Parents, Your Ultimate Back-to-School Checklist is Here!

As summer winds down, the back-to-school rush begins. From shopping for supplies to organizing schedules, it can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry – I’ve got you covered!

Below you’ll find the Ultimate Back-To-School Checklist designed to make your life easier and ensure your kids are ready for a successful school year.

Let’s tackle this together and start the new school year off right!

Your Ultimate Back-To-School Checklist

1. Add Your Children’s School Calendar Dates to Your Calendar NOW

Do your future self a favor and add all school closures and important dates to your calendar NOW. This will keep you organized and avoid any last-minute surprises. Batch planning like this will save you so much time later on.

2. Set Up a Designated Homework Area & Establish a Homework Routine

Create a quiet and organized space where your child can focus on their homework. Ensure it’s equipped with necessary supplies and free from distractions. Then, decide together when you'll commit time daily to homework. Setting a consistent time each day for homework can help your child build a routine and stay on track with their studies. Collaboration ensures they feel part of the process and more committed to sticking with it.

3. Set Up a Command Center in Your Home

A Command Center is your ultimate organizational hub, likely in your mudroom or front entry, designed to keep your family’s schedules, important documents, and daily essentials in one place.

Here’s what it includes:

Calendar: Track everyone’s activities and appointments.
School Work Bin: Have a designated place to house all of your child’s schoolwork that they bring home.
Chore Lists: Keep track of daily chores. You can download mine for free here.
Communication Board: A spot for important notes and reminders.
Creating a Command Center can help streamline your mornings, reduce stress, and ensure that nothing important slips through the cracks. Plus, it’s a fun project to get the whole family involved in!

4. Check and Replenish School Supplies

Before you go out school supply shopping, first shop your home. I recommend reviewing the school’s recommended supply list against the items you already have at home, and then start a list of what items you need to purchase.

5. Establish a Morning and Bedtime Routine with Your Child(ren)

Children doing morning and bedtime routine

Help your child get back into the school routine by establishing consistent morning and bedtime schedules. I recommend writing down this schedule and doing this interactive activity with your child to make sure they are on board. Be specific about expectations so there is zero doubt about what’s expected of them. Consistent routines can reduce stress and improve overall well-being! Involving your child in creating this schedule ensures they feel more committed and ready for the new school year.

I like to visually cap out their routines in Canva and add them to our Command Center.

6. Shop for Back-to-School Necessities

Create a shopping list of everything your child needs to be ready for the first day of school, including a backpack, lunch boxes, water bottles, Tupperware, clothing or uniforms, and shoes.

7. Decide on “Pre-approved” Lunch and Dinner Meals Together

We have a Top 10 Meal List in our house, and I suggest you make one too for dinners and lunches. As the grocery shopper and meal planner, this saves me SO much time and energy, and eliminates the guesswork and complaining (haha).

Sit down with your family and agree on meals that you all like, and a few top options for lunches. Write these down in your phone so you eliminate the guesswork later on. For example, I know that these items are “approved” for lunches:

Mains: Turkey sandwiches or roll-ups with cheese, PB&J, or chicken nuggets.
Sides: String cheese, hummus and chips, carrots and ranch, edamame, tomatoes.
Fruit: Strawberries, peaches, apples, and blueberries.

I will include a treat of sorts with their lunches too.

8. Label, Label, Label

Do yourself a favor and label all of your children’s items (lunch boxes, Tupperware, water bottles, jackets, etc.). I use a label maker and label tape and print out 20 labels with each child’s name. Makes this process a breeze for me.