When a new school year is approaching, most of us are laser-focused on the usual list—pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, and the perfect backpack. But let’s be honest: those are the easy things. What about the real-life essentials that help keep your home (and your sanity) in check once the school days start rolling?
If you want a smoother, more organized school year, it’s all about being one step ahead, especially when it comes to keeping track of schedules, snacks, and yes… the piles of schoolwork and artwork that come home every week. Here are 10 surprising things to have on hand before the first bell rings.
1. A Command Center for Chaos
One of the smartest ways to keep the school year organized is with a family command center. A simple wall calendar, dry-erase board, or corkboard can hold the week’s events, sports practices, and school deadlines. Add a set of colorful pens or sticky notes so each family member has their own “color code.” Or go super bougie with an amazing Cozyla digital calendar! No more scrambling at the last minute to remember spirit day!
2. A Stash of After-School Snacks
The second your kids walk through the door, it’s snack time every single day. Save yourself from hangry meltdowns by prepping a basket of grab-and-go snacks like granola bars, fruit pouches, trail mix, or string cheese. Keep one bin in the pantry and another in the fridge for quick access.
Check out Williams Sonoma’s Hold Everything Rattan Cubby Pantry Baskets.
3. A “Homework Caddy”
No more running around looking for scissors, pencils, or glue sticks during homework time. A portable homework caddy (or even a small basket) stocked with markers, sharpened pencils, and rulers means your child can grab it and get to work wherever they want—kitchen table, bedroom desk, or even outside. Our current favorite can now be found at West Elm.
4. The “Lost & Found” Basket
If you’ve ever spent 10 minutes looking for a missing shoe while everyone’s already late, this one’s for you. Keep a designated basket, like those from Rejuvenation, by the front door for random items that tend to disappear: backpacks, sports gear, library books, or that one glove you can’t find. This tiny trick saves so much morning stress.
5. Extra Socks (and Headphones)
Why do socks and headphones always vanish? Nobody knows. But trust us, keeping extras, like these headphones from BuddyPhones, stashed in your car or your child’s backpack will save you from unexpected school emergencies.
6. A School-Year Keepsake Box
Let’s talk about the mountain of artwork, certificates, and adorable crafts that will come home this year. Instead of letting it pile up on the counter or in a drawer, start the year off right with a Plum Print Box.
Simply add artwork as it comes home, and when the box is full, send it back to us. We’ll professionally photograph every piece and turn it into a custom, coffee-table-worthy book you’ll treasure forever. No guilt. No clutter. Just a stunning keepsake that captures your child’s creativity.
7. A Folder for “All the Forms”
Between permission slips, field trip waivers, and endless sign-ups, the paper trail can be overwhelming. Keep one labeled folder (or accordion file) specifically for school forms. Bonus points if you toss a few envelopes and stamps in there for quick mail-ins.
8. A Morning Playlist
Nothing gets kids moving like a little music. Create a morning playlist with upbeat, happy songs, like Taylor Swift's Shake It Off and Best Day of My Life by American Authors, that set a positive tone and keep everyone on schedule. You can even assign a song as the “5-minute warning” before you need to leave!
9. Reusable Water Bottles (Plural)
Here’s a universal parenting truth: one water bottle is never enough. They’ll get left at school, buried in the car, or misplaced under a pile of sports equipment. Our favorite right now is Owala! Stock up on extras and keep them clean and ready to grab. Trust us, future you will be grateful.
10. A Parent Survival Kit
The school year isn’t just tough on kids, it’s a lot for parents, too. Keep a small “survival kit” for yourself stocked with coffee pods, a chocolate stash from French Broad Chocolate, and maybe a podcast queue to make carline duty a little more enjoyable.
Back-to-school season doesn’t have to mean chaos. With a few smart, out-of-the-box essentials, you’ll feel ready for whatever the school year throws your way—piles of art included.
