![\"back-to-school](\"https:\/\/www.organizedinteriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/pexels-photo-207658.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs the days get shorter and temperatures begin to cool, this time of year finds parents and their kids\u00a0occupied with preparations for the upcoming school year.<\/p>\n
There are many different\u00a0back-to-school concerns for parents to consider, especially for those with younger children.<\/p>\n
For example, what supplies and clothing needs to be purchased? What summer habits from your kids aren\u2019t going to work during school season? Are there opportunities to improve areas that can streamline the morning routines of both kids and parents?<\/p>\n
Leaving yourself enough time for back-to-school preparations will make the transition into the school year much easier. No parent wants to find themselves scrambling around on the morning after Labour Day because they didn\u2019t devote enough time to back-to-school prep!<\/p>\n
These nine\u00a0back-to-school tips will make the new school year easier to adjust to. They\u2019ll also\u00a0simplify things for you and your children well\u00a0after that first school bell of the year has rung.<\/p>\n
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The first of our back-to-school tips is to ensure your kids aren\u2019t going into a new school year with too many bad habits they\u2019ve picked up during the summer.<\/p>\n
Kid\u2019s sleeping habits should be near the top of your list of back-to-school concerns. One of the cornerstones of good health is getting consistent\u00a0and quality sleep, which minimizes the likelihood of stress.<\/p>\n
A new school year can be a stress-causing time for many kids and they\u2019ll be better equipped to deal with things if they\u2019re well-rested.<\/p>\n
With the first day of school just around the corner, you should already be getting your kids back into the same sleep schedule they\u2019ll be keeping during the school year. It can take some kids longer than others to make an adjustment, so don\u2019t procrastinate on changing their bedtimes.<\/p>\n
Another summer habit to keep tabs on is the amount of screen time your kids are getting. Like their sleep schedule, you should already be limiting the time your kids are\u00a0spending on phones, tablets, and in front of the TV.<\/p>\n
Making sure your back-to-school prep includes the gradual limiting of screen time will result in\u00a0fewer headaches and potential arguments over the subject with your kids once the school year begins.<\/p>\n
Another reason it\u2019s important to monitor the amount of screen time kids are getting\u00a0is because it can impact their sleeping habits. Even adults should be conscious of the fact that plenty of research shows<\/a> that the blue light devices emit can disrupt our sleep patterns and throw off our body clocks.<\/p>\n There are many smartphone and tablet apps available that can limit screen time and help you monitor the usage of your kids\u2019 devices.<\/p>\n It can be helpful to ease into the changing daily routine that comes with a new school year. Taking a proactive approach to a changing routine is particularly beneficial if you have kids\u00a0starting at a new school.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re responsible for driving your kids\u00a0to school, do a few morning dry runs prior to classes beginning. Know how long it\u2019ll take to make the drive and get to school in a comfortable amount of time. Naturally, factor in the added traffic that will be on the roads in the morning once the school year begins.<\/p>\n Unfamiliar surroundings and faces can be stressful, so see if it\u2019s possible to tour the new school and meet some teachers beforehand with your kids.\u00a0Familiarizing your kids with the school playground and bathroom locations can also up their confidence level.<\/p>\n Even the most well-adjusted of kids will be nervous before starting at a new school. Don\u2019t add to their stress by having them and yourself unprepared for the coming school year.<\/p>\n A new school year means new school supplies.\u00a0Check your school\u2019s or board of education\u2019s website to see if a list of recommended supplies is available.<\/p>\n Be sure to first take stock of what school supplies are already owned. This is a good opportunity to begin phase one of a back-to-school clean-up of your kids\u2019 rooms.\u00a0Clear out desk clutter like broken rulers, crayon nubs, and useless papers.<\/p>\n Bring your kids along for their back-to-school shopping and be sure to limit purchases to needs versus wants. Involving them in buying decisions will also instill a greater sense of ownership and responsibility towards purchased items.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t overlook the importance of kids backpack safety. Ensure your kids are using a backpack that\u2019s suited to their needs and physical size. Also, make sure they\u2019re wearing their backpack properly to minimize aches and pains.<\/p>\n Any list of back-to-school tips would be incomplete without addressing kids\u2019 wardrobes. Does your child have enough outfits for school to accommodate your laundry schedule? Is their clothing clean and presentable?<\/p>\n There are many kids clothing concerns to consider before a new school year. The best way to take stock of what areas to address is to carry out phase two of your\u00a0back-to-school clean-up. That means thoroughly taking stock of what clothing your kids own by emptying out their closets and dresser drawers.