20 Ways to Simplify Back-to-School
I promise that back-to-school can be easy, low-stress and focused on the good stuff 💗
Here’s how…
FIRST THINGS FIRST
1.Take Stock of What you Have
My first step for ANY new season/stage is to assess what we already own.
Because it’s usually more than I think.
Which means less new items needed - yay!
Pull out everythingggg. This part might be painful but it’s totally worth it!
THEN - once you know what you have and don’t have, you can….
2. Make a Shopping List
You’ve taken inventory. Now it’s time to figure out what new stuff you need.
The shopping list will vary from family to family. But here are a few basics to get you started…
Indoor Shoes
Outdoor Shoes
Backpack
Lunch Box
Lunch Bag
Water Bottle
Labels
Back-up Outfit (little ones)
Sunscreen
Splash Pants
Toques
Fall Mitts
Winter Mitts
Snow Suit
Fall Pants
Fall Shirts
Long Socks
3. Wash, Wash, Wash
Nothing better than freshly washed running shoes and lunch bags!
A deep clean is the easiest way to make your old stuff feel brand new.
While you’re at it, this is a great time to weatherproof your shoes and boots for the winter.
4. Label, Label, Label
Your kid is going to lose stuff. That’s a 100% guarantee.
If you want any chance of getting it back, toss a label on it!
We have always used Mabels Labels. And I LOVE them. But any option is great.
In a pinch, masking tape and a sharpie also does the trick :)
5. Declutter
The easiest way to keep track of belongings for multiple people: HAVE LESS OF THEM.
As you’re taking stock of what you already have, be honest about what you don’t need or will never use.
Consider…
Clothes that no longer fit: e.g. coats, shirts, rain boots, bathing suits that won’t fit next year.
Summer items that you won’t need next year: e.g. outdoor toys they’ve outgrown, beach items that were never used.
Items that have been replaced with a new version: e.g. backpacks, lunch boxes, lunch bags.
School supplies that they’ve outgrown: e.g. crayons, pencil cases with characters that they are too old for now, etc.
FOOD
6. Easy Breakfasts
Like rrrrreal easy.
I used to think toast was an easy breakfast.
That was before I was responsible for getting myself and two kids out the door by 8am.
Things that can be prepared ahead of time are my favourite.
Muffins
Fruit
Cereal
Oat Balls
Yogurt
Apple Slices with PB for dipping
Oatmeal (surprisingly easy - and no crumbs!)
PB Sandwiches
7. Easy Lunches
A few examples from my weekly rotation:
Leftovers: Chicken fingers, pasta, hamburgers, pizza.
Veggie Slices: Carrots, cucumbers, peppers, celery, purple cabbage, cherry tomatoes.
Fruit: Apples, pears, oranges, grapes, berries, melon (use a melon baller for extra fun)
Canned Fruit (once the fresh is gone)
Mini Muffins (fit perfectly in lunch boxes)
Leftover Candy (easy way to use up a huge bag of marshmallows from camping, birthday party treat bag snacks and easter chocolate!)
Popcorn
Homemade Lunchable
Oat Balls
Tuna “Sushi” (or PB!): Just roll your favourite ingredients in a wrap then roll and chop like a sushi roll. Big hit!
Quesadilla
My #1 trick to making lunches seem fun with minimal effort: Use different types of bread. I use the same 20 ingredients ALL the time. But I switch up the type of bread I use and it makes it seem new.
8. Easy Dinners
Are you sensing the theme??
Do yourself a favour and make the September meal plan SUPER easy.
Check out a few no-recipe ideas here.
SPACES & SYSTEMS
9. Backpack Hooks
Last year we added three small hooks at our backdoor for our bags and backpacks.
The smallest, yet biggest, home improvement project we’ve EVER tackled.
It gets the bags off of the floor, they are low enough that the kids can reach themselves and it makes morning and evening routines that much more organized.
10. A Shoe Basket
I LOVE SHOE BASKETS!!!
A large shoe basket at the main entrance keeps shoes off the floor, controls how many you can keep and is an easy system that ALL family members can follow.
The other, most important, way of keeping shoes tidy at the main entrance, is to ONLY keep the ones you use daily, front and centre.
Your formal or off-season footwear should live elsewhere - basement or bedroom closets are usually great spots.
11. Plan for Papers
School paperwork can start to take over a house. Or at least, a kitchen table!
I chat about paperwork management in another back to school post which you can check out right here.
Sounds boring but seriously worth it before you start drowning in math sheets!
12. Keep Labels Handy
Number of times I have had to run back inside to add a label to a piece of clothing at the last minute: 18936475.
We keep ours in a basket right near our front door. In a folder specifically for labels.
Wherever you chose, make it easy to grab in a rush.
13. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
First of all new routines take a minute to get used to. So give yourself some grace as things fall into place.
And more importantly, keep systems simple.
When Leo started school we created this little Days of the Week board to update each morning to teach him the days of the week. It started as a super adorable start to our day. Then it turned into an extra thing I had to store, manage and keep track of - and an extra thing for the kids to fight over!
Finally I clued in that I was torturing myself - I tossed the board and never looked back!
Mornings instantly because easier.
Step back and take a look at your systems once in a while. There might be a small tweak that can make life WAY easer!
*Most importantly: Keeping your spaces clear of clutter is the #1 way to save your sanity.
SCHEDULES/ROUTINES
14. Re-Sets
Systems are amazing - but only if you maintain them!
Spend 10 minutes every night, week or month, checking in on systems you created and making sure they are working.
Most importantly, remove clutter that snuck it’s way in!
15. Nightly Prep
If you only listen to one thing I say, make it this one!
Preparing as much as humanly possible the night before is KEY.
Because 9 out of 10 mornings have some sort of snafu - spilled milk, lost shoes or a purple shirt when they asked for a DARK purple shirt.
Sometimes I already start loading up the car the night before.
Whatever you can do, do it!
16. Include Morning Buffers
If you need 75 minutes to get everyone ready and out the door….give yourself 90.
Every morning.
Until the end of time.
17. A Note on After School Activities
Extracarriculars are potentially one of the most controversial parenting topics out there.
So I avoid them like the plague.
BUT I will say that one of the fastest ways to turn a great school year into total chaos is to add too many after school activities, too soon.
If things are feeling a little too full on the schedule, take a look at the ol’ sports schedule and consider scaling back.
18. First Day Plan
First days can be A LOT.
Prepare for tears.
Prepare for mix-ups.
If possible, take the day off work.
If possible - take yourself out for lunch!
ESPECIALLY if you’ve been with them full-time all summer!!
Most importantly - give everyone extra grace today xo
FINAL WORDS
19. You Don’t Need Everything for Day One
If you are reading this the day before school starts, don’t panic. If you don’t have exactly 8 long sleeve shirts for September 6th, who cares!!
“Back to School” isn’t just one day. It’s a transition back into a new routine and learning their little hearts out.
Give yourself a couple weeks to feel on top of things.
Schedule some time next weekend to re-set and tweak how things are going so far.
20. YOU DO YOU.
You love making elaborate lunches or live for after school gymnastics?! DO IT!!!
Just remember that we can all only do so much.
So if life feels like too much, go back and read tips above again.
Simple spaces and routines means more time and attention for the parts of life that you absolutely adore.
I am sending you love and patience for an amazing first week of school.
I see you working hard to make it beautiful for your kids.
It doesn’t go unnoticed 💗
Love, MA. xo