6 Things that Make Back-to-School Smooth + Back to School checklist
As a seasoned Mom of a 5th and 7th grader, well as much as I can be, I feel like I really have a feel on what works & doesn't work through the past several years, to prepare for the back-to-school chaos & make it, maybe, a little less chaos-y.
Here are some of my tips & suggestions that make every day go smoother throughout the school year & to get ready for the year ahead. Keep reading for a helpful printable check list!
Sigh, look at the young cuties. ;(
1. Have a "Drop Zone"
This will look different for everyone's home. In my home we don't have a lot of storage so I have to get creative. This is the spot your children will "drop" everything as they get home. My girls are seasoned to this now & its second nature. But, it takes repetition. Having a drop zone keeps everything in one place so book bags, folders & papers don't go missing. Think of homework folders, planners that need to be signed ect.
This will be their home.
Our zone is also our "family command center"-- the side of the fridge & the coat closet right next to it. On the inside of the door, I have heavy-duty, XL 3m hooks for backpacks. Next, on the fridge, I have our calendar for quick glance dates, baskets that house the majority of their papers, with a small corkboard above for important papers & a place to display papers they are proud of. The basket gives me a place to go thru papers every night {when they were younger} & a couple times throughout the week as they are older, normally Wednesday & Friday.
I also keep a clipboard for homework & their chore checklists.
2. Have Clear Expectations After School
Whether it is for sports, chores, activities or none of the above having a routine after school. It's crucial you SHOW your kiddos how you want after school to go. Reminders will be needed for a while, so don't get discouraged. Sit down & talk about how you want homework to go. Will you have a snack before? After? During? What is your screen time rules for the school week? Do they have chores? Them knowing what to do & having a routine helps everyone with the rush from after school, dinner & bedtimes when everyone is tired after long days.
As an example, our schedule after school is: immediately go to drop zone, empty backpack, lunch boxes straight to sink & put away. I made these notepads myself to help with independence after school. Having a checklist has proven to be successful for us. At the end of the week, they can hand them in for allowance.
I made it on Canva & printed it on vista print as a notepad.
If you would like this as an editable printable, let me know!
3. What's for lunch?
If your kiddos are going to be packers, whether you are going to be doing the packing or themselves, having a home for everything will make the morning so much easier.
Again, for every home this will look "different. It could be a drawer, cabinet etc. For us, it's a rolling cart just off the kitchen in the "laundry room". The cart houses pretty much everything we may need. The lunch containers, water bottles, lunch accessories & the lunch bags themselves.
Looking for more lunch box inspo? Click HERE for a lunchbox planner & breakdown of popular lunch container brands.
4. Hair Caddy/ Station
Getting hair done in the morning can be chaos. With boys or girls. Where's that dang brush?
I do less hair these days as my girls are experimenting doing their own hair. However, keeping hair supplies downstairs was THE hack for less chaos.
I know for some that maybe sound crazy to keep it in the kitchen or somewhere downstairs, but I promise I makes it so much easier as you are trying to get out the door.
Another tip I have is to have 2 of everything. The brush in your caddy for school STAYS there, then you have a separate brush for upstairs or elsewhere. That way your hair supply kit for school is always stays complete, nothing is missing because it was taken after bath time one night & now you can't find it!
I stock mine with a brush, comb, "smooth brush", gel, elastic hair ties, normal hair ties, elastic hair tie cutter & bobby pins.
5. Emergency Pouch
If you are a parent of young girl in 4th grade or higher, this one is for you. Assuming you have already had the talk on the in's and out's of whats to come. Make sure they are prepared. A little pouch for everything they need. I pack a extra pair of underwear, pads & hygeiene wipes.
6. Stay Organized with a Family Calendar
Find a calendar app you like for the whole family to use. We just use google calendar, which is the default calendar on iPhone. EVER.SINGLE.THING is put into the calendar then each family member is invited to that "event". Now that my oldest has a phone even she can input & get them synced to her calendar. Google makes it almost, too easy to keep track of all the activities. You can make a sport or likewise reoccur every week, certain days of the week, once a month, whatever is needed. It also syncs with our Alexa shows.
Other helpful things for Kinder students or new school students:
Do a trial run of car line is you are utilizing your schools instead of bus. Practice getting off their seat belts & exiting the car quickly. For kinder students, the weeks or weeks leading up to school practice lunch if packing. Pack a lunch and have them get used to opening their lunch boxes, opening their drinks etc.
Boden's Mickey Mouse First Birthday Day | Mickey Mouse Birthday Party
Well, the time has come. Bo is now ONE. I know every parent says it, but truly this was the fastest year of my life. I feel like it went by so much faster than it did with girls. When thinking about his first birthday, since he can't very well choose the theme himself, it was chosen for him very early on. This child came out of the womb loving Mickey Mouse. Listen, I don't know if it is in his blood but this child was OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse at just several weeks old! We had a Mickey Mouse that would hand from his activity mat & he became enamored with it. Thus started the obsession. So, it was a no-brainer Mickey Mouse that would be the theme of his first birthday!
