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School season back and you’re already dreading everything? Tame the chaos with this back to school organization hacks.
Back-to-school season is basically the Olympics for moms.
There are forms to sign, snacks to pack, shoes that mysteriously vanish, and the eternal morning battle cry: “Get in the car, we’re late!”
If you’ve ever found yourself chugging cold coffee at 7:30 AM while simultaneously braiding hair, searching for a missing shoe, and trying to remember if today is library day—this post is for you.
These back-to-school organization tips are here to help you keep your house running like a semi-functioning command center instead of a scene from a sitcom. Let’s get your mornings (and sanity) back.
Create A Family Command Center
Think of this as your family’s control tower – and the holy grail of back-toschool organization.
A big wall calendar, folders for each kid, hooks for keys, and a spot for all the school papers that would otherwise live on your counter.
Once you’ve got this set up, you’ll actually know who needs to be at soccer practice and who has a spelling test—without playing psychic mom.
Not sure how to set up a family command centre? I’ve done a detailed guide with steps here.
Color-Code School Supplies
Give each kid their own color. Blue binders for Jake, pink notebooks for Lily, green folders for Noah.
Suddenly, nobody’s “accidentally” stealing each other’s supplies, and you can spot who left their homework at the table in 0.2 seconds.
Prep Outfits For The Week
Save yourself from the morning meltdown of “I have nothing to wear!”
This back to school organization hack – is super easy and saves tons of stress every day.
Use a hanging organizer with five cubbies—Monday through Friday—so the outfits are ready to go.
This one already comes with day-of-the-week labels.
No more digging through laundry piles at 7:15 AM. Bonus: you can pretend you’re the stylist on a kids’ fashion shoot.
Use A Drop Zone By The Door
Backpacks, lunchboxes, shoes—everything has a home right by the door. A bench with baskets and hooks above works wonders.
Instead of the tornado-dump of belongings across your living room floor, everyone just plops their stuff into their little zone. Easy.
Create Homework Caddies
Portable homework stations are a no-brainer back to school organization hack.
Fill caddies or bins with pencils, markers, scissors, rulers—basically a mobile office.
Kids can carry them to the dining table, do their work, and stash them away so the table’s free for dinner. Genius.
Set Up a Snack Stations
Hungry kids = cranky chaos. Pre-pack snacks in pantry bins or fridge drawers so they can just grab and go.
You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have three kids asking for different snacks at the exact same time.
Digital Calendar Sync
If you’ve ever double-booked a dentist appointment and a soccer practice, welcome to the club.
A shared family Google calendar with color-coded events is the cure. Now everyone knows where they need to be—no excuses.
Morning Routine Charts
Make the kids boss themselves around. Charts with checkboxes for “brush teeth,” “pack bag,” “eat breakfast” mean less nagging for you.
Hang them where everyone sees them. They’ll still forget shoes sometimes, but hey, progress.
Backpack Organization System
Give every kid a hook or cubby for their backpack.
Add a charging station for tablets or calculators.
Suddenly, mornings aren’t spent yelling “Where’s your bag?!” on repeat.
Easily one of the most useful back to school organization tricks.
Paperwork Station
Permission slips, forms, random handouts—this station is their new home.
A wall sorter with labeled slots saves your kitchen counter from drowning in paper.
You’ll actually find that field trip slip before the day of the trip.
Dedicated Lunch Packing Zone
Keep lunchboxes, bento boxes, sandwich cutters, and snacks in one spot in your kitchen.
It’s like your personal “lunch assembly line.” Suddenly, packing lunches doesn’t feel like a scavenger hunt through every drawer in the kitchen.
Use Clear Bins For School Supplies
Markers, crayons, glue—all in labeled, see-through bins.
No more “Mom, where are the scissors?!” followed by you digging through three drawers. They can see it, they can grab it.
Weekly Family Planning Meeting
Sit down once a week and map out what’s coming up. Sports, recitals, tests—everything. It’s basically a staff meeting, but with pizza.
Everyone leaves knowing the plan (and hopefully carrying their weight).
Create A Mom Binder
Your one-stop shop for all the important info: school schedules, contacts, extracurriculars, logins.
Color-coded tabs keep it all neat. Think of it as the “Google” for your family, but offline.
Set Up A Shoe Station
No more shoe graveyard at the bottom of the closet.
Use labeled baskets or cubbies near the door. Bonus: you might actually make it out of the house on time without anyone crying over missing sneakers.
Label Absolutely Everything
Water bottles, lunchboxes, jackets, folders—if it leaves the house, slap a label on it.
You’ll save yourself from the “lost and found” treasure hunts (aka black hole of the school office).
After-School Snack Basket
The second they walk in, kids are starving.
Keep a basket of grab-and-go snacks so you’re not acting as short-order cook.
Less whining, more peace.
Homework Zone With Minimal Distractions
A dedicated desk or table with just the essentials: lamp, supplies, headphones.
Fewer distractions = more homework actually gets done. (Miracles do happen.)
Car Kit For Busy Mornings
Fill a tote with snacks, hair ties, pens, tissues, maybe even a spare pair of socks.
Because something will always be forgotten, and the car becomes your backup supply closet.
Plan Ahead With Freezer Meals
Weeknight dinners don’t have to be chaos.
A freezer full of labeled meals you can just heat up = sanity saver. You’ll thank past-you for thinking ahead.
Bedtime Routine Organizer
A little bedtime caddy with a water bottle, flashlight, and a bedtime chart makes the night smoother.
Because when the kids are asleep, you finally get your own peace.
Use Clipboards For Each Kid
Hang clipboards for permission slips, homework, or reminders.
Each kid gets their own. They can’t say “I didn’t know!” when it’s literally clipped to the wall.
Organize Extracurricular Gear
Sports bags, dance shoes, instruments—give them each a bin or hook.
When it’s time to leave, you won’t be digging under beds for shin guards.
Stash Emergency Supplies
Keep a drawer or tote with Band-Aids, sanitizer, backup supplies, and spare masks.
Because emergencies always happen when you’re least prepared.
Self-Care Station For Mom
Last but not least—you. A cozy corner with your tea, journal, or Netflix queue.
Because organized kids are great, but an organized (and calm) mom? Even better.
Back-to-school doesn’t have to feel like running a marathon in flip-flops.
With a few smart systems, some cute bins, and a lot of labels, you can transform the chaos into something (almost) manageable.
These back to school organization ideas will get kids where they need to be, lunches will be packed, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll even drink your coffee while it’s still hot.
Here’s to surviving another school year with your sanity (mostly) intact!