Combat the Chaos of Back-to-School Time

Who doesn't love this time of year? Back-to-school signifies many things: The start of a new {school} year, cool new supplies, some trendy clothes and brand new shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes and more. It's also a hectic time for parents. Everyone is working out the kinks in the schedules, getting kids started with activities and, personally, sometimes I feel like all I do is write checks! There are ways to simplify and start of the year with fewer hiccups. Here’s how:

Be Organized—The summertime is a time to be relaxed and let things go. However, the start of a school year is the best time to eliminate seasonal clutter and get organized. Put away summer gear, set up a homework station, organize closets and drawers removing any outgrown pieces, establish an area for backpacks, jackets and shoes, and get your kids on board by creating a simple checklist (see below) of what they need to do on a daily basis to help out.

Sync School Calendar with Your Calendar—When the school sends home its calendar, make sure you put all of the upcoming events and important dates, including when projects are due, on your personal calendar to avoid missing out.

Prepare the night before—Preparing as much as you can the night before will have everyone in a better mood as they hit the bus or carpool line. Here's a quick checklist: 

• Sign permission slips and forms, then put them in your child's backpack
• Put shoes and backpacks by the entry/exit door
• Choose outfits and organize for the week
• Organize gear for activities.
• Prepare lunches and put them in the refrigerator
• Set the table for breakfast
• Give kids a mini-checklist of their own: Make bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, comb hair 

Get homework out of the way! Unless you've got errands to run, make it a habit to do homework as soon as the kids come home from school. If needed, use a reward system as an incentive to get it done. For example, 30 minutes of computer time or 30 minutes of television.

Implementing these simple tasks and routines will help combat chaos and help you get the kids off to school in the morning with a smile—who knows, you may have one too!