<\/p>\n Some kids can grow several sizes within a year, so you\u2019ll undoubtedly find outgrown clothing that\u2019s only contributing to bedroom clutter. Store them\u00a0away for future hand-me-down use with one of your younger kids or donate them.<\/p>\n After weeding out the old clothing, go through the keepers and determine what needs to be freshened up with a laundering. Make a list of what new pieces of clothing will be needed to enable an adequate rotation of school and play outfits.<\/p>\n Even a larger closet space can easily become\u00a0disorganized if it\u2019s poorly designed. You can make it easier to keep kids bedrooms and mudrooms\/front entryways organized with the following solutions:<\/p>\n These upgrades can provide more kid-friendly functionality. Everything from better accessibility (such as hanging heights) to the ability to group like items together can be taken into consideration for your kids.<\/p>\n Kids clothing costs can add up and they\u2019ll quickly\u00a0outgrow things. You don\u2019t want a new pair of kids jeans being worn once and then forgotten about under a heap of clothes in a messy closet, only to be found later when they no longer\u00a0fit.<\/p>\n One of our\u00a0back-to-school tips that can make your morning run a little smoother is to get your kids in the habit of being more self-sufficient.<\/p>\n That can include helping get breakfast ready or taking responsibility for their own breakfast. Monitor that they\u2019re eating healthy, protein-rich foods – there\u2019s a reason breakfast is referred to as the most important meal of the day! And make sure they\u2019re leaving enough time for breakfast and not relying on just a couple of protein bars or a Pop-Tart.<\/p>\n You can also get your kids to start making their own lunches. Be mindful that they\u2019re adhering to their school\u2019s allergy policies and that they\u2019re packing a well-balanced, healthy lunch.<\/p>\n Get your kids in the habit of making their bed before leaving for school. Author\u00a0Charles Duhigg writes in his book The Power of Habit <\/em>that this practice becomes a \u201ckeystone habit\u201d that gets one\u2019s day off to a positive start.<\/p>\n Preparing the night before can also save everyone time in the morning. Make sure your kids\u2019 backpacks are ready to go and you can also have the next day\u2019s school outfit hung up on a handy valet rod. This eliminates wasted time caused by wardrobe indecision.<\/p>\n Is the space your kids are using for studying and homework enabling them or holding them back? Kids need a comfortable\u00a0area that\u2019s organized, well-lit, and functional, which can help keep them focussed.<\/p>\n Organized Interiors designs beautiful home office<\/a> spaces\u00a0which can be designed with your kids\u2019 needs in mind, your needs in mind, or a combination of the two.<\/p>\n A spare room is ideal for setting up a home office or study space. If that\u2019s not an option, we can also work with an underutilized area of your home to establish a productive studying environment for your kids.<\/p>\n The last of our back-to-school tips involves setting a good example for your kids with your own organization habits.<\/p>\n If\u00a0the parents aren\u2019t demonstrating that they\u2019re concerned with organization in the bedroom and throughout the home, it\u2019s unreasonable to expect a higher standard from your kids.<\/p>\n Set weekly cleaning and decluttering schedules for you and your kids and stick to them. One of our earlier back-to-school tips mentioned limiting screen time, but some exceptions can be made.<\/p>\n Make use of the many organization and productivity apps<\/a>\u00a0families can use to keep on top of home chores.<\/p>\n These back-to-school tips can set your kids up for a successful school year. And by giving your kids the back-to-school tools to succeed, you\u2019ll be minimizing your worries as well.<\/p>\n Schedule a free in-home consultation<\/a> with us\u00a0and one of our design consultants can evaluate your space. They\u2019ll determine how to best utilize some of the home-enhancing back-to-school tips listed here.<\/p>\n As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to cool, this time of year finds parents and their kids\u00a0occupied with preparations for the upcoming school year. There are many different\u00a0back-to-school concerns for parents to consider, especially for those with younger children. For example, what supplies and clothing needs to be purchased? What summer habits from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n3. Ease into a school day routine to lessen new school anxieties<\/h3>\n
4. Assess what school supplies you\u2019ll need<\/h3>\n
5. Take stock of your kids\u2019 wardrobes<\/h3>\n
6. Upgrade your kids\u2019 storage and organization\u00a0systems<\/h3>\n
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![\"Boy's](\"https:\/\/www.organizedinteriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/boys-organized-closet.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7.\u00a0Teach\u00a0your kids to be more self-sufficient<\/h3>\n
8.\u00a0Enable scholastic success with a proper kids study space<\/h3>\n
9.\u00a0Establish good organization habits your kids can emulate<\/h3>\n
Get the school year started right with these back-to-school tips<\/h3>\n
See also:<\/h4>\n
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