School Organizing Routines to Help Your Family Feel More in Control as the Weeks Roll By:

These 10 school organizing routines will help your family plan ahead for the new school year and avoid stressful moments.

While our family had several school organizing routines in place, we still had our mishaps from time to time. Years ago, my daughter Emily came to me one sunny morning and anxiously told me that she could not find her school uniform jumper. I calmly ensured her that there was one hanging in the laundry room clean and ready to be put on.

She told me that she had already looked there. I knew I had just washed it and hung it there, so I told her to look again. She couldn’t find it the second time either.  So I went to the laundry room to retrieve it myself. All the while thinking, “Why can’t my children ever find anything on their own?”

But to my surprise, and dismay… I couldn’t find it either.

I could feel anxiety boiling up inside me. We had to leave for school soon, and it was going to be 89 degrees that day. I ask you, what fate could be worse than being the only kid in school wearing pants on a smoldering hot day? My calm self had vanished like the jumper. Now I was running around the house in a searching frenzy.

That was just about the time that Emily’s older sister Maddie happened to notice that Cassie (my youngest) was all dressed for kindergarten and ready to go. The only thing was, her jumper, was so large, it hung down nearly to her ankles.

Thankfully, the mystery had been solved, and without a moment to spare. We did some quick jumper switching and headed out the door.

These occasional crises seem to go hand in hand with family life. And while we can’t avoid every roller coaster moment entirely, we can create some helpful school organizing routines to minimize the probability of them popping up in the first place.

Here are 10 school organizing routines that will help your family plan ahead for the new school year and avoid stressful moments.

As a parent, it’s always a challenge to keep everything in order, but with these routines in place, you can minimize the probability of stressful situations popping up.

1. My Favorite School Organizing Routine: Establish a Launching Pad.

A launching pad by the door is a perfect way to help your child remember the items they need for school every day. Place a bin or basket by the door, where everyone can leave out lunches, backpacks, coats, musical instruments, and sports equipment.

2. Establish a Weekly Family Huddle.

Set aside a specific time each week, such as Saturday mornings or Sunday evenings, for a family planning meeting. Discuss the upcoming week’s activities, deadlines, and appointments, and add them to the family calendar. Planning ahead for activities that require preparation can help you stay in control and avoid unwelcome surprises.

3. Plan Ahead for Things That Need to Get Done at Home.

The family huddle can also be a good time to plan the other things that need to get done at home each week. Have your family help decide what meals they would like to eat for the week. Be sure to create a grocery list to go along with the plan. Decide what household chores each person is responsible for completing that week.  

4. Prepare For School the Night Before.

Each family member can take 10-15 minutes before bedtime to get organized for the next school day. This includes laying out outfits, packing school items, gathering after-school supplies and snacks, and making lunches. This routine can make the mornings run smoother and prevent items from being forgotten.

5. Go Through Your Child’s Backpack at the Same Time Every Day.

Set a specific time to check your child’s backpack daily, preferably when they are doing their homework. Take action on any paperwork that needs to be signed or completed immediately.

6. Create a Family Command Center.

A bulletin board can serve as the family calendar and display weekly household chore charts, schedules, and other important documents. Use hanging wall pockets or small bins to assign mailboxes to each child for their paperwork.

7. Designate a Separate Place for Completed School and Artwork.

As the year progresses, there is a simple way to organize the monsoon of school paperwork that comes home with your child each day. Just toss everything into a conveniently located paperwork bin. Periodically go through the bin and toss all past schoolwork, keeping any artwork and other keepsake items.

Make it a summer project to have your kids go through their keepsake school artwork at the end of the year. For instructions on how to create a school keepsake tote that each child can self manage with minimal supervision, read my other article: “The Simplest Way to Organize School Paperwork and Keepsakes.”

8. Establish a Homework Routine.

Designate a specific time and place for homework each day. Ensure the study area is well-stocked with supplies like pencils, pens, paper, and a quiet atmosphere conducive to concentration. 

9. What Other School Organizing Routines Can You Establish?

Forming helpful family routines, such as doing homework and household chores at the same time every day, and having set bath and bedtimes, can help both you and your child feel more in control. Routines give a sense of security and predictability that make our lives feel less chaotic. Establish a school organizing routine with your child as soon as possible and stick with it.