Make the first day of school (and the whole year) so much easier with these brilliant DIY back to school organization ideas!
Even if school’s already in full swing, it’s not to late to try some new organization hacks that will at least make you feel like you’ve got a handle on things!
With two young kids in grade school, I fight a daily battle against stacks of “artwork”, permission slips to sign, and lunch boxes caked in day-old applesauce.
Helping my 7 year-old and 9 year-old develop good habits while managing the schoolyear chaos is definitely not easy.
But, over the past few years I’ve come up with some ways to stay organized once school’s back in session. These are simple things even the busiest moms can try.
Give one of these organization hacks a go, and I guarantee you’ll feel more in control of your kids’ school stuff in no time!
10 DIY Back to School Organization Ideas to Try This Fall
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1. Create a simple art caddy or homework station
Whether your kids are old enough to have homework, or you just want to get a handle on all your little one’s crayons and markers, you’ll love these easy DIY homework stations and art caddies. They’re simple and cheap to put together, and portable so your little student can work anywhere in the house.
2 & 3. Make room to display school artwork
One thing’s for sure: when school begins, so does the onslaught of artwork!
My first-grader believes all her creations are worthy of display, so we make sure to have plenty of places to hang her artwork.
Bulletin boards (a.k.a. cork boards) are great for displaying kids’ artwork, but they’re so plain!
Here are to different ways to turn a basic cork board into something special:
First, try stenciling a cork board with paint to add color and pattern.
If you’re comfortable with that easy project, step up your crafting game a bit by covering a cork board with fabric and adding fun nailhead trim!
4 & 5. Keep important school information in one spot.
The most important back to school organization hack is to set up a simple command center in your home.
Choose a convenient location that you’ll pass by regularly (ours is between the front door and kitchen), to set up a hub to catch important school papers and mail you need to deal with.
A second command center option is to turn a wall (or part of a wall) into a magnetic chalkboard. This is such a fun way to stay organized!
6. Create a school year calendar
Keeping track of all the school holidays, early release days, and after school activities drove me nuts until I created this printable school year-at-a-glance calendar.
You can add important dates to the calendar in pen, or try laminating it and using dry-erase markers! You can find it in my shop along with other fun and useful printables.
7. Create a backpack drop zone
Doesn’t it drive you crazy when your kids leave their backpacks on the floor?
Simple hooks plus wire magazine holders mounted to the wall create a place for backpacks and a cubby system for kids to put homework or special creations.
Our chalkboard hooks are sold out, but these hooks are similar.
8. Set up a filing system for important memories
As much as my kids would love to keep every last scrap of paper they bring home, I know they won’t want any of it in twenty years. Paper clutter drives me nuts!
(My parents kept loads of my school papers and notebooks, and I sure don’t want them!)
So instead, I set up a folder for each kid and grade in our filing cabinet for extra school pictures, report cards, and their most memorable artwork.
9 & 10: Make (or print!) chore charts to keep kids on track
Do you find yourself telling your kids to do the same tasks over and over again?
It’s like when they get home, all those great rule-following habits they have at school are suddenly forgotten.
You can set expectations and help kids follow daily routines with a colorful DIY chore chart.
If your kids are a bit older (or you don’t have time to make a chore chart), then my printable routine charts and chore checklists are a great solution for you and your kiddos!
There are several different designs to choose from (like the monster and princess versions my son and daughter use), and if you laminate the pages you can write on them with dry erase markers.
School Organization Hacks to Try Today
What do you think? I bet you can try at least two of these ideas today and feel a whole lot more organized. Which ones will you try? Let me know in the comments section!
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Hazel Avery says
Back to school time is always a fun one for my kids. I didn’t want to feel left out of the fun though! We finally made the long-awaited decision to get a brand new cabinet painting and our home feels totally different. The kids’ friends love coming over. They enjoy doing homework in the kitchen area now. It’s a gathering place. Best decision ever.