Back-to-School Checklist
My oldest is heading to Kindergarten soon. Well, a year from now, but I’m already bracing for the huge shift in our family (and several tears shed on my part). We currently have a great rhythm in the morning and after school since the boys are at the same daycare and they don’t have homework. But, I have a lot of friends, clients, and family members who have older kids and I think I understand the headache that is back-to-school. Anytime there is a major change to the household flow, it is going to cause a certain level of stress because we’re creatures of habit. We like to know what is expected of us, what we need to do, and that there aren’t any surprises lurking around the corner. And it seems school stuff, particularly at the beginning of the year, is one giant surprise lurking around every corner.
So, to limit everyone’s stress to a manageable amount, I have a family friendly back-to-school checklist that is simple and easy to follow for all families:
Designate only 1 drop spot for homework and to-do items
First, let’s define “drop spot”. A drop spot is a place where ingoing and outgoing items are kept until action can be taken. A great drop spot will have beautifully labeled bins, folders, and baskets but the main priority isn’t how it looks, but that everyone adheres to it. Most drop spots I see tend to be several piles in kitchens, mudrooms, and the dining room table. This means backpacks, sports bags, Amazon boxes, mail, keys, and other random items are creating messes throughout your house. So, it doesn’t really matter where your drop spot ends up, but the goal is to only have one. This helps you keep track of items more easily and reduces the chances of losing items. Do not panic when the drop spot looks messy - it will, and that’s ok.
Empower your kids by creating a homework system together; no 1 size fits all
Every kid is different, we know that. And we have preferences and ways we like to do things, too. When it comes to homework and school paperwork, we have to get out of our comfort zone and create a system that works for the kid, not for us. This may seem counterintuitive and that it will take more time, but if the child is able to do 80% or more of it on their own, you are indeed saving time and effort. If one kid wants to have matching folders and everything beautifully labeled (yay for that kid!) and the other one likes crumpled balls of paper at the bottom of their backpack, so be it. As long as things are findable and to-do’s are getting done, then that’s all that matters.
Put things away at the end of each day; Reduce tomorrow to-do’s
At the end of the long day, sometimes we just don’t have the energy to deal with putting things away. I really do get it. But this is a habit that I think putting the effort into now will pay off all year long. Because as tired as you are at the moment, I don’t see a world in which you wake up feeling fresh as a daisy and that much more excited to clean up messes. If part of the lack of motivation is due to not having homes for items, put your energy into creating those spaces now so there’s no more excuses. We’re always going to be tired, but I’d rather put in 5% more energy in the moment than mustering up 20% more in the morning.
Give each kid 1 or 2 ‘special’ tasks to be the leader of & hold them accountable
My two year old surprises me every time we come home and he puts his shoes away. You’d think this is my doing (no, but I certainly applaud it!) but it’s because he’s expected to manage his own stuff at daycare. He can put away shoes, clean up his lunch spot, and put notes from the teachers in his folder. So if a toddler can do this, I know that older kids can do it, too (within reason for most neurodivergent children). And the great thing about kids is they like being good at things and getting positive attention. So, lean into this and give each child 1-2 tasks they are going to be great at and they can lead. Yes, that means they can be the boss of their sibling(s)! As an example, one kid may be more artistic so have them own the family calendar. Let them go wild and decorate it and update it daily (this would really test my Type A-ness). The other kid may take a lot of pride in their athletic accomplishments that they should in charge of putting sports equipment in the wash at the end of the week. Whatever task or tasks are assigned, just be sure to communicate it and make sure everyone is on the same page about expectations.
In summary, start the school year off on the right foot by practicing these healthy habits. If you stick with these for the next few weeks, then by October you’ll be in a good rhythm. Which is great because by then you’ll have Halloween costumes to worry about, a few long weekends on the calendar, the holidays to start planning……
