10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before the Kids Go Back to School
Earn yourself a gold star and get the year off to a flying start with these easy organising-the-family ideas
Whether you have young children heading back to preschool, kids going into their next year at primary school or teens riding the storm of high school, it’s that time of year when it pays to get organised for the year ahead. Hurtling into the year unprepared is likely to make the school terms unfurl in a similarly dishevelled fashioned, but even the most naturally disorganised of families can implement a few simple strategies to help the months roll by more smoothly. Ask yourself these questions to make sure your family is ready to leave the lazy days of summer behind and embark on the new school year with ease – no nagging needed.
TIP: If you have a child starting high school, mark this milestone by putting time and energy into helping them create a study space that reflects their personality to a tee. Although they’re probably desperate to conform, teens are also defining themselves as individuals and this is a perfect opportunity for you to acknowledge that. Consider a room revamp as a rite of passage that marks them becoming young men or women in their own right.
Thumbs-up study nooks for teens
Thumbs-up study nooks for teens
2. How will you celebrate their achievements?
If your son struggles with geometry but excels at art, or your daughter is brilliant at spelling but falls down when it comes to sport, they can soon come to think of themselves as ‘bad at’ this or ‘good at’ that. Getting them to realise that everyone has strengths and learns in different ways will keep their self-esteem in tact, and have them focusing more on what they can do rather than what they can’t easily do. Put their artwork in frames, their certificates on a pinboard everyone can see, or take photos of them doing well on the sporting field and print them out for the fridge. The more you celebrate them, the more they’ll feel celebrated.
If your son struggles with geometry but excels at art, or your daughter is brilliant at spelling but falls down when it comes to sport, they can soon come to think of themselves as ‘bad at’ this or ‘good at’ that. Getting them to realise that everyone has strengths and learns in different ways will keep their self-esteem in tact, and have them focusing more on what they can do rather than what they can’t easily do. Put their artwork in frames, their certificates on a pinboard everyone can see, or take photos of them doing well on the sporting field and print them out for the fridge. The more you celebrate them, the more they’ll feel celebrated.
3. What routines will you put in place from day one?
Repeating the same demands over and over is no fun for any parent, and to a child, nagging can become white noise that’s easy to block out. Think about what drove you nuts last year and set a plan in place to solve it this time around. Sick of the kids throwing their bag outside the front door (with lunchbox still inside) and walking in without taking off their shoes? Think about rejigging the entry to make it clear where everything needs to go. Bright hooks like these can be a visual reminder of what to do.
Tip: Outline the new routine the week before school goes back, then the night before. Stand at the ready when they get home from their first day back at school to enforce the rules, and they’ll know you mean business.
Bonus tip: No matter how old your kids are, if they adopt a new habit without complaint, reward them. A trip to the movies, extra pocket money that week or extra screen time on the weekend will let them know you appreciate their efforts.
De-stress your kids by organising your home
Repeating the same demands over and over is no fun for any parent, and to a child, nagging can become white noise that’s easy to block out. Think about what drove you nuts last year and set a plan in place to solve it this time around. Sick of the kids throwing their bag outside the front door (with lunchbox still inside) and walking in without taking off their shoes? Think about rejigging the entry to make it clear where everything needs to go. Bright hooks like these can be a visual reminder of what to do.
Tip: Outline the new routine the week before school goes back, then the night before. Stand at the ready when they get home from their first day back at school to enforce the rules, and they’ll know you mean business.
Bonus tip: No matter how old your kids are, if they adopt a new habit without complaint, reward them. A trip to the movies, extra pocket money that week or extra screen time on the weekend will let them know you appreciate their efforts.
De-stress your kids by organising your home
4. How will they earn their pocket money this year?
When everyone chips in, the chores get done (many hands make light work, and all that), but you can too easily adopt the slave master role if the chores aren’t written in stone from the outset. A family meeting might be in order to outline who is expected to do what, then write allocated chores down on a chalkboard, whiteboard or even a large piece of cardboard. The new school year is an ideal time to give each child some added responsibility – they are likely to feel excited about going up a year at school and are ready for more grown-up chores.
Tip: If you’re adding to the chore load of one child, consider taking a small chore away and designating it to a younger child. If you’re getting one child to cook one meal a week, for example (like I am this year), take one task away. My youngest is taking over feeding the dogs, for example, now that his sister has started helping with the cooking.
When everyone chips in, the chores get done (many hands make light work, and all that), but you can too easily adopt the slave master role if the chores aren’t written in stone from the outset. A family meeting might be in order to outline who is expected to do what, then write allocated chores down on a chalkboard, whiteboard or even a large piece of cardboard. The new school year is an ideal time to give each child some added responsibility – they are likely to feel excited about going up a year at school and are ready for more grown-up chores.
Tip: If you’re adding to the chore load of one child, consider taking a small chore away and designating it to a younger child. If you’re getting one child to cook one meal a week, for example (like I am this year), take one task away. My youngest is taking over feeding the dogs, for example, now that his sister has started helping with the cooking.
