Get Organized for the New School Year
The Moxie Space team loves to help families get back in the groove of the school year and set up (or refresh!) systems that keep the household running smoothly. Here are some of our favorite tips and products for streamlining your busier days:
Create a Drop Zone
A drop zone is a designated spot for all the things you “drop” when you walk into your home: backpacks, jackets, shoes, keys, etc. If you don’t already have one, now’s the time to create one!
Your drop zone doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be set up so the whole family can easily use it. Even if you don’t have a dedicated mudroom, an area by the door where you commonly enter and exit the house can be turned into a functional drop zone.
Use wall hooks for coats, backpacks, and keys. Some baskets, cubbies, or shoe shelves help keep shoes from piling up on the floor. If there’s space, adding a small bench can be useful for putting on or taking off shoes.
If your kids play sports, finding a spot for all the gear can be a challenge. A well-placed metro shelf just outside the door to the garage or near your entryway, along with bins or baskets for smaller items like gloves, balls, or cleats, gives sports gear a place to go.
For more tips and ideas on creating a drop zone, check out this article from Organizing Moms.
PRODUCTS WE LOVE FOR DROP ZONES:
Get Prepped for Lunch
Mornings are hectic enough, so save yourself the time and energy of running around your kitchen preparing lunch for the kids. You need a lunch prep zone!
Give the water bottles, thermoses, lunchboxes, Ziploc bags, and other lunch necessities a readily accessible zone in your kitchen. Assigning a cabinet or drawer for these items can help lunch prep run much more smoothly.
If your children are able to prepare their own lunches (bonus!), make sure their lunch items are within their reach. Keep food and snacks for kids’ lunches on the lower shelves of the fridge and pantry. Single-serve portions, or pre-portioning snacks into Ziploc bags for the week, means they can quickly grab, pack, and go.
Being able to access their things without your help fosters independence and a sense of responsibility – which is so important for kiddos!
PRODUCTS WE LOVE FOR LUNCH PREP ZONES:
Level Up the Homework Station
Make homework (slightly) less of a chore with a fun and functional homework station.
This station should be located where your kids are naturally gravitating to do their homework – that might be their bedrooms or the kitchen table.
Make sure they have their supplies contained but within arm’s reach. This is where a rolling cart can come in handy for storing necessities. Vertical bins (like the multi-purpose bins from The Container Store) are great for holding paper, notebooks, and homework assignments while saving space. A divided turntable can store supplies like pens, pencils, paperclips, tape and glue.
PRODUCTS WE LOVE FOR HOMEWORK STATIONS:
Take Control of the Papers
Kids bring home a lot of paper during the school year, including artwork, homework assignments, and forms for parents to sign.
To bring order to the paper deluge, it’s important to set up a system for sorting and processing these items as they enter your house. Give children a designated spot for these incoming papers using file sorters or wall hanging files.
Vertical paper sorters help prevent papers from stacking and piling (and thus getting lost and forgotten!). Hanging wall files can be used as in/out boxes; children can put papers or homework for parents to sign in the “In” box, and when they’re ready to grab they can take them from the “Out” box (be sure to label clearly!).
But where to store those precious first stories and artwork? Create a bin for each child – a file box can work well – and use hanging folders for each school year. Check out this Studio512 clip of Sara Fritsch sharing her tips for dealing with kids’ papers and artwork!
PRODUCTS WE LOVE FOR PAPER ORGANIZATION:
Ready for your back-to-school refresh? Book a free phone consultation today and let’s chat about how Moxie Space can help!