Ways We Make Back-to-School Easier
The new school year is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to help kids set up organized systems they can maintain all year long.
This week, I worked with my own child to sort through old school papers, deciding what to keep and what to recycle. He labeled his desk drawers and shelves, giving him both ownership and a clear system to stay tidy throughout the school year.
Starting at age five, both of my children used a visual checklist for their after-school routine. It included simple illustrations and checkboxes to remind them to:
Put away their shoes
Hang up their backpack and coat
Bring their lunch or snack bag to the sink
Empty their daily folder on the counter
If there’s anything in the folder that needs attention, I handle it immediately—one less thing to forget later.
One of my children packs a lunch every school day. Since our weekday evenings are too short for him to reliably fit in lunch prep, we’ve made it one of his Sunday tasks. Each Sunday, “pack lunch” shows up on his to-do list. This weekly habit gives him practice with an important life skill and we handle the other weekdays.
When we moved into our home, one end of our island had a bookshelf for cookbooks and the other had a built-in wine rack. We soon removed the wine rack and added doors to both end cabinets for more hidden storage. One of those cabinets now holds all our kids’ dishes as well as lunchbox supplies. I printed and laminated a visual checklist of what should ideally go in any packed lunch—vegetable, fruit, dairy, sandwich, snack—so my kids have a clear template. They can easily access the cabinet for packing lunches or putting away dishes.
Even adults can struggle with repetitive tasks like packing lunches, often leaving it until the last minute. I try to use habit stacking to stay ahead of it: while my kids eat their after-school snack, I pack the next day’s lunch.
Because my children attend different schools—one that follows the Montgomery County calendar and another that follows the Falls Church City school schedule—I input each academic calendar into my iPhone and sync it with my husband’s. I also print and laminate the calendars for easy reference throughout the year.
Another helpful system we use is the “box of today.” Each night, we place everything our young kids need to get ready for the day—clothes, socks, toothbrush, and toothpaste—into a small bin. Once the box is empty, they know they’re ready for breakfast. It’s a simple routine that sets a calm, productive tone for the morning.
Ready to make your school year smoother?
Sort It Out helps families create systems that support independence and reduce daily stress. Whether you need help organizing a homework station, setting up school routines, or managing paper clutter, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation!
