Back-to-school organization tips and tricks

Check closets and organize clothes

Rummage through your child’s closet and see what clothes they can wear to school. Ask them to try on clothes to see if they fit and throw ill-fitting clothes into a pile. That pile of outgrown clothes can become hand-me-downs or donated. Then, create a shopping list of anything new they might need—skirts, slacks, shirts, dresses, shoes, belts, etc. If applicable, make sure any new clothing purchases adhere to your school’s uniform policy.

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After refreshing their closet, clean up any disorganized closets and dresser drawers. Fold and organize clothing items into designated sections. Additionally, try to lay out their outfit for the next day the night before, or ask your child to. It might be a tall ask to commit to doing it every night. But, if you do, it will make you and your child’s weekday mornings easier!

Take an inventory of school supplies

Probe the house and last year’s school supply box for the first day. Most schools provide a school supply list, especially for younger students, so they’re prepared before they get to classroom. Review the list, check what you have on hand, and purchase what you don’t. Kids can easily lose smaller items, so make sure to buy extra pencils and pens to keep around the house.

Outside of the required items, think about other items they might need. Do they play a team sport with the school? They might need a gym bag. Do they use a computer? Buy a portable mouse to help them navigate online and scroll through their assignments. Visit the Microsoft Store to purchase laptop accessories that can help with their studies.

Track activities and assignments with an agenda or calendar

There are too many assignments, after-school activities, projects, and tests for your child, or even you, to remember on your own. Buy a calendar for the house to track everything important. You can even create a color-coded system to distinguish different classes and activities. Schools may also use an online portal to provide access to class information and school announcements.

If you prefer to keep track of things digitally, you can use your Outlook calendar. Schedule events or appointments to block off time for a math test, swim meet, or anything you need a reminder for. Outlook lets you share calendars so the whole family can cheer for your little one at their next race.

Create a filing system

Prevent clutter in your student’s backpack by creating a filing system for assignments and other documents. First, they will need a place to house the documents they are bringing to school and receiving from their teachers. Buy a three-ring binder, individual folders, or an accordion folder to store all their documents. Label each folder or create sections in the binder by class to keep them organized. When graded assignments and exams are returned by the teacher, use a larger folder at home, to store and organize them for review.

If your child is working on a computer, store and organize digital files with Microsoft OneDrive. At the end of the year, you can even scan old documents with your phone and upload them to OneDrive.

Readjust to going back

It’s been a while since your child was in a learning environment. To prepare them for their new classes, take some time to brush up on old material. Review material they may have struggled with last year to be prepared for this upcoming year. As summer starts to wind down, readjust their schedules for the school year. Make sure they’re going to bed early and waking up on time, so their transition back is seamless.

Interested in learning more about back-to-school shopping? Explore these back-to-school shopping budgeting tips.