December birthdays are rough & our schedule was to the MAX this December so we only invited a couple family members to his party. I hadn't bought a thing for the party til about a week beforehand. Besides ordering the cake & cookies. Somehow I totally pulled off a semi-awesome-looking party for to look back at fondly instead of the glaring 3rd-child-to-2-oldest-sisters-in-a lot-of-activities-with-holiday-events, first birthday! Ha!
This post contains affiliate links. This means I make a very small commission on any products you buy through my links, at no additional cost to you. Thank You so much for supporting my family.
I really wanted to not go with the traditional Mickey Mouse Party color palette. Sometimes that can be overwhelming. I wanted it to be more of a simple, classy Mickey Mouse party if that makes sense? I Stuck with Red, Black & White colors & I think it came out so well! Continuing that with cake making it a "naked" cake with minimal decorations at all. Everything was instantly recognizable to him & it wasn't stimulation overload!
Mickey Mouse smash Cake
Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake
Mickey Mouse Birthday Cookies
Mickey Mouse Birthday Cookies
Simple Mickey Mouse Birthday Party
It's been the most amazing year with our sweet boy! I am glad we could celebrate his first year with the cutest party with a few close family members!
We don't have a ton of storage for school supplies right now to be out at the ready for the girls. We have a "craft closet" but I really don't want to mix the two. Especially because our craft closet is always a disaster area. The girl's desk set up is in our front living room/playroom so I wanted something that would be right there.
These carts I love so much. We also have one for our lunch stuff! {Ill link that here if you want to check it out} So I thought it would be great to keep all of their school stuff on one, too. That way they can move it in between their desks & put it away when needed.
I also did not want to mix school supplies with their normal crafting supplies. These children will use 50 glue sticks on one "project" and all the crayons somehow come up missing 😜 So our rule is, anything on the cart is used for school and school only. If you need glue sticks or pencils or crayons, it's gotta come from the craft closet. This way I can also visibly see the inventory of everything, as well.
At the top of the cart, I used these to hold all of their notebooks, school curriculum books & clipboards. We use clipboards for so much. {I get them at the dollar tree} Having everything on top and easy to grab has been so easy.
The second shelf, I used non-slip shelf liner so everything doesn't move when they move cart & keeps everything in place. I just used simple Ball glass jars to hold everything & small pails for scissors & crayons. The pail makes it super easy for them to grab & put on the table/desk & put back.
On the last shelf, I used these containers for extras. I bought this box full of like 250 pencils that were super cheap, to keep on hand to restock their pencils. I also keep this timer in there. A huge portion of their work is timed & timer is huge to see how much time is left. I originally got it as their clean up timer so they could see, but it works great for school too. It has magnets on the back.
Lastly, used this pencil sharper to mount right on the side. It works out so great & is sturdy on there. I used 3m hooks to hold this paper organizer to holder their folders as well as loose notebook paper, construction paper & copy paper for easy grabbing.
There you have it. This cart could be used for really anything. Just for crafting, a homework cart, the option are endless.
Today I am comparing some of the most popular lunch boxes & how they stack up against one another!
Lunch boxes are an investment for us, the girls pack everyday & we use them in the car & for activities! It is also our part in cutting down on single use plastic every day. We have different boxes to have variety, & for different needs. & mostly because I didn't know what would be best! So hopefully this will save you from going out & buying several boxes trying to figure out which meets all for needs!
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I use this cart to keep all our lunches box on. It is right by the door when the girls come in, so they put there bentos in the sink & throw their bags under. & it makes it super easy for me in the morning to grab what I need.I keep my lunch planner right on the bottom! On top is our "homework station" it houses Kennedy's planner that needs signed every day so it a central location, & it hold a bucket full of pencils, & another with erasers ect.
The OmieBox is nothing like the other boxes I am listing, as it has a insulated bowl in it! What's great is you can easily remove the bowl & use it put anything else in it!
Pros:
- Has option for a hot lunch
- Has deep compartments
- Can taken by itself, has handle right on box
- Is 2 in 1 box. No need for a thermos for a hot lunch
Cons:
- Not alot of compartments
- Divider moves often. I suggest always using muffin cups.
- Because it is wide, it is tall. Can be hard to find lunch bag to fit
-Doesn't hold a lot of food
Planet Box rings in as the biggest box not only in this line up, but I think for any on the market (that I could find) Planet box is known for it's great quality & I completely agree. This box is going to last you! I also feel the portion sizes could easily get your from kinder up through middle school, if not high school. I know some adults that use PB for their work lunches!
Planetbox Rover
Planetbox Rover
Pros:
-Stainless steel, no plastic!
- It's large {this feature goes in both pros & cons}
- Comes with dipper bowls with silicone tops for no spills
- Easy to wash
Cons:
- It's large. As mentioned this can be a pro, but because of the size-- lunch bag options are limited. From my research they only fit in Planet Box brand lunch boxes
This was our first box we have own! I love the fun colors & styles of trays! Quality is amazing. While, the pictures on the bottom of the trays have worn off, our first box bought 3 years ago still works great!
Mini Box: We are obsessed with the snack box. I use it from when I send a hot lunch, like soup ect & want to send fruit or veggies too! It is great for taking a snack to school or sports after school. Or just taking it on the go!
