm after what could possibly be a chaotic day at school.
If your kids are sharing a homework space, affix those extra school labels on their writing materials, as well as binders and other organisers. This way, they’d know where to put their school papers and keep the space uncluttered. You can also avoid petty arguments on whose pencil is whose. There are always plenty of styles and colours to choose from, so your kids will surely find a design that matches their personality.
Create a ‘month-at-a-glance’ calendar
Whilst this may initially take a lot of planning, a busy parent like you will surely be thankful when it’s done. Creating a month-at-a-glance calendar will help you avoid any nasty surprises and keep you well informed of everyone’s schedules. No longer worry about clashes between social events and school meetings, lack of preparation for school camps, or even forgotten sports days.
Again, a great idea for this kind of planner is to use blackboard wall stickers which easily set out the days of the week and help you visualise the month ahead. Use customised name labels on your calendar if you have more than one child to keep track of during the school year.
Label all existing and new school clothing
Using labels is a great way to keep your kids’ items from going missing. See, many other kids at school will have similar-sized uniforms and even school bags. So don’t forget to properly label all of your child’s belongings or risk them disappearing.
Label everything--from school uniforms and sports gear down to backpacks. By attaching iron-on clothing labels, you will avoid unwanted repeat purchases. Iron-on labels come in a variety of colours and styles so your kids will surely find a design that is to their liking. A good idea is to also put on your ‘month-at-a-glance’ calendar a reminder to reaffix any labels that need reapplying.
Prepare school items for the morning routine
Mornings preparing the kids for school can be stressful. But with a bit of organising here and there, school mornings won’t be as haphazard as they usually are. If you have more than one child at school, planning can make a huge difference. You may even find time to enjoy that cup of coffee!
A little extra time at night (or during the weekends, if you’re really time-poor during the week) can be spent organising for the next school day or the week ahead. As soon as the kids come home from school, grab everything school-related that they have brought back with them. Shoes, clothes, lunch boxes, backpacks一everything. Put them where they belong so there would be no frantic searching for them in the morning.
There’s no guarantee that every single day will run smoothly and perfectly. But hopefully, these tips will make those school mornings less taxing and crazy.
