5 Ideas to Help Eliminate Household Chaos in the New School Year
By Amber Swinehamer
It sure seems like summer break flew by, didn’t it? It’s hard to believe that we’re about to start another school year but prepare yourself for those sluggish mornings and whining about earlier bedtimes (or is that just my house?). If you’re like me, you need all the help you can get when it comes to changing up the status quo around the house, and what better time to institute some new ideas than at the beginning of a brand new school year? Read on for some tips to help get your household into the swing of things for the 2021-2022 school year:
Utilize a large wall calendar to organize family events.
Put the calendar somewhere where everyone can see it, but only let one responsible person (with good penmanship!) write the information on it. Let everyone pick their favorite color to represent their activities. Having all of the information in one place helps keep everyone on track.
Create an after-school routine that includes a snack and homework time.
It’s easier for everyone if homework gets done as soon as possible, especially if there are other after-school activities that need to be done, such as sports or lessons. Decide on a study environment free from distractions (wherever your COVID “classroom” was will probably work) and provide some easy, healthy after-school snack options to combat those midafternoon munchies.
Have the kiddos plug in their devices immediately following the completion of homework.
Few things are worse than a dead tablet or computer. Getting into the habit of doing this at the same time every day ensures that it won’t slip through the cracks when they say they’ll “do it later.”
Plan ahead and prepare what you can the night before.
This includes uniforms and breakfast/lunch options. Have the kids lay out their clean clothes before bed (including socks and belts) so that even the sleepiest of sleepyheads can stumble into clothes in the morning. Laying out easy breakfast options ahead of time can help the earlier risers to help themselves while waiting for everyone else (breakfast bars are great for this, as is fresh fruit). Pack lunches the night before and have them in the fridge ready to go (Unless you’re taking a sandwich, no one wants soggy bread! Pack everything else and then add the sandwich before running out the door).
Be an active part of your child’s education.
If your child is like mine, when you ask, “What did you do at school today?” the answer is almost always “nothing.” Sign up for platforms like PowerSchool (which keeps you informed with assignments, grades and attendance by sending an email with all of the information you requested or you can just log in at your leisure and check); ClassTag (teachers can post classroom information on this site, and it also provides an additional way to contact teachers rather than email); or other platforms your child’s school utilizes. Join PTO, attend Spirit Nights, etc. Making a point to your children that their education is important to you will help make it more important to them. Being informed and on top of things can help to identify any issues before they magnify.
These are just a few suggestions to get your family headed in the right direction for the back-to-school adjustment. Whether you’re playing party music as the bus drives off or crying as your “baby” walks in for his first day of fourth grade (if you see me do this, no you didn’t), we need all the help we can get. Praying for all the parents, teachers, staff and students to have a blessed and wonderful 2021-2022 school year here in Beaufort County!
Amber Swinehamer is a stay-at-home mom and resides in Bluffton, South Carolina, with her husband David and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, live music, Atlanta Braves baseball, and all things Washington, D.C.