Get Real with Doug Robinson: Tips to get your Home Back-to-School Ready

Summer is coming to an end, which means back-to-school is almost here! Getting you and your children back into a normal routine after the summer can be chaotic and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to make the transition from summer break to back-to-school easier and stress free for the whole family!

What does “back to school” mean at your home? Is it little ones catching the school bus and bringing home a stack of permission slips? Are there teens coming in after class and practice, completely out of sync with family dinner? The start of a new school year can become a whole family, whole house stress test, but it doesn’t have to be.

1. Sleep is important

Make sure your children have a consistent sleep schedule, bedtime routine, and morning routine so they are used to it when school starts.

2. Designate study space

Create a spot in your home where your kids can study and work on homework. They can also use this area to work on crafts and projects! Particularly when your child is older and responsible for completing independent reading or homework at home, their workspace should provide a distraction-free workspace for focused concentration. For many families, that area is the child’s bedroom. They should be fully responsible for maintaining tidiness in their own space.

3. Manage technology needs

With so many teachers incorporating tablets into their lesson plans now, storage that keeps electronics safe and powered up between uses makes sense. Charging stations provide a place to juice up all the various technology needed in a connected home. The in-drawer option helps busy families keep track of where their devices are located and keeps unsightly wires and cords out of view. Those charging drawers can be installed in your kitchen, entry area or the place where your kids do their studying. It’s easiest to install built-in chargers with new cabinetry, but retrofitting is possible, too.

4. Ensure good lighting

Good lighting is also important for completing assignments at home. It can be built into the desk area or portable. LED lighting is a good choice, because it doesn’t generate heat, saves energy and is available in multiple shapes and sizes to accommodate the needs of a space.

5. Make meal time easier

Warming drawers can also help those households with family members on different schedules. Your football and marching band players can have their dinners ready to eat when they get home, rather than anyone having to microwave them, which can produce unsatisfying results. Refrigerator drawers are also helpful for younger children to be able to easily access drinks and snacks. They can be installed separately on an island or be part of your full-height refrigerator.

6. Smarten up your home

Products that save time and reduce the spread of germs can be helpful to households with children. These can include sensor-operated faucets and toilets that is easy for small hands to operate. Voice-activated and smart home products can benefit families with school children. Connected appliances can ease a busy family schedule. Ovens you can remote start from the office or road and refrigerators you can peer into from the supermarket.

7. Don’t forget to have fun!

Plan a play date for your child and some of his or her friends that they haven’t seen during the summer to reconnect them before school starts.

If you are thinking of selling your home, give me a call and my team would be happy to go over your options and personal situation with you.

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