Finally, hit up the pantry. Check expiration dates and dispose of stale foods to make room for a new inventory of school-friendly options.
Create a Paper Station Even in a world of digital communication, the amount of paper produced during the school year is staggering. Be ready for the onslaught with a designated area for homework, permission slips, and informational flyers. Provide an in-basket where your student puts things for you to review. Once you review them, move them to a tote in an out-of-the-way place like a bedroom or office. Set up an out-basket for papers, sharing items, and projects your student needs to take back to school. Keep this near the keys or front door so it doesn’t get overlooked. Also, create a to-do basket for the items that need follow-up. This is the spot for reminders about upcoming events, notifications of overdue lunch accounts, fundraising order forms, and permission slips that need to be signed. In the clothing department, evaluate what your student needs. Cover the basics for the first few weeks. Otherwise, it’ll be beneficial to wait a bit on restocking the closet. There are a few reasons for this. First, clothing often goes on clearance after the flurry of back-to-school shopping is over. Second, your child might discover a different style after spending a few weeks around classmates. Third, you and your student will have a better idea of what’s working and what’s not after a trial run. Fourth, the weather will likely be getting colder as the seasons change, which means transitioning into a different type of clothing and shoes.
Take an Inventory The cleaning out process not only allows you to get rid of unneeded items, but it also allows you to take an inventory of what you already have, so you don’t find yourself buying things you don’t need. Grab that school-supply list and start making notes. You might find an untouched box of crayons, an unused bottle of glue, or a set of mechanical pencils in last year’s backpack. Similarly, you could discover a nearly new lunchbox or an extra supply of notebooks. Check off what you already have.
Tip: Take a picture of the list so it’s handy when you’re out shopping in the upcoming weeks.
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September 2025
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