Back-to-School Mom

Parents have always documented their children’s back-to-school day with pictures, but this year the photos going viral are all about the parents!   We want you to have just as much fun celebrating the joy of missing  your children.  Our favorite tips and ideas will prepare your home for a full year of blissful and stress-free school mornings.

Parent Command & Communication Station

A centrally located planning area is essential for keeping track of schedules and back-to-school paperwork. Add a bulletin board, to keep it free from clutter, and a calendar where everyone can synchronize activities for the day.

 

Kids Rooms with Personality

Children will always wake up on the right side of the bed when they love their room. Decorate with colors and accessories that speak to their special interests.   Hooks or pegs will help them keep their room tidy and a whimsical alarm clock is a fun way to teach the value of waking up on time.

 

Prevent Bathroom Bottleneck

Prevent  morning bickering with a bathroom that allows for multiple users.  The classic Jack-and-Jill layout or a double-bowled vanity will increase efficiency during the morning rush.  Bath lockers provide great storage and visibility for toiletries and towels.   Plenty of hooks keep the floor clothing and towel free.

 

Eliminate Wardrobe Wars

An organized closet is helpful for both parent and child. Include shelving and hanging space to keep clothing and personal treasures visible. Let kids help select their complete outfits for every day of the week. These appealing printable labels will encourage them to dress themselves and leave the early morning drama behind.

 

Before and After School Huddle

The concept of the Great Kitchen (open family room-kitchen) is ideal for Before and After school family connections. With open space children are in the line of sight for parents to check on everyones status for departure.  An oversized island can multi-task as a dining bar, work surface, or even a desktop when the home has Wi-Fi. This is a great place to include a charging station behind flip-down panels or on the inside of cabinet drawers.

 

The Launch Pad

Ease the morning rush with a staging area where backpacks, shoes and show-and-tell treasures are ready to grab-and-go. This is also the drop off point at the end of each day.  A basket or clip board for each child can hold special notes and permission slips.  This is another good spot for a family calendar and electronics charging station.

 

School Supply Stash

A designated storage place for school supplies should be close to the Launch Pad.  Built-in cabinets keep the area clutter free.  Pull out shelves with labeled bins or storage boxes will make it easy to access and inventory supplies. Keep the basics organized to eliminate last minute  trips to the store and wasteful spending for duplicate supplies lost somewhere in the back of a closet.

Homework Zone

No need to banish children to their rooms to study. The study lounge concept will help parents monitor homework progress and the child’s use of the Internet. Built-in cabinetry and shelving provide orderly storage for long-term projects.

 

Healthy Snack Station

Encourage healthy choices for snacking with a designated area filled with grab-and-d0 treats.  Stock up on single serving snacks and individual  water or 100% juice drinks.  This is a  good place to store lunch supplies and packed lunch boxes. Companies like Goodbyn have colorful, reusable containers that make healthy snacks even more appealing. Their “Spork” is a real lunch box space saver.

 

Bedroom Study Getaway

A study area tucked into a corner of a bedroom is great for reading and quiet study. Shelving provides a place to display special mementos and awards. Built-in cabinetry is helpful for sorting and organizing school projects and after-school hobbies.

 

Time to Unwind

Studies show that children who are active after school have improved concentration and learning ability. Areas of the home equipped for safe physical activity or a special place to pursue hobbies will make it more likely for children to choose activity instead of television.

 

The entire team at Lowell  is ready to help you with your plans for a beautiful and well thought-out home for back-to-school  . . .

. . . or any other time of year.

Here’s to all of the wonderful parents, you get a gold star!