BACK-TO-SCHOOL

2022!

We can’t believe it either…August is here and the kids are heading back to school! We know you’re buried in back-to-school mode, and it can be overwhelming to get everything organized, so we’re sharing 3 Tips to Prep for a Successful School Year!

O&P will set you up for success and provide some pointers to create systems that will last you ALL year long! It takes a little discipline and a lot of organization to make this school year the best one yet!

TIP #1:

Edit your kids' closet, bedroom, and playroom! Complete one space at a time. Removing old or obsolete items that can be donated or thrown out is the easiest way to start! Go through each space until they're ready for the school year!

Let’s start with the closet. To declutter this space, grab a couple of bins or boxes. One will be for items you want to donate and the other for items you’d like to sale. Start by checking the size of each piece of clothing and removing those pieces that are the wrong size by placing them into the donate or sale bin. Go through the same process with shoes, costumes, and any smaller items you keep in their drawers like socks, belts, hats, etc.

After you’ve edited by size, take the “donate” bin to your car and make a goal to drop off those items in the next few days, and place the “for sale” bin in your garage so it’s out of the space as well. Repeat this process in a similar fashion in their bedroom and playroom, if necessary! First remove anything that’s trash, like dried paint or markers, broken toys or games that are missing pieces, and items the kids no longer have interest in!

TIP #2:

Have a system in place to store things like school supplies, workbooks, and the papers your kids will be bringing home! Having the system in place ahead of time will prevent random papers from being shoved in their dresser, junk drawers and all over the house. This will take time to setup and maintain but it will inevitably save you a lot of time and effort later when you would usually be stuck looking for that one homework assignment they can’t find five minutes before leaving for school!

Create the habit of sorting through these items every week. You can start by discarding items that are definitely trash like old calendars or informational papers from their teachers that are no longer needed. It’s also helpful if you can sort through everything in their backpacks when they get home each day in the same way to keep the clutter from ever reaching the space you’ve chosen to store everything. This way nothing gets lost, the system is maintainable throughout the school year, and they'll be prepared for school every morning!

Divided turntables make the world go 'round!

This will always be one of our go-to products because it seriously works in EVERY space! Laundry, pantry, craft, playroom, bathroom…you can't go wrong using this in any room! It's perfect for those colorful crayons, markers, and paint!

The Rolling Art Cart is another versatile item! It comes in a few different colors so you can pick one that fits best in your space!

Not only is the art cart precious for kid's crafts, it's also great for our teachers out there. Simple white inserts fit perfectly in this cart for micro-organization. Add a label to each and you are set!

TIP #3:

Edit your pantry. Expired and empty food products should be the first to go! The space will look less cluttered immediately by doing this and it will motivate you to keep going! Now you will begin to organize food into sections and grab some products to keep them in (bins, baskets, turntables, etc.). We love adding labels to help keep everything maintainable for everyone in the family!

Decluttering your pantry can create space for a “snack station” for your kids. Make sure this station is in a spot the kids can easily reach so they can grab a quick bite between school and sports! If you’ve decluttered your pantry and you still don’t have room, another option is in bins in a lower drawer in your kitchen and/or fridge.

A bin labeled “lunch box” – pun intended – may be a great system to help you with lunch prep! This bin would be refilled weekly with the main items you pack for them each day like napkins, utensils, cute lunch accessories, post it notes, etc. You could implement this station in a drawer in your fridge for cold food products as well, like fruit or juice boxes! It will be quick and easy to find what you need so you can spend less time packing lunches and more time with your kiddos after school!