It's that time of year. Love it or hate it, school is back in session! The kids of
Cape House, Hannah Grace (
Wes &
Tiffany's) and Addie Grace (
Lance &
Lauren's) head to kindergarten and pre-school respectively, and both girls are very excited (and their parents are ready for a little more routine and structure!). Regardless of your feelings towards this time of year, getting organized never hurt anyone. So, we rounded up our favorite "hacks" for making the summer-to-school transition a little less stressful.
PREPPING AHEAD OF TIME
The Lunchbox: This year, we're skipping the sandwich in favor of a Bento-style box. We love this stainless steel version from
Pottery Barn Kids that fits in a variety of lunch boxes. By prepping snacks and fruit at the beginning of the week, we can get creative in offering a balanced meal that's also fun to eat. Lunchbox notes never go out of style, and this year we'll look forward to using these bright, cheerful gingham notecards from Donovan Designs (newly in stock at the store!)
Survival Kit: We loved the idea of adding a survival kit to this year's backpack. Packing practical items like stain sticks, hair ties, deodorant, and more will ensure your kid is prepared for anything that could come up during the school day - just make sure to consult your school's rules on medication, mints/gum, etc. ahead of time. Pack it all in a lightweight pouch - like this "Wonderfully Made" version from
Face to Face Designs - and you're good to go!
DAILY ROUTINES
Getting Dressed: Oh, the struggle (especially when you've got a six-going-on-sixteen-year-old). The best solution we've found: work together on Sunday to plan outfits for the week - and then place them all prepped, ironed, and ready in their closet (we're talking down to the socks!). Got a little girl? We loved this hairstyle organizer, too.
After School: Gone are the days of unsigned papers or missed projects. This year, we're making it a habit of immediately placing the backpack in a designated spot after school; from there, the day's papers are placed in a specific folder for parents to see. (And you might as well make that area pretty with these
Russell + Hazel Acrylic options, also found in our Amelia Island store.) Organize the year's notes, good grades, and more in annual file folders - and display #alltheartprojects on an inexpensive clipboard gallery wall.
Chores: One of the best ways to get children to follow a routine is to involve them in creating it - and make it fun! We love the cookie sheet turned into magnetic list and the colored clock idea, which allows children to practice their clock-reading skills and provides a sense of responsibility and ownership of their daily tasks.
Have any additional hacks that streamlines back-to-school for your family? Let us know in the comments below!