Being a parent, you know what the words "back to school" mean. It's back to a different schedule with new challenges. You are buying school supplies, making breakfast, rushing out the door, and helping your children with homework. These are just some of the things that come with the new school year ahead. It doesn't have to be complete chaos, though. With a little bit of organization and early preparation, you can be sure to get ahead of the back to school stress, and even help your family, including your youngsters, get some joy out this time of year, too. 
 
We have come up with these tips, provided by California Closets, the leader in custom home storage solutions and design authority. By following them, we will help ensure you're having an A+ kind of year, right from the start. 
 

1. Get rid of the clutter. 

There is nothing that pulls away from your focus more like clutter. With a new school year ahead, it the perfect time to go through your children's closet and do some clean-up. This means getting rid of outdated or outsized clothes such as sneakers, sweaters, pants, etc. The best part is you can donate them to your local donation store while creating new space for your children's closet. 
 

2. Make lists. 

Whether you have a Type-A personality or not, lists are helpful in any situation. Chances are you have done the back-to-school shopping already. But that first or second day or school may surprise you when your children come home to tell you they are missing something! Something like highlighters or erasers are easy to forget, so put anything omitted on your shopping list as soon as the need arises. 
 

3. Maximize organization. 

This tip is combining both the first and second tips! Now that your closet is decluttered, you can organize it as you put in the new school items you purchased. If you have bought new clothing, group them by type and make them easy to reach. This will make it simple for your little sleepyheads to find their wardrobe and get ready for school in the morning. 
 

4. Create after-school rules.

Now that another school day is over, the first thing that may happen at home is...chaos. There are backpacks on the floors, pencils left on the table, and clothes spread all over their room. Give your kids some simple rules to follow when they come home and accessible places to put their items. If there are designated areas for their backpacks (such as hooks), their shoes, and their lunch boxes, that is a great starting point to staying organized and launching them to getting into the school day's rhythm.
 
The back-to-school season is the time to make sure your home is working harder for you. It will help your kids focus on the things that truly matter – and in the process, you will also be able to. For more on making your home school-ready, contact FirstService Residential, North America's property management leader.
 
Monday October 05, 2020