For those who have bought a new home over the summer, you’ve likely spent your recent days unpacking, planning home décor, and enjoying the experience of living in a freshly built home.
But if you have children, with the school year just starting, is your new home prepared for back-to-school? Here are some tips and tricks to help you get everyone back-to-school on the right foot.
New Neighborhood Prep for Back-to-School
If your family has moved to a brand-new neighborhood within a new development, you’ll want to establish where the bus stops are and map out walking routes. Your neighbors may be a great resource for this information. Check out if your neighborhood has any online groups or get out and introduce yourself in-person.
“There may be other families with kids who live on your street or block, so connecting with them can be invaluable,” said Adam Hamilton, CEO of REI Hub.
“They can help you figure out the ins-and-outs of transportation and any other school questions you have. They can also help your kids by allowing them to meet some fellow students before the first day of school so that they go into their new school already knowing a few people.”
For those parents driving their kids to school, don’t forget to run the routes beforehand.
Get to know the driving schedule, parking conditions, and time needed to reach it. By doing so, you won’t be as stressed at the beginning of the school year. Where possible, practice various routes when you are not familiar with your new area or the means of public transport available.
If your neighborhood is still under construction, safety is paramount. You won’t want your kids riding their bikes to school on unfinished roads full of dump trucks. Are there stop signs and street lights? Ask your school board about any information regarding temporary bus stops and the safest detours for walking.
New-Home Features to Ace the School Year
When multiple family members are running on a variety of schedules, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Luckily, your new home has tons of features that can make going back to school easier on everyone.
The mudroom: Consider putting up a whiteboard and/or a big calendar in your mudroom (or kitchen) to map out everyone’s activities for the week or month. Avoid morning chaos by assigning a bin to each child for shoes and do the same for hangers and shelving. When the kids get home, they’ll have an easier time knowing where to place their backpacks, jackets, and water bottles. Still designing your home? Ask your builder about built-in cubbies for each person in the mudroom.
Flex Spaces: Think about the flex spaces in your new home and how to utilize them for after-school needs. A smartly laid out study room, with table space for a laptop, plenty of books, and an area to place snacks is a great move.
Or, turn your flex room into a space for honing extra-curricular activities – an art space for the budding artist, a place to practice dance moves for cheerleaders, or a small music studio for the middle schooler learning piano or guitar.
“Flex rooms serve several great uses, including home offices and study rooms,” said Lee Crowder, Taylor Morrison's senior director, national design and model operations. “If your flex space does not have doors, add privacy by rolling a shelving unit with wheels in front of the open doors.
“The landing of a staircase or nook is an unexpected space with great potential for studying and homework. Staircases with a large landing space often have less foot traffic as well as great picture windows for natural light. If you already have a built-in bench or window seat, pull up a small table for an instant workspace. You can also try installing a sturdy floating shelf or a wall mounted desk that folds up to save space.”
In-home office spaces: In-home office can be helpful during the school year in a few ways. One, you can turn your home’s designated office into a study area for your kids that can be closed off for quiet studying.
If you have multiple children, the Drees Homes blog recommends a pocket office for multitasking.
“Don’t want to devote a whole room to a study? No problem – there are pocket offices for that! Pocket offices allow parents to help the little ones with schoolwork while keeping a pulse on the rest of the home, so you can do dinner and multiplication tables at the same time. Pocket offices, which are usually adjacent to the kitchen, weave in a lot of functionality in just a little pocket of space, making them the unsung hero of homework time.”
Smart tech: Notifications from garage and front door cameras can let you know when the kids are home if you’re still at work when the school day ends; smart locks keep them safe until you get home. Create a daily lighting schedule for the kids to assist them throughout their day: bright in the morning, indirect but gentle on the eyes for study time, and lower lights when getting ready to bed, to signal it’s time for sleep. Set the thermostat slightly cooler during study time to help with focus. You can even set parental controls on your WiFi to keep late-night social media sessions to a minimum.
“Make sure your smart lock app is downloaded on your phone, and you have the family codes listed in the home for easy review,” said Crowder. “Having a 'kids' code is the easiest way to manage and know when they are coming and going from the house.
“Ensure the kids have their alarm set and automated for their weekly exact wake up will help make mornings less chaotic. Setting the family schedule before school starts to ensure everyone knows what to expect in terms of wakeup/bedtime, etc. helps partner with the automated smart systems.”
Back-to-school season always comes with a mix of excitement and adjustment, and that’s especially true when you're settling into a brand-new home. But with a little planning, some smart use of your home’s layout, and the support of your new community, your family can head into the school year feeling calm, organized, and connected.
Follow NewHomeSource on Instagram
