41 Clever Back to School Hacks

This year marks our first official back to school transition as my daughter starts kindergarten, and the whole family is both excited and nervous. I’m pretty sure my daughter is ready to go tomorrow, since she’s got her new lunch box and backpack ready at the door.

But her mom? Well…let’s just say that I’ve been scouring all of my resources in search of any tricks and tips that other moms can share about making the back to school transition smooth for everyone.

Check out some of the smartest back to school hacks out there to make the transition easier on both you and your kids.

More Back to School Ideas:

30+ Mom Hacks to Make the Back to School Transition Smooth

Get Creative While Organizing School Papers

Homework, artwork, permission slips—there's always something (and always something getting lost!). With these clever tips, your kids will actually want to keep their papers organized all year long.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: Momtastic
Create an After School Snack Station

I don't know about you, but my kids are ravenous when I pick them up from school. Why not create a tiered snack station with lots of nutritious, easy to munch snacks that can come out of the cupboard (and go back in just as easily) for your kids each afternoon?

Source: Simply Girly

Photo: Simply Girly
Look Amazing Dropping the Kids Off at School (in Five Minutes)!

You made lunches, packed backpacks, and got your kids dressed, but let's not pretend people aren't going to be looking at you when you drop the kids off at school. Kacee Geofroy at Momtastic has a few easy steps to getting you to look fresh as a daisy at morning drop off.

Photo: Momtastic
Make Zippers Easier for Younger Kids

Zippers can be tough for little fingers to navigate, and often get stuck. Instead of buying a whole new zipper-free wardrobe or worrying about your child's zipper-ing all day long, check out this handy trick from Kimmie at Hello Mess. It's easy and effective.

Photo: Hello Mess
Feel Fresher in the Mornings

Believe me, I do not enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn to start my day, but there are a few awesome ways to make it more bearable. Emsi Rose has some great ideas, like pouring yourself a cup of ice at bedtime so you have a chilled glass of water by morning, and placing your cell phone on the other side of the room so you have to get up to get it.

Photo: Emsi Rose
25 Ways to Ask Your Kids

There's nothing more infuriating than asking your kids "How was school today?" and getting radio silence or a vague reply of "fine." We all know something happened, whether it was big or little, and Simple Simon and Company have some great tips and conversation starters to get the juicy answers out of your kids this school year.

Photo: Simple Simon and Co.
School Bag Storage Ideas

When my daughter walks in the front door after school, her backpack immediately goes on the couch or the doorknob, or if I'm really lucky, it spills out onto the floor turning our house instantly into a tornado-zone. But wait, there are solutions! Check out some of these awesome school bag storage ideas and see what works for your home.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: I Heart Organizing
Back to School Survival Apps for Moms

Every mom needs a Mom Apps Toolbox to make her ready for anything. Check out this list that covers everything from educational apps like Britannica Kids to Kids Doc, which can help you diagnose that itchy rash or tummy ache.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: Momtastic
Dish Out the Slow Cooker Recipes!

Here's the thing: Trying to squeeze dinner prep in between school pick up, soccer practice, homework help, and everything else life throws at you can be hard. Why not make it a little easier on yourself by adding some ingredients into the slow cooker after breakfast? It's that easy. And that yummy, too.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: Slender Kitchen
Epic Time Savers: Save Yourself 13+ Hours a Week

I think we can all agree that there are definitely not enough hours in the day to get it all done. Right? With clever tips like only cooking on weekends and bathing less, you can literally save yourself HOURS and get back some of your free time.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: Momtastic
Keep School Lockers Organized

Back when I was in school, my locker was always a total mess with papers flying out every time I opened it. That's why these locker organizing tools are so awesome. Help your child break the cycle of an untidy locker.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: Momtastic
Organize Everything with Timers

Timers are a mom's best friend. In fact, Becky at Organizing Made Fun says she has a timer for everything from laundry to lights to keeping her kids in bed until a reasonable AM hour and reminding herself to get off the computer. That's a lot of timers, and I love it.

