We all know back to school can be a crazy time and sometimes a tough transition. Implementing some organization systems in your home is a great way to ease this transition. Here are four home updates that will help reduce the clutter & chaos of the school year. These tips will help you start new organization routines and a instill a sense of independence in your kids.
Kids Get Their Own Laundry Basket
The chaos of back to school can have everyones laundry getting mixed up. To avoid losing one sock or winding up with your t-shirt getting mixes in with the kids clothes, get kiddos their own laundry basket. This is such a simple and inexpensive way to change your home’s laundry organization structure. You’ll be surprised how independent the kids will feel to throw all of their dirty clothes in the wash & help you transfer them to the dryer. When my kids were toddler, they’d even get excited to try their hand at folding (youtube is a super helpful teacher, seeing a video of another child folding can help build belief in themselves). Plus, laundry baskets are such a cute way to add texture and visual interest to the room, like these adorable woven laundry baskets below from Crate & Kids.
Ease the Lunch Packing & Cleaning Routine
I was getting sick of wasting so many Ziploc baggies so I tried endless mini Tupperware optiona and reusable bags for my kids lunch, but nothing was doing the trick. Those reusable storage options just added on to my after school lunchbox clean up time. Eventually I stumbled upon bento boxes. We opted for these ones from Target, but there are so many on the market. I love that it seals the lunchbox shut so any messes are concealed. I was also relieved to find out that they are FDA-approved, BPA-free, and made with no PVC, phthalates, lead, or vinyl. all that to say, packing them up is super easy since everything has its own special spot, and cleanup is even easier since it is dishwasher safe.
Start a Paperwork System
We file our ‘grown up’ paperwork away in cabinets & flat file systems, so why don’t we do the same for the kiddos. With an easy storage system for special school crafts & work, the hardest decision will just be which ones to keep. Who knew how far home decor stores have come with file storage. There are so many modern options that could compliment any space. This one on the left from Pottery Barn combines wood, leather & metal to create a natural, heirloom quality piece. The top drawers are great for flat filing and the bottom drawers pull out as standard filing cabinets for standard letter and document storage which makes it perfect to split up bottom drawers for parents & top drawers for kids. The two drawer filing cabinet on the right, from CB2 is so sleek and will warm up the room with it’s beautiful wood tones.
Create a Kid Friendly, Functional Entry Way
Quick transitions in & out of the house are a must during the school year (and even better when your kids don’t leave a trail of clutter behind them). The Build your Own Entryway Nolan Collection from West Elm is worth the investment on this one. There are so many configurations and options to set up this system. If you opt to add in the wall shelf option, you can choose the height of the shelf & hooks, allowing your kiddos the freedom to store their jackets & backpacks independently. This collection is also a great choice because it can grow with your family. while maintaining it’s modern, yet timeless look. Choose the dark Walnut to add a rich earthy feel to your entryway or brighten things up with the white finish.