Pros:
- Easy to open
- Great portion sizes
- Fun colors
- Size is manageable
- Spill Proof {just no liquids}
Cons:
- Not very easy to wash in terms of crevasses once you take the trays out & flip them upside down
- It's plastic
- Not dishwasher safe, or at least for us it wore down the seals
- Will likely need bigger box, or upgrade to the bigger yumbox out of elementary
While working with American Girl on this post, American Girl gifted Kensley's birthday lunch celebration at the Cafe during our visit. The Talbott Hotel hosted our family for our stay. We can't thank each them enough for having us & all they did for us! All thoughts & opinions are my own. Thank you for reading & supporting my family!
5 Tips for the Best, Memorable Trip to American Girl - American Girl Doll Store Chicago
If you were born anytime in the last 35ish years, & more than likely a female, you have looked into an American Girl catalog & dreamt of having a doll & doing to their store!
Getting an American Girl doll is a special time for a young child & their moms too! Going to the store is equally as special! Whether it's to purchase your first doll or a special trip you want to make sure it best trip ever. This isn't like going to a chain store to pick up any ole toy. It's really an experience! Even if you are not buying a doll, or really anything, there is so much to do at the store & I am going to break down how to have the best visit!
This visit Kensley picked to go here for her 7th birthday! A trip planned for a birthday is always a great idea too!
The store featured in this post is Chicago, Water Tower Place
1. Play in the Store
The great thing about the store is, if something is out it's there to be played with! The dolls, accessories & throughout the store, there are interactive fun things to do in the BeForever section! They are great for photo ops! & don't forget about the Bitty Baby section & Wellie Wishers! My girls also stop by the Bitty section to check out all the fun baby accessories! They still play with their baby just as much as their big dolls!
Some things to do in the store:
Personalize:
They have new section that you can personalize a slew of items for your doll that you can get same day! Shirts, bags, matching shirt for you & your doll..you name it! You can also completely customize a doll to your liking, but it takes 6-8 to relieve your doll.
Ears piercing:
You can get your dolls ears pierced! & not only that, your child can get theirs pierced too! This is another fun experience your child will love to do with their doll! & so memorable. Make sure you go right away for a appointment!
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
Special Events:
They frequently have lots of fun things going on in the store! Make sure you check them to see what is happening during your visit!
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
Check out the in-store location exclusive merch:
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
I am not in the habit of talking about places we visit bathrooms. But even the bathrooms here are the cutest. & always thinking of your girls. The bathroom has hooks in the stalls & at the sinks to keep them safe & off the floor. They.think.of.every.thing.
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
2. Find a Personal Shopper
This will vary from store to store if they have any available. A personal shopper really makes you feel special. They help you shop & you get a home base in the personal shopper lounge where everything can stay so you aren't lugging a bunch of stuff around. Your shopper can help you find things you may not have known about that are available& they are great about showing the promotional & sale offers at the store! They have great knowledge & help with anything!
American Girl Doll Store Chicago - personal shopper lounge
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
3. Get your dolls hair done
Going to the salon is so fun! This is going to be the first thing you want to you do when you arrive at the store. Because of how much fun & what a great job they do, the slots fill up fast! So you want to get a appointment right away! More than likely if you have a doll their hair might need a little help! & even if it doesn't the styles they offer most people can't do {like Kennedy got a courageous fishtail braid on her doll}, so there is something to be offered to everyone! They also offer nail polish for the dolls too! It comes off with water, so your child's doll will get a whole salon experience!
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
4. Eat at the Cafe/Bistro
Each location will differ if it has a Cafe or Bistro, but no matter which it is, you want to make sure you do this! You can make reservations right online. The restaurants are so fun in just appearance but the experience is something you will love! When walking in they give your doll or dolls their own high chair so they can come with you to eat! The dolls even get their own placemats with plates & cups that you get to take home! The menu is delicious & apps & kids menu are so perfectly tailored to children!
American Girl Doll Store Chicago
Click here for more info on their Birthday Package
I love that each table has a little box of topics to start some fun convos while waiting for your food! Much like my Dinner Convo Starters!
Not up for a meal? They have fun bakery window you can go up & get some fun goodies! "Mary Ellen's Sweet Shoppe"
5. Make it a trip & order a American Girl Package at your hotel
For those visiting the Chicago store, we stayed at The Talbott Hotel! It was the cutest boutique hotel tucked in a very quite, slow street. You can pretty much see the AG store from the corner so the store is within walking distance! {only .3 miles} Guys, you have to do this. It makes the entire experience. It includes the dolls own personal beds, slippers & robes,too! {CHECK OUT THE TALBOTTS PACKAGE HERE} A turn-down service with warm cookies & milk. Breakfast in bed for two. It truly really puts so magic to your visit! If you look at the price of a American Girl doll bed vs the package it really make this a incredible value! Check the website for the hotels near your store that offer the American Girl packages.
See wasn't it so fun? I hope all these tips helped give you the push, or polish your plans for your trip to the American Girl store! It is just so magical, & I bet you feel like a kid again to having so much fun with kiddos!
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