Back to school is a crazy busy time for kids, parents, and teachers alike, even when there’s not a pandemic. We often spend tons of money and time trying to organize our homes and classrooms for another year of learning. These are some of my favorite useful back to school hacks that are easy, fun, and creative, and will help everyone get back into the swing of school! Whether your child is in pre-school, elementary school, middle school or high school, there’s something that everyone will find helpful to conquer the school chaos and set everyone up for a successful school year.
1.
FREE before and after school routine checklists for elementary-age kids
Getting into the routine of school has to be one of the hardest things to do at the beginning of the school year. Teaching your child to be independent and responsible can be a little easier, if they have a checklist. Bonus points, if it’s a visual checklist for quick and easy reading. Download these free checklists that will hopefully keep them on task before and after school. Feel free to add your own tasks and personalize with stickers or other craft supplies!
2.
Dollar Store Quick and Cheap Mask Lanyard 😷
1 minute + $1 and you don’t have to worry about junior dropping or losing his mask. Dollar Tree has lots of different colors and patterns or you could even buy the eyeglasses cords too for a beaded lanyard version. With COVID-19 still a threat, many schools are still implementing mask mandates, so let’s stay as healthy as we can and keep those masks nearby. Honestly, this is a great hack for kids and adults alike, anywhere you wear a mask.
3.
Hand sanitizer silicone holder hooked to a lunchbox or backpack.
You can get these at Dollar Tree or go fancy like a Bath & Body Works.
4.
Home Command Center
I think every house should come with a built in command center of some sort. Turn some small wall space or refrigerator into the family command center, so everyone will know what’s going on. This will be a highly personalized space depending on your family’s needs. Some items to keep you organized might be: cork boards, magnetic boards, dry erase boards, chalkboard paint, folders, calendars, hooks for coats and backpacks, or even baskets for face masks. Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Target, Walmart all carry super high quality items to make your space work for you.
Here’s what I did in our house right next to our garage door. I bought some 1×4 wood and made a faux board and batten and put hooks on it for backpacks and coats. I used a cork board and dry erase board to hold all our calendars and special papers. Since I have two kiddos, I put black tape on the dry erase board to make a weekly grid, so the kids know when library books are due, tests will be given, extra curricular activities, if they have dentist appointments and so much for that week. This really helps my husband and I keep the kids on track.
5.
Organize your pantry and fridge
Assembly- line lunches. Dollar Tree and Amazon have some cheap and good quality plastic or acrylic containers to keep all the snacks and lunch foods organized, so you and the kids can make lunches quickly and you can easily see your inventory and what you need to stock up on.
6.
Save Your Schedule as your phone lock screen
This one is a great hack for middle and high schoolers that have a mobile phone. They can simply snap a picture of their schedule and save it as their lock screen on their phones.
7.
Folder with school documents, teacher and school information, receipts, etc.
The school year is filled with tons of paperwork that comes home. Grab yourself a file folder or one of these snap closure plastic file folders that you can put all important documents that come home. This is a perfect place to keep documents like permission slips, yearbook receipts, teacher syllabus, registration documents and school information that you can quickly refer back to when you need.
8.
Days of the Week Over the Door Organizer
This Over-the-Door-Clothes-Organizer from Amazon is perfect for the younger kids, but I do know some adults who use this method, so whatever floats your boat. This is a great way to make the mornings run more smoothly. Kids can pick out their clothes for the week on Sunday night and boom– just grab and get dressed!
9.
Tape marker lids together
Teachers and parents alike will love this one. Make sure you leave some of the lid showing, so they can see the colors. Write their name on the tape and viola! Markers will never lose their lids again!
10.
Reminder Sticky-Note Bracelets
Do you have a kid who just cannot remember anything? I’m sure she gets that from the other parent, right? Yeah, I thought so. These super cute and helpful reminder bracelet sticky notes from Amazon look like a watch and you can put them around your kid’s (or your) wrist for a helpful reminder. Because after all, “out of sight, out of mind.”
Tell me your favorite back-to-school hacks!
Ok, parents, I hope you find these back-to-school hacks helpful and can put these in your parent hack arsenal of things you need to do. Make sure to take it one day at a time, put your patient panties on and stock your cabinet with plenty of wine and we’ll all be just fine and will make it through this year! You got this! Tell me what your favorite back-to-school hack is in the comments below. Good luck, friends!