Summer is winding down and it’s time to start thinking about school again. School for the little ones or perhaps school for you – learning can take place at any age! It helps to be organized in advance to get your school year off to a smooth start. And it’s simple! Here are 2 things to do now so that you are prepared:

Have a School Resource Binder

Create a Drop Zone

School Resource Binder:

Using a three ring binder, dividers and a few sheet protectors, you can be prepared for the onslaught of information you will receive as the school year begins. You can organize the binder to hold the school’s yearly calendar, the classroom/teacher information, newsletters, and fundraising/PTA information. Take note of the minimum days and school holidays and be sure to transfer that information onto your personal calendar immediately. As a general rule, this binder will need to be updated and purged on a regular basis. Use the pocket inside the front of the binder to hold a copy of your child’s emergency card so that you have the information readily available for field trip forms. Keeping a pencil here is also a good idea!

Creating a Drop Zone:

Creating a drop zone is applies the mudroom concept to the area where you first come into your home each day. For some families that area is by the front door, for others it is the area by the garage door that leads into the house. Even the smallest area can be transformed into a functional drop zone with the addition of a few hooks, baskets, and shelves. The purpose of the drop zone is to be able to drop what you’ve brought in and stage it for exit for tomorrow. Kids need hooks for backpacks and jackets, parents need a shelf for car keys and sunglasses. Baskets hold shoes and other items to go.

So why wait for school to start? Get these two things in place and you’ll be ready!