Preparing Your Home and Routine for a Smooth School Year
- Monarch
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 12
Welcome to the first blog post in our back to school series. This post focuses on getting your home and routines ready for the start of the new school year. The countdown to the new school year has begun. Yes, we know it is only August. While August may still feel like summer, it’s actually the perfect time to start getting your home and daily routines in order—especially if you want to ease the stress of those first few weeks back at school. This post is all about setting up your space, schedule, and mindset so your family can begin the new school year with more calm and less chaos.
Why Preparing Your Home Matters
Think of your home as the launchpad for every school day. When it’s organized, predictable, and stocked with what your kids need, mornings go smoother, evenings are calmer, and you’re less likely to be scrambling to find clean socks or lunchboxes at the last minute. And don’t worry—you don’t need to make major changes. Simple tweaks can make a big difference.
1. Set Up a Dedicated School Zone
No matter your home size, carve out a space where school-related items live. This keeps things from being lost or forgotten and helps kids build independence as they can put school things in this area.
Ideas for a “School Zone”:
A small table or shelf near the front door for backpacks, shoes, and lunchboxes.
Hooks on the wall labeled for each child.
A bin or basket for school papers that need to be signed or returned.
A calendar nearby to keep track of school events, early dismissals, and activity days.
Parent tip: Include your kids in creating the space—let them choose a hook color or decorate their own folder bin. It gives them ownership and helps them remember to use it.
2. Refresh Your Morning and Evening Routines
If your summer schedule has been loose (hello, late nights and lazy mornings!), now is the time to gently shift back into school mode.
Start with Mornings:
Begin waking your child up 10–15 minutes earlier each week in August. By the time school starts, they’ll be more adjusted to early mornings. A slow transition also helps it feel easier to get up a little bit earlier.
Morning Routine Checklist (Visuals Help!)
Wake up
Bathroom / Brush teeth
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Grab lunch, backpack, shoes
Out the door
Make it visual: Use pictures or a checklist on the wall. Younger kids especially benefit from seeing each step.
Reset Bedtime Routines:
Gradually move bedtime earlier by 15–30 minutes each week. Bring back calming nighttime rituals—like reading together or a quiet bath—to signal that bedtime is coming.
3. Stock Up on School Essentials
August is back-to-school shopping season, but you don’t need to wait for a long list from the school to get started. Begin gathering common items now to avoid last-minute stress.
Must-Haves:
Backpacks and lunchboxes (check last year’s for wear and tear)
Water bottles
Reusable snack containers or bags
Basic supplies: pencils, folders, glue sticks, crayons, erasers
Also helpful:
A home “supply station” with extra paper, scissors, and markers
A stash of shelf-stable lunch items or snacks (for when mornings go sideways!)
Money-saving tip: Shop your house first. You might already have leftover supplies in drawers or closets.
4. Create a Family Calendar System
School means new schedules—activities, meetings, early releases, picture days, field trips. It’s easy to forget things when you’re juggling multiple kids or commitments.
Set up a family calendar in a place everyone can see.
Try:
A basic paper calendar
A dry-erase wall calendar
A chalkboard in the kitchen
A shared Google Calendar if your kids are older
Color-code each person to keep it clear, and review the calendar together weekly so no one’s surprised.
5. Plan a “Practice Week”
About a week before school starts, do a few trial runs of the school morning routine. Pretend it's a real school day:
Pack bags (the night before if possible)
Set alarms
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Head out the door at “leave time” (even if you’re just going for a walk or to a fun celebratory activity)
This helps iron out timing issues before the first real day—and helps kids feel more confident and prepared.
6. Build in Some Fun
Back-to-school prep doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Build excitement with a few fun traditions:
Back-to-school countdown chain
Special breakfast or dinner the night before school starts
Pick out a “first day outfit” together
Create a DIY sign for first day photos
Celebrating the return to school helps ease anxiety and reminds your child that this is an exciting milestone—not just a stressful one.
7. Take Stock of Emotional Readiness
Preparing your home is just one part of the puzzle. Be sure to check in on how your child feels about starting school. Some kids are thrilled; others feel nervous, sad, or unsure.
Ask open-ended questions to check in:
“What are you excited about this year?”
“Is there anything you’re nervous about?”
“What do you hope happens this year at school?”
Validating their feelings, answering questions, and helping them imagine what a school day might be like can reduce anxiety and increase confidence.
8. Prep Yourself, Too
Back-to-school prep isn’t just for kids. Parents need a plan, too.
Things to do now:
Adjust your own sleep schedule
Plan quick breakfasts and lunches
Block time in your calendar for school events
Make a list of people to contact: teachers, aftercare providers, transportation, etc.
If you’re working or managing multiple schedules, try batching tasks ahead of time—like meal prepping, setting out clothes the night before, or designating days for laundry or errands.
Preparing your home and routines in August isn’t about perfection—it’s about giving your family a smoother, calmer start. Just a few thoughtful changes can help everyone feel more prepared, less rushed, and more connected as the school year begins. So grab that calendar, find those lunchboxes, and take it one step at a time. You've got this!
Check back for the next blog post in our back-to-school preparation series: Emotional Readiness
ADHD - Autism - Executive Functioning - Learning Disorders
Comments