1
Organize your entries.
The designer trap
2
Stock up on school supplies.
Start the new year off with new essentials, from colored pencils, crayons, and markers to glue sticks, scissors, and hand sanitizer. Organize everything in the rolling caddy, allocating one compartment for each category.
3
Create a Command Center.
Erin Wheeler
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Having matching planners for you and your child makes it easy to teach them time management skills. Before starting their homework, they can check their planner, evaluate their work and unpack accordingly. Every time they finish their to-do, they put it back in their bag so that nothing gets left behind at home.
Five
Get ready for a photo shoot.
Get your kids to pose in front of a chalkboard sign with all the little details about their school, from their teachers to their current career goals. They might groan and complain now, but this is a moment you definitely don't want to miss.
Piles of papers and cluttered tools make it hard to get work done, so invest in a storage solution like this 5-drawer organizer to give every notebook, paper, and art supply a dedicated place.
Related: Best Desk Organization Ideas for Maximizing Productivity
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7
Designate homework stations.
Sarah Trump Ligoria
To keep your kids motivated, make sure your pre-teens and teens have a nice space to study in. Follow designer Emily Henderson's lead and fill the surrounding space with greenery to lift the mood.
8
Label everything.
Whether it's a bus ride, a long day at school or an extracurricular activity, things get left behind. Help your child keep track of their belongings with personalized tags with their name.
9
Organize your closet.
Caroline Lee of The Container Store Custom Closets
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Ten
Bentgo Invest in a new backpack.
Starting the school year off with a new backpack is fun for kids of all ages, and letting them pick out their favorite color or pattern will make them even more motivated to keep it clean and organized.
Related: Best Kids Backpacks for School
11
Keep extra treats in your car.
You may be in the habit of carrying granola bars, potato chips, and fruit snacks between running errands or taking them to after-school activities, and this water-repellent snack bag is perfect for carrying your kids' favorite treats while traveling.
You may have a growing collection of pens, pencils, and markers at home, but only so many you can bring home to school. A pencil case with a variety of dividers, pockets, and carrying straps makes transportation a breeze.
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Weekdays are busy, so post a dry erase chart to easily record daily chores and tally up points on the weekend to help kids stay focused on their homework.
Being late on the first day will look bad, so set an alarm clock or timer to go off at strategic intervals, such as 10 minutes before the bus arrives, to line up anyone who is late.
15
Stock up on after-school snacks.
Allison Gootee
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16
Plan your dinner in advance.
Mike Garten
It's easy to breezes through the drop-off queue if you can hide a toy, a glass of water, or (let's be honest) a grab-and-go breakfast in the car — much easier than trying to hand them something from your purse while you're driving.
18
Decorate with sticky note wall decals.
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19
Try out our smart home devices.
Echo Dot Kid's Edition helps your little one develop a morning routine by letting them know the weather, setting alarms for waking up, brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and even calling in dinner from an Echo in the kitchen.
20
Decide on a washing system.
David Hillegas
Rolling baskets make it easy for kids to sort clothes by dark, light and color, and to encourage extra responsibility, get them to help fold the clothes and put them back in their place.
Marisa (she/her) has been covering all things parenting, from birth to post-parenting, for Good Housekeeping since 2018. Previously, she wrote about parents and families for Parents and Working Mother. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter, where she can be found doing voiceover work for trivia nights at local bars and tweeting about movies.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the Associate Lifestyle Editor at Good Housekeeping, covering all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she contributed to publications such as ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine, and LODGING Magazine, as well as creating product copy for home brands such as BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
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