How to ace the back-to-school sort out

It might feel like the start of school in September is still ages away, but trust us when we say that it’ll come round sooner than you think! The looming new school year seems like a stressful prospect, but there are lots of little tips and tricks you can use to get organised. 

 

The best time to prepare for the new school year is RIGHT NOW - especially with La Redoute offering up to 30% off* key back-to-school items! So read on for 13 little ways to ace the back-to-school sort out and get your family ready for the September term.

Encourage your little ones to keep their rooms neat, tidy and organised by introducing shelving and storage options such as trunks, bookshelves, sturdy metal boxes and ottomans. Bright colours and unusual shapes always charm children, and using shelves and surfaces to show off their favourite toys or books gives them responsibility for keeping their own spaces tidy. 

 

It may seem like the oldest trick in the book, but a big sort-out to remove additional clutter remains one of the best back to school hacks for parent. Getting this done before school starts will encourage your children to maintain an orderly room which will prepare them for the up coming school routine. This is also a great way to see what you’ll need for the school term and give you a chance to donate anything you have double of! 

An easy way to avoid chaos in the morning is to let your little ones plan their own wardrobes for the week ahead. This may sound like an optimistic addition to your already busy Sunday night routine, but knowing how to organise kids clothes (by letting the wearers pick their own outfits) before the week begins, will save you heaps of time and energy.

 

Designate different shelves for different days, or use storage boxes for days of the week, and spend some time at the weekend letting them choose their own clothes. Remember to account for sports or after-school activities! Then every morning your child knows exactly where to find their clothes for the day, and you’re spared the inevitable dressing arguments.

One way to master the art of being organised for the new school term is to buy multi-packs of pants, socks and vests super early and keep them in storage ready for September. With the rush of the Summer holidays, key essentials are often forgotten about - plus you'll find socks and pants go into hiding over the school break so it's always good to have a back up plan!

If your whole family shares a bathroom, schedules in the morning can make for teeth-cleaning chaos. Alleviate the pressure on your family bathroom by ensuring your little ones keep their personal toiletries in a caddy space or storage box which lives in their bedroom.

 

This helps to keep the surfaces in your bathroom clutter-free. Hanging a chalkboard or whiteboard on the bathroom door with designated ‘time slots’ can also help to keep delays to a minimum on busy school mornings.

If you are feeling super organised or find mornings a little chaotic to say the least, why not have your child or yourself prepare a day box. Along with their toiletries, have them set out a pair of pants, socks and a vest ready for the next day once. This will allow your child to be independent, as well as saving you the hassle of fishing through piles of washing in the bedroom to find them. 

Now you have time for an extra coffee!

Every parent knows that children come with a lot of paperwork. From school notices to homework, artwork to permission slips - keeping track of all those documents can leave your home feeling messy and disorganised. We have all been there – its 8.45am and your child is kindly reminding you that they have to bring something in, or are attending a school trip, yet you can’t find the details…

 

Investing in document holders and folders where you can neatly organise your child’s paperwork means you’ll always know where to find that crucial slip when you need it. Label these up and keep all similar bits of information together so you know exactly where to find it. 

 

To keep things regimented, it is a wise idea to do the same when organising home life. As the weekdays tend to be bit of a rush, you should sit down early weekend and go through any new slips you’ve quickly put away. This way, you can get any important dates in the diary and you’ll never leave a homework project until Sunday bed time again.

Setting up designated homework spaces for your children can help to keep them on track with their schoolwork by giving them a quiet, organised environment in which to study. If you don’t have an office space to use, there are plenty of compact or foldaway desks which can be installed in your child’s bedroom.

Encourage your child to own their own creative area, allowing them to decorate and design this space as they please. This will amplify their want to spend time here, as well as making them feel responsible and grown up when it comes to working. 

Let them chose their own desk and stationery sets and pots if they can and set boundaries for what the desk is used for. You don't want your child to associate this area with meal times or even screen times, so if possible, only allow homework to be done here.

There’s nothing worse than finding coats, shoes and rucksacks strewn throughout your home when the kids arrive back from a day at school. But how to organise kids’ clothes if you don’t have a designated mudroom or utility room? Investing in hallway storage can make a huge difference. 

