Back-to-School Tips for Families

I have no idea how we got here, but it’s August 1st, and my kids are going back to school. That sentence alone feels wild: August 1st, and the kids are going back to school! This time of year, whether you’re experiencing it now or in a month, is met with excitement, nerves, and visions of how you want the year to unfold. All those emotions can feel overwhelming. In our case, back-to-school season is intertwined with having to move out of our house due to ongoing renovations. (Follow along on socials for more behind-the-scenes moments from this adventure)

As a result, staying organized, having clear expectations, and trying to get ahead of the chaos that sometimes comes with the back-to-school season is key. Here are my five tips for not just surviving back-to-school season but thriving.

The Controversial Back-to-School Supply List

Just yesterday, I heard an Instagram friend say that the school supplies you send with your kid don’t determine the quality of parent you are. Just do the best you can. I want to echo this: do the best YOU can (and I have a few tips to make it easier).

If you can spare a few extra dollars, consider buying supplies for a child who might not have a new set. We gave our teacher an extra set of supplies to hand out as needed, and her face lit up! To keep back-to-school supplies affordable, I don’t bring my kids with me to shop. I know they would love to go, but the idea of fighting crowds and having two kids fumble through picked-over racks sounds like my personal hell.

Instead, I went to Walmart with the school supply list in hand and picked everything out (plus an extra set for the teacher). When we got home, I laid out all the items on the counter and had the kids go through and pack their bags based on the school supply list. And guess what? They were thrilled to see the new items, set up their binders, and organize everything.

Back-to-school season is also a great time to stock up on crayons, colored pencils, and office supplies. I don’t know why, but these items skyrocket in price afterward. If you plan to put new colored pencils or notebooks in your kids’ Christmas stockings or need home office supplies, now is the time. You can’t beat these prices (speaking from experience).

Controlling the Paper Chaos 

The amount of paper that comes home from school is mind-blowing. Over the years, I’ve found the best way to manage paper in our house, and we use this method for school, mail, and bills. We have an old-fashioned paper holder (aka a letter tray) in my office, and all papers get dumped in it. This keeps my desk clear and prevents random stacks of papers—kids’ schoolwork goes here, mail goes here; everything has a place.

Weekly, I go through the papers, pay bills, toss the garbage, and handle any paperwork that needs attention.

But here’s the kicker: you know how kids come home with 5000 random coloring pages or worksheets with grades on them? I have a file folder in my desk for each kid. This is where I save the projects worth keeping. They have a folder for each year, and any cards, notes, or special things they receive throughout the year go in there. At the end of the year, I file the folder away in storage, and I envision one day handing them back their school files, letting them decide what to keep or toss 😭.

Having a place to dump the papers is a game changer. Not only does nothing get lost, but it also helps manage the paper chaos.

Back-to-School Tips for Parents: Lunches

When it comes to back-to-school tips for parents, let’s talk lunches. Y’all, I hate making lunches. It’s just not my thing—I’d much rather send money for my kids to buy lunch at school. We used to make lunches all the time, only for them to get thrown out or come back home in a nasty lunchbox. Gosh, I hate that.

The reality is that my kids don’t like school lunch, and I want them to eat during the day, so here’s my solution: let’s be real—kids don’t want a turkey sandwich; they want snacks. That’s where bento boxes come in. We started using the same bento boxes we use for the boat, and now the kids fill them with items they like and pack their own lunches. They’re also responsible for cleaning them out when they get home. (I understand if you have younger kids and everything is still on you—hang in there, it gets easier!)

These bento boxes are a total game-changer! We use them for car trips, snacks for the boat, hikes—you name it. They’re always a big hit and make lunchtime a breeze. Plus the kids will actually eat what is in each section. WIN-WIN

Clear Expectations is the Key for Back To School Time

I don’t know if it’s because we’re in the middle of a home renovation or just life, but gosh, things have felt busier and messier than ever, and my brain doesn’t thrive in a messy environment.

So, we had a brief family meeting to discuss expectations for the school year. I find everything is better for everyone when we lay out clear expectations and have a system to remind them. Our kids are both in sports for five hours a week 🙄, my husband and I have massive career responsibilities, so we need help.

We outlined the kids’ responsibilities, and here’s what it looks like in our house: The point of sharing isn’t so you do exactly what we do; rather, it’s to share the concept and have it fit your life.

Our Kids’ Weekly Responsibilities:

• Wake up and tidy your room.
• Get ready for school/day.
• Weekly, each kid has a bathroom to clean/organize.
• Clean out your lunchbox as soon as you get home from school, followed by homework and organizing your backpack.
• Two times a week—complete your chore (for us, chores are dog poo scooping and sock folding).
• End of the night, the toy room has to be cleaned.

We limit screen time, so when it’s time, my kids LOVE being able to watch TV or use their iPads. And I can’t stand a messy toy room, so we’ve found that requiring the toy room to be tidy has been a game changer!

Back-to-School Tips for Parents: Ask for Help

Back-to-school time can feel heavy and overwhelming, so one of the most important back-to-school tips for parents is this: ask for help. There is no reward for “doing it all” except extra stress, so please don’t try. It cracks me up when someone says, “How do you do it all?” The truth is, I don’t, and I don’t pretend to. My kids help with chores, I have a very present husband and father to our kids who does all the grocery shopping and about 75% of the dinner-making. I just hired a nanny to help transport the kids twice a week, and historically, I’ve had a housekeeper.

My wish is that you find joy in the back-to-school season and experience less of the overwhelm. I’d love to continue the conversation on social media—what do you do to make back-to-school time easier?