5. What will you have on hand for after-school snacks?
If there’s nothing appealing to eat when the kids get home from school or daycare, it’s too easy for them to ask or reach for the easiest snacks on offer – biscuits, bread or muesli bars, maybe. A colourful selection of healthy delights will keep any age happy. And remember, presentation is everything.
If there’s nothing appealing to eat when the kids get home from school or daycare, it’s too easy for them to ask or reach for the easiest snacks on offer – biscuits, bread or muesli bars, maybe. A colourful selection of healthy delights will keep any age happy. And remember, presentation is everything.
6. How will you inspire them to do their best?
Some kids are naturally hungry for success, while others are content to dream their days away without much thought for the future. Try to avoid defining success by your own definition, and you’ll appeal to the imaginations of every personality type. A painted sign like this encourages them to set intentions, but gives them the freedom to set goals that mean happiness to them (not what it means to you). Isn’t happiness what we all want for our children?
Some kids are naturally hungry for success, while others are content to dream their days away without much thought for the future. Try to avoid defining success by your own definition, and you’ll appeal to the imaginations of every personality type. A painted sign like this encourages them to set intentions, but gives them the freedom to set goals that mean happiness to them (not what it means to you). Isn’t happiness what we all want for our children?
7. How will you stay on top of the weekday meals?
If you’re not much of a forward planner, having to think ahead and shop for the week’s meals are likely to fill you with dread. Keep it simple and the planning becomes a whole lot easier. Either work to a fortnightly dinner plan you stick to, or try encouraging each member of the family to write down one healthy dinner idea they’d like to have during the week. There! That’s half your job done. Get your groceries home delivered, and the task is even easier.
If you’re not much of a forward planner, having to think ahead and shop for the week’s meals are likely to fill you with dread. Keep it simple and the planning becomes a whole lot easier. Either work to a fortnightly dinner plan you stick to, or try encouraging each member of the family to write down one healthy dinner idea they’d like to have during the week. There! That’s half your job done. Get your groceries home delivered, and the task is even easier.
8. How will you help them get organised without you?
If kids know what’s coming, they are less likely to leave things until the last minute and more likely to get used to planning ahead. Otherwise, it can be you who remains the go-to person for questions such as: “Is it swimming day today? Where are my swimmers?” A blackboard like this one outlines the week in black and white so everyone’s on the same page.
If kids know what’s coming, they are less likely to leave things until the last minute and more likely to get used to planning ahead. Otherwise, it can be you who remains the go-to person for questions such as: “Is it swimming day today? Where are my swimmers?” A blackboard like this one outlines the week in black and white so everyone’s on the same page.
9. How will you build downtime into the busy school year?
Between full days at school, homework, music and sport, it’s easy for exhaustion to set in. If their homework load allows it, plan to give your kids an afternoon or two off to replenish their energy stores. Whether it’s lazing about with a book or time playing outside with friends or siblings, just be sure it’s unstructured and at home … and that there are no screens in sight.
Between full days at school, homework, music and sport, it’s easy for exhaustion to set in. If their homework load allows it, plan to give your kids an afternoon or two off to replenish their energy stores. Whether it’s lazing about with a book or time playing outside with friends or siblings, just be sure it’s unstructured and at home … and that there are no screens in sight.
10. And last but not least … what will you do to look after you this year?
It’s easy to put yourself last when you’re taking care of everyone else’s needs but, as this sign spells out, if you don’t take care of yourself, it’s so much harder to take care of anyone else. Make a promise to yourself to go to those yoga classes, have that monthly massage and go out with your partner for dinner and a movie now and then. You’re setting an example for your own children, after all. Think about what you would like their parenting years to be like and live your life accordingly.
YOUR SAY
Share your organising tips for the school year in the Comments – you just might save another parent’s sanity!
MORE
The No-Nonsense Guide to Organising the Kids
Home Improvement: 8 Small Fixes to Make Your Life More Organised
10 Organisation Habits to Establish This Year
It’s easy to put yourself last when you’re taking care of everyone else’s needs but, as this sign spells out, if you don’t take care of yourself, it’s so much harder to take care of anyone else. Make a promise to yourself to go to those yoga classes, have that monthly massage and go out with your partner for dinner and a movie now and then. You’re setting an example for your own children, after all. Think about what you would like their parenting years to be like and live your life accordingly.
YOUR SAY
Share your organising tips for the school year in the Comments – you just might save another parent’s sanity!
MORE
The No-Nonsense Guide to Organising the Kids
Home Improvement: 8 Small Fixes to Make Your Life More Organised
10 Organisation Habits to Establish This Year
If you struggled to get one or more of your kids to knuckle down and get their homework done last year, it might be time for a fresh approach. Sit down with each of your children and ask them how they best like to work – alone in their room? In the kitchen? With Mum or Dad by their side helping? Listen with an open mind and then try to accommodate their needs. If they have a say in the matter, they’re more likely not to rebel against having to sit down and commit to their studies.
Tip: Agree on expectations for homework before the term begins, and follow through the first week they’re back at school. If there’s no room for negotiation (and you’re loving rather than shouty in your approach), your life – and theirs – will be a lot easier.