 

Set up hooks above a bench, or choose an all-in-one locker unit where your children can hang their belongings when they return home. If you have a larger tribe, make sure each child has their own space or quirky hook to keep everything of theirs together. Get into the routine of putting coats, shoes and rucksacks away as soon as you all enter the house to avoid any odd socks and rogue shoes up and down the stairs. 

Creating ‘car kits’ using storage baskets or ziplock bags helps you to plan ahead for any eventuality on the school run. Use these kits to store snacks, drinks, games, first-aid items, chargers and other essentials so you can easily find what you’re looking for when you’re on the go.

 

Prepare packed lunches the night before, whether this be getting batch cooked meals out of the freezer or chopping fruit. Have snacks accessible to the children so they can grab what they need whilst you get ready yourself. Try and delegate as much responsbility within your family, depending on your childs age, so they can share the load of the morning madness. Time management is key when organising home life in the run up to the school run, so you may want to invest in some character watches so they can be reminded of the time when going to and from school - especially if they don't have mobile phones.

 

One of the best back to school hacks for parents is to have your car keys on the door ready before you leave to avoid a morning scramble when you are already late!

 

Using a combination of wall calendars, chalkboards, whiteboards and post-it notes to create a clearly visible family schedule can help you keep everyone on track when it comes time to go back to school. 

 

With activities, play dates, homework deadlines, sports clubs and more on the schedule, keeping your timetable organised is an easy way to help reduce stress and make sure everyone is where they need to be.

Caddys that contain dates, diaries and other organisational tools are a great way to keep organised. Why not shake it up and pick a calendar in another language? Our Mithi lifelong wooden calendar in French is a fun spin on practicing the lanaguage that is taught across many schools in the UK.

Planning ahead is the key to maintaining a relatively stress-free home, particularly when school starts up again. Prepping your meals at the weekend saves you valuable time on school nights and can also save you money. Set an alarm to pull out your meals the night before and all you’ll need to do that evening is reheat and serve! 

 

If your children are older, pre-made meals in assorted Tupperware are easy for them to heat up and have a healthy meal if they’re home alone for a few hours in the evening.

 

Meal prep extends into school lunches, too. If your little ones need a packed lunch for school, choosing bright, colourful Tupperware or lunch boxes will make eating their snacks an enjoyable experience, and will help you to stay organised, too. 

 

Many people use their phones as alarm clocks these days, including children. But if your kids are prone to sneaking extra time on their smartphones after dark, then investing in an alarm clock means you can keep all smartphones safely out of reach after bedtime. 

 

Setting it up just out of reach also means they have to actually get out of bed to switch it off, making it less likely your teens or pre-teens will simply hit snooze and roll over! As we are all familiar with the sound of the average phone alarm, the traditional ring of an alarm clock may also prevent your child from sleeping through.

 

Young children can be encouraged to tell the time using the clock face, opposed to the digital reading we are all so used too. There are various styles of clocks to choose from and they can compliment any room. Take a look at our best interior clocks of 2021.

 

Ensuring that your kids get enough sleep can make a huge difference to their enjoyment of, and performance at school. Choose cosy, comfortable child-friendly bedding in fabrics like cotton or polycotton to help regulate their temperature for a deep sleep that’ll have them waking up bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to learn!

Pack away the cosy PJ's if you haven't already and make space for some cool cotton short sets for your children. Nothing screams bed time more than fresh Pajamas and new bedding. 

 

If your child is prone to play up come sleep, channel their disobedience into something positive by letting them take lead of their own evening routine. Ask them to set up their bed with the teddys or blankets they want that night, let them choose the activity you do to settle down (within reason of course) and spur as much fun as you can into the routine.

 

Make bed time routines warm, relaxing and inviting for your children rather than a chore that they have to follow. Let them choose a book every night to read together or create a fun activity that will help them wind down for the night opposed to screen time.  

Remembering to take time for yourself as a parent is essential when you’re facing the stress of back-to-school season. After a busy day organising home life, when the children are in bed, set aside some time to unwind. Curl up in a comfortable armchair with a book, indulge in a bath with scented candles or settle in for the night with a hot cuppa or a glass of wine to end the day on a relaxed note, helping you feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever tomorrow brings.

 

With our back to school hacks for parents you’ll be ready to meet the new school year head on! To help you find everything you need, we’ve collated a lot of our organisational products specifically for school season. Get up to 30% off* our Back to School collection.

*T&Cs apply, please visit our website for more details.