By Sarah Kaufman, www.manilla.com

During the month of August, the kids are getting ready to go back-to-school, and your younger nieces and nephews are Getting Ready for Kindergarten. Sarah Kaufman of Manilla.com shares some simple advice on how to maintain order in the household at the end of the school day.

It’s about that time again: summer camps are coming to an end and parents everywhere are gearing up for sending their kids back to school. But just because school supply shopping and choosing that special lunch box tend to be activities for parents to undergo, it doesn’t mean you can’t also be ready for any back-to-school chaos that comes your way, Auntie. Follow these easy tips to ensure you’re prepared for your little nieces’ and nephews’ venture back to books, pencils and homework galore.
 
1. Avoid the usual “backpack throw” by designating a special home for book bags and materials.
 
Whether you regularly watch over the little ones after school or your nieces and nephews are coming over for an impromptu after-school play date, the routine will never change: they will run in the house, throw down their backpacks, and sprint to their favorite game, toy, or room in the house for activities. By designating a specific area for backpacks, lunchboxes and whatever else they have to lug home, you’ll keep your home neat while teaching them good manners and organization skills.
 
It doesn’t take fancy organizing shelving and tools to make a nook that looks nice. Use a shelf you already have, such as one in the laundry room or foyer, to store the backpacks. Or purchase cheap sports equipment bins at Target or Home Depot and store them in the garage. Label each bin with your kiddos’ names for a personal touch.
 
2. Make a space in your home office, kitchen or living room for homework time.
 
If they’re stopping by your place for several hours after school, chances are, your little nieces and nephews will need to fit in some quality homework time. Rather than have them sprawling out all over your carpet or couch, determine a good place where they can quietly work and still have access to you in case they need help or can’t focus. The kitchen or dining room table will do just fine—just make sure to store away placemats, table settings, or centerpieces beforehand.
 
3. Stock up on school supplies.
 
It’s going to happen: your nephew forgot a pencil; your niece needs a calculator; and they both failed to bring home their crayons and glue for art homework. Keep your home stocked with extras so that when the time comes to use them, you have them handy. To keep it budget-friendly, check discount stores and sites, such as Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon.com, for supplies like pencils, pens, crayons, markers, loose-leaf paper (wide-rule paper for the younger kids, college-rule for the older ones), highlighters, scissors and glue.
 
4. Keep the pantry full of provisions and healthy snacks.
 
When it’s 3 or 4 p.m. and the little ones have just gotten out of school, lunch is long gone and blood sugar is low. It’s that time when you’re supposed to have your second or third cup of coffee of the day, and your nieces and nephews become ravenous. In case of emergencies, have healthy snacks available, like carrots and celery with dip, peanut butter and jelly on toast, and raisins or trail mix. (Of course, make sure to learn of any important allergies to avoid a trip to the hospital.)

More from Manilla.com

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-Bringing Out the Reader in Every Child

Sarah Kaufman is the editor-in-chief of the Manilla Blog at Manilla.com, the leading, free and secure service that helps consumers simplify and organize their daily lives. Using just one password, Manilla lets you manage your finances, utilities, daily deals, travel and rewards programs, Netflix and magazine subscriptions, OpenTable reservations, and more — all through Manilla.com or the top-rated iOS and Android mobile apps. Sarah is also a regular contributor to Yahoo! Finance, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and various other sites. For more tips on how to live on a budget, visit Manilla.com.

Published: August 6, 2013