Doesn’t it seem like it was just a few weeks ago when your kids were chanting “No more teachers, no more books …”? And yet here we are again—already in August, when families across the country are preparing for the return to school.

As the countdown begins, parents everywhere find their schedules getting more hectic and their to-do lists growing longer. But there are actually several steps you can take to make this school year the best one yet!

• Make a checklist of what needs to be done. Your daughter needs a new lunch box? Your son’s backpack has a tear? You’ve been meaning to look up healthy meal options you can send them on their day with? Still need to fill out those permission forms that have been sitting on the counter? Now’s the time to take care of whatever can be accomplished in advance, so you’re free to attend to more time-sensitive homework assignments and book reports once they start rolling in. Space out all these tasks so they’re more manageable time-wise.
• Take a clothing inventory. The simple process of getting dressed in the morning can become stressful when drawers aren’t organized, closets are in disarray, clothes no longer fit, and the jacket most appropriate for the weather isn’t hanging in the coat closet within easy reach. Now’s the time to go through all your kids’ clothing—sorting out what to donate, what to hand down to younger ones, what seasonal items can be stored in bins, and what to hang up versus fold neatly away. In the process, you’ll identify gaps in the wardrobe—socks, shoes, sweatshirts—and you’ll make room for them. There’s nothing like starting off a new school year with a clean, fresh slate!
• Go school supply shopping. The earlier you can check this item off, the better—before stores run out of the folders that are trending, the required type of pens and pencils, and book bags and gadgets that pass your kids’ approval. The best way to tackle this is to arm yourself with a detailed list of what you need to buy. Not only will this ensure that you don’t forget anything, but it will prevent you from making unnecessary and impulse purchases, saving you both money and repeat last-minute trips to the store. You can even make a game of this, dividing up the list and letting your kids hunt down the items in the aisles themselves.
• Create a designated study area. Setting aside a particular part of your home for your kids to do their schoolwork is a great idea that signals when it’s “work time” and instills solid study habits. In this space, for example, cell phones are on silent and distracting music isn’t playing. Not only that, but you can set up storage bins or crates to neatly organize and arrange all those school supplies you just bought. This doesn’t have to be a big project or space—you can open up a corner in their bedroom, rearrange furniture to put a comfortable chair here, a compact desk there, situate a lamp just right to ensure good lighting. Whatever you can do to provide a calm and quiet place for their studies will get your kids off to a great start and keep them going that way all year.

Home Services Enterprise can help with all your organizing and home-optimization needs. Call 301-674-9564 today to schedule an appointment or visit our website: www.homeservicesenterprise.com