It’s hard to believe that in a few short weeks the kids will be heading back to school for a great new year. As we all try to squeeze in the last bits of summer with fun in the water, excursions throughout our wonderful area and family vacations…it’s also time to prepare our homes for the school year ahead.

Preparing your home doesn’t need to be a daunting project, just break it down by room. Let’s start with the kitchen.  As summer fades and the schedule of the school year begins, the kitchen needs to be functioning efficiently to handle the bustle of mornings, after-school snacks and easy access to dinner essentials. Start with cabinet organization. What needs to be handy for the kids to access? Lower cabinets are great for these items. Your essential cooking ingredients should be close to your stove for quick access as well as the dishes and pans you use most frequently. Do you pack lunches for the kids? These items should also be easily accessible so you can grab and pack quickly if needed. Other items less frequently used can be placed in higher cabinets or stored in other areas.

Entry ways and mud rooms need to be re-organized from their summer essentials and recreated to handle the backpacks, shoes, sports equipment, and such so that kids can easily organize their stuff as they enter the house. Starting this at the beginning of the school year helps to form that habit at the get go and keep the house organized throughout the year.

Kids Bedrooms.  This can always be a bit tricky. Whether they are young or older, messes come with the territory, but creating good habits at the beginning of each year truly can help alleviate a lot of stress for them and you every day. Start by organizing drawers and closets in a way that is age appropriate and easy for your child to keep organized but also helping in getting dressed each day. Make it a rule that clean clothes are put away promptly. Establish a toy area that includes shelves and boxes for organization. Utilize a desk area for homework with good lighting and a comfy chair. And of course, start each day by making their bed.

Establish expectations and guidelines for the rest of the house. It’s much easier to start the year off on the right foot and keep it that way, then to try to wrangle it in throughout the year.  It also sets up your kids and everyone in the house for a successful and stress-free year.

Wishing all our families and kids a great 2022-2023 school year!