Back to School Organization Essentials

Summer break may be over for the kids but that doesn't mean you have to start stressing about the back-to-school season. Stay on top of things at home and make sure your home is equipped with the best organization items.

Here are a few ways to help get you and your kids on track for the school year.

Clutter on the desk, countertop, or kitchen table can add up pretty quickly. Take the mess from the tables to the walls with organization options such as cork boards, dry erase calendars, or chalkboards. Create a space for messages, schedules and maybe even assignments. Utilize that wall space.

Store storage bins in the closet or somewhere near the front door for easy access to grab-and-go items. Customize store bins for each member of the house so that items don't get mixed up. Opt for fabric storage bins or the plastic kind you can find at the dollar store.

Much like a cleaning schedule, you need to stay organized with a multi-purpose journal. Keep track of everything from your appointments to the kids soccer practice. Take it up a notch and add dividers or memo pads to help organize your calendar.

Say goodbye to plastic ziplock bags. Opt for food containers with dividers, that way you can store multiple snacks in one reusable container. No more having to keep snacks in separate bags.

A simple trick to staying on top of a an abundance of paperwork is to color coordinate each activity. File sorters with a variety of colors, or document boxes with built in tabs are a great way of organizing the kids files such as the class syllabus, report cards, or past homework assignments.