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All good things — aka your summer filled with pool days, outdoor picnics and playdates — must come to end. For parents craving a routine at home, the start of the school year might feel like a relief. But, it also means the return of school pick-up, homework help and the need for new school supplies. Not to mention, back-to-school shopping for first-day-of-school outfits, the right backpack and a fresh lunch box.
As you brainstorm your September to-do list, consider these easy back-to-school organization hacks to start the year off right. Try tackling clutter in closets and pantries, then stock up on the best organization systems (think custom labels, rotating caddies for art supplies and a weekly planner). If your family is always on the go, we've included ideas for organizing the car, packing healthy snacks and establishing a successful morning routine.
Find advice for elementary school children, middle schoolers, high school teens and even college students preparing for dorm life. Plus, plenty of organization tips for moms and dads — think an organized entry, help with meal prep and a command center to keep the whole household on track.
1
Get your entry in order.
Begin your day with an organized entry, including hooks for jackets, purses and backpacks. Use decorative bins to conceal storage of accessories, like umbrellas, socks, gloves and whatever else will help you get out the door on time.
Get the tutorial at Designer Trapped »
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Start the year off with fresh supplies, from colored pencils, crayons and markers to glue stick, scissors and hand sanitizers. Keep everything organized in a rotating caddy, dedicating one compartment to every category.
3
Create a command center.
Turn an unused wall into a stylish family command center like Erin Wheeler, founder of Sunny Circle Studio, did in this space. Install an acrylic wall calendar to keep track of appointments and after-school activities, a faux-leather folio to drop mail into, brass hooks to hang keys and a kraft paper roller for jotting down to-do's.
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Get you and your teen matching planners, which is an easy way to teach them time management skills. Before starting homework, they can check their planner, assess their work and unpack accordingly. As each to-do is done, it goes back into the bag — so nothing gets left at home.
Let kids pose with a chalkboard sign, filled with small details about school — from their teacher to their current career aspirations. They might groan and grumble now, but you know that these are the moments you won't want to miss.
Piles of paper or a jumble of supplies make it harder to get things done. Invest in a storage solution, like this five-tier organizer, to give every notebook, loose paper and art supply a designated home.
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7
Designate a homework station.
To keep them motivated, ensure your tweens and teens have a clean space to do their schoolwork. Take note from designer Emily Henderson and fill the surrounding space with greenery for an extra mood booster.
Between the bus ride, the long days at school and extracurricular activities, it's easy for things to get misplaced. Pick up these personalized tags with your child's name to help them keep track of their supplies.
9
Organize the closet.
When summer ends, you'll have to worry about getting yourself dressed and ensuring your little ones are ready on time for school. Give everything in the closet (yours and theirs) a place with storage bins and label holders to ensure a seamless morning routine.
RELATED: Best Closet Organization Ideas to Improve Your Morning Routine
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No matter their age, they'll love starting the school year off with a brand-new backpack. Let them pick something in their favorite color or pattern, and they'll be more inspired to keep it clean and organized.
RELATED: The Best Kids Backpacks for School
Between running errands and driving them to after-school activities, you've probably got in the habit of carrying granola bars, potato chips and fruit snacks on the go. These water-repelling snack bags are perfect for bringing their fave treats when you're traveling.
They may have a growing collection of pens, pencils and markers at home, but they can only bring so many back and forth to school. A pencil case with various compartments, pockets and a carrying strap will make it easier.
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Weekdays can be hectic. Keep your kids on task by hanging a dry-erase chart that lets them easily track daily chores and tally up their points at the end of the week.
Late on the first day? Not a good look. Keep stragglers in line by setting an alarm clock or timer to ring at strategic intervals, like 10 minutes before the bus comes.
15
Stock up on after-school snacks.
If your kids come home ready to raid the refrigerator and pantry, dedicate specific zones for after-school snacks. This way, they won't make a mess digging through your organized pantry and you can have a say in what snacks they're eating.
RELATED: Best Pantry Organization Ideas to Keep Drawers, Cabinets and Shelves Clutter-Free
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16
Plan dinners in advance.
Between driving to after-school activities and helping with homework, you've got limited time to cook dinner during the school year. Try to plan, shop and prep for your meals over the weekend, so you can stress less Monday through Friday. Consider Rubbermaid's Brilliance Food Storage Containers, a third-time Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear Award winner.
RELATED: A Beginner's Guide on How to Meal Prep for the Week
Breezing through the drop-off line is easy when kids can grab their toys, water cup or (let's face it) on-the-go breakfast from a stash in the car. It beats trying to hand them something from your purse while driving.
Not only are these dry erase sticky notes the perfect way to keep track of your to-do list, they double as fun home office decor. If you don't keep them for yourself, your teen or college student will love them!
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Even little kids can start to develop morning routines, thanks to the Echo Dot Kid's Edition. It can tell them the weather and set alarms for waking up, brushing teeth and getting dressed. Plus, you can call them to dinner with the Echo in your kitchen!
20
Settle on a laundry system.
Rolling hampers make it easy for kids to sort their clothes by darks, lights and colors. To teach them even more responsibility, invite them to help out with folding and placing the items back where they belong.
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Alyssa Gautieri
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.