Get set to go back to school. Families with or without kids can benefit from these organizing tips I shared on Breakfast Television on August 27th. Watch the segment here.

I cover the following information:

Check to see if children’s clothing still fits. Remove all clothing that does not and set it aside to be hand-me-downs or prepare it for donations. Coordinate a clothing swap with other parents.

Restock the in-home pharmacy. Make sure you have a good supply of all medications your child might need to help fight off back-to-school coughs and colds. You might even want to have some lice prevention and treatment on hand.

Create a ‘plug-n-play’ snack centre. Have healthy snacks available in an organized area so children can help themselves when they are hungry. Kids will also be able to start packing their own lunches and parents can focus on preparing evening meals.

Corral all the school supplies. See what you have and shop at home before heading out to the store. You’ll save time and money. Remember to add name tags to your child’s gear. Make your own or buy pre-printed ones.

Build a command centre. In one area of the home, perhaps the kitchen, post a calendar with the family members’ activities written on it. Choose a different coloured pen for each child. Everyone will be able to see what events are happening and when. Add some trays or racks to keep paperwork sorted and organized.

For a list of all my tips for organizing families and kids for a successful back-to-school transition, see my Back-to-School Series Part 1 and Part 2.