Photo: Organizing Made Fun
Create a Family Command Center

If you are looking for a little help with organizing all the people and things and who needs to go where and with what, why not create a family command center like this one over at My Tales from the Crib? It's a great way of consolidating everything into one tidy, eye-catching space.

Photo: My Tales from the Crib
School Clothes Closet Organization Hack

My daughter loves to stand at her closet door and just ponder all of the clothing options for the day. Then she gets to her dresser and does the same with socks and accessories. If you want to speed that up and get her out the door, then a closet organization system like this one would work perfectly.

Source: Sunny Side Up

Photo: Sunny Side Up
Know When to Stock Up on School Supplies

Are you as confused by all of the school sales and pricing as I am each fall? Check this list from Passion for Savings to make sure you're stocking up on items at the right price point each year. (Hint: Buy glue sticks & crayons when they're $0.25/each.)

Photo: Passion for Savings
DIY Lunch Box Ice Packs

Tired of paying money for ice packs that accidentally get thrown out or that might leak? Make your own at home with this handy hack using sponges.

Source: The Chic

Photo: The Chic
Make Ahead Lunch Box Notes

What does a kid love more than seeing a surprise in their lunch box? Take some extra time at the beginning of the week and prepare a set of lunchtime notes/napkins, and they'll be ready to throw into the bag each day with no extra time needed.

Source: The Chic

Photo: The Chic
Get Back into a Routine for School

It may be unfair that kids have to go to bed before the sun sets on a school day, but that's just how it goes. Get everyone in good habits before the school year begins, and keep them on schedule to ensure happiness and well-rested kids for the whole year.

Source: Nepa Mom

Photo: Nepa Mom
Set Time Limits on Internet Usage

Your kids are supposed to be reading/studying/etc., but instead they're goofing around on their mobile devices on the internet. Curb excess use by making technology your friend using these tips from The Well Connected Home.

Photo: The Well Connected Home
Create a Morning Checklist

Honestly...I'd benefit from having one of these morning checklists from Catch My Party to get myself up and out of the house each day.

Photo: Catch My Party
Align Your Child's Technology with the Common Core Standards

Keep your kids on the same track when they're practicing their skills at home with apps aligned to the Common Core standards.

Source: Momtastic

Photo: iTunes
Quick School Year Memories

Jealous of everyone else's intricate chalkboard photo shoots on the first day of school? Here's a quick and easy way to capture the memories of each school year in a simple printable from Yellow Bliss Road.

Photo: Yellow Bliss Road
Make a Week of Freezer Meals

Worried about how hectic that first week of school is going to be? Make ahead a week's worth of freezer meals (using recipes like these from Karen Petersen), and you won't have to bat an eye or worry about dinner preparation.

Photo: Thriving Home
Avoid Anxiety with Back to School Books

We've got the new-school anxiety bad right now, but before the big day comes we're trying to dissipate it with some reading. Use picture books to help those new to school fight away the bad thoughts.

Source: Joyous Lessons

Photo: Amazon
Create a Homework Caddy

Sometimes you have the perfect spot in the house to do homework, and sometimes every spot in the house is perfect to do homework! Create a homework caddy that kids can carry from room to room that has everything they need.

Source: Aunt Peaches

Photo: Aunt Peaches
DIY Menu and Calendar Board

We always need a quick way to see what's going on in the house. Transforming a glass picture frame into the perfect dry erase menu board and calendar might be the perfect solution. Project information at Stilettos and Diapers.

Photo: Stilettos and Diapers
Label Everything!

Have a kid who's always forgetting things everywhere? Buy a school set of labels for clothing, school supplies, and anything else that comes and goes to school.

Source: What Lisa Cooks

Photo: What Lisa Cooks
Create a Done Door

I'm slightly worried that all homework, permission slips, etc. won't get back in my daughter's backpack, so creating a "done door" like Pars Caeli did to hang up all of the work that's been completed sounds like a great idea.

Photo: Pars Caeli
Make Ahead Breakfast for Kids

Get out the door quick in the morning with breakfast you've made long ago. These "make ahead muffins" are a perfect example of a quick, easy, and healthful breakfast option.

Source: Sarah Caron for Momtastic

Photo: Momtastic
Help your Kids Pack Their Own Lunch

Help save yourself time in the morning by handing over the lunch preparation to your kids. Create your own list, like this example from Super Healthy Kids, with options in these categories and let them have fun each morning.

Photo: Super Healthy Kids
Stock Up on Teacher Gifts

While the first and last days of school are always appropriate for gifts, you might want to stock up to have some on hand for random pick-me-up days for your teachers throughout the year. Be sure the gifts are either consumable or highly useful...because trust me in saying that this former teacher owns way too many apple ornaments for her Christmas tree.

Source: A Girl and a Glue Gun

Photo: A Girl and a Glue Gun
How to Organize Your Binder

There's a specific art to organizing a binder, and if you can help at home to keep things straight and neat it's even better. Stock up on dividers and organizational tools, and follow the binder organization tips in this video by Alejandra.tv for first day success.

Photo: Alejandra
Bags for Every After School Activity

When you're trying to balance swim lessons, ballet class, and little league practice all in one week, all of that extra "stuff" ends up in the wrong piles around the house. Have a different bag for every activity to keep both you and all that "stuff" organized day to day. You can find a great DIY pattern at Saltwater Kids or purchase a bunch of bags at your local retail outlet.

Photo: Saltwater Kids
School Money Labels

Sending money to school for books? Lunch? A field trip? Help it get to its destination by using this little label and placing it in a plastic bag with the cash.

Source: Classy Clutter

Photo: Classy Clutter
Help Find the Perfect Book for Your Child to Read

There's a little bit of science behind finding great books for your kids to read year-round. Master the tips and tricks found here to help your child flourish in and out of the classroom.

Source: Two Reflective Teachers

Photo: Two Reflective Teachers
Create a Collection Point for Classroom Items

Sometimes you need to bring in toilet paper rolls. The next week it's Ziploc bags. Keep a central location for these things in the house and be innovative. I just made one of these box-top collectors for my fridge in preparation for our monthly collections.

Source: Clean Mama

Photo: Clean Mama
How to Clean and Deodorize a Backpack and Lunch Bag

I'm sure we've all found our fair share of backpacks or lunch bags in a stinky condition during the school year. Luckily, Clean My Space has tips on how to clean them so you don't have to run out to the store to buy new ones.

Photo: Clean My Space
Do Kids' Hair at the Breakfast Table

We've been employing this hack from Harvard Homemaker with our daughter for quite a while now. Keep all of the hair stuff (brushes, rubber bands, hairspray) near the breakfast table. It's a quick and easy way to get out the door with untangled hair.

Photo: Harvard Homemaker
School File Boxes for Keepsakes

Piles of paper are a mom's worst enemy, especially when they're papers you may want to hold on to. Create one of these school memory file boxes, like the ones Simply Kierste created, and throw everything in there all year long. Then you can worry about figuring out what to keep next summer.

Photo: Simply Kierste
Use Google Calendar to Organize Your Entire Family

Never forget a minimum day again! Start the school year off right by entering all of the dates you need right away on a computer-based calendar (i.e. Google Calendar), then sync all of your home's phones and devices to that one, and you've got everyone on the same page.

Source: Managing a Home

Photo: Managing a Home
Hang Out and Celebrate with Other Moms

You did it! You've got them back into school and it'll be June before you know it. Savor the moment and celebrate like Jacolyn Murphy with a big coffee date or a quick and easy mom's luncheon.

Photo: Jacolyn Murphy