Sunscreen, Schedules, and Sanity: Summer Organization for Busy Parents
Summer can be a breath of fresh air—or a logistical nightmare—depending on how organized you are. For busy professionals, the shift from school schedules to summer chaos can be a bumpy transition without some intentional organization. Here’s how to take control now and glide into the summer months with structure, peace, and sanity intact.
1. Systematize School Paperwork and Artwork
The end of the school year usually brings a flood of papers, report cards, and priceless finger paintings. Don’t let these pile up on kitchen counters or shoved in a drawer, only to be looked at once the new school year begins. Instead:
Create a Three-Part System:
Keep: Select a few meaningful pieces per child and store them in a labeled keepsake box like this file box with labeled folders per year or portfolio bags. Look for pieces that show progression in an area, detailed stories or pictures, and pieces with detailed feedback about your child. Your future child will appreciate receiving a curated collection of their school years as an adult versus bins of everything they ever did during school.
OR Scan/Take a Picture: Digitize artwork and academic highlights using a scanner or mobile app like Keepy, ArtKive, or Scribble. Or just take pictures of pieces on a solid background with your phone. Upload them to a cloud-based folder labeled by year and child. There are also easy to use apps like Chatbooks where you can turn your scans into a photo book.
Toss/Recycle: Be ruthless. Most daily worksheets, handouts, and generic coloring pages can go. See above for ideas of what to keep, set a limit and have your child help you decide the pieces they are most proud of.
2. Transform the Drop Zone for Summer
Your mudroom or entryway drop zone is likely cluttered with school gear. Time to refresh it for summer:
Swap Backpacks for Beach Bags: Replace school bags with totes packed for spontaneous pool or park visits—include sunscreen, snacks, towels, and water bottles. I love to use small bags like these to organize smaller contents within a larger bag.
Install Summer-Ready Bins: Label baskets or bins for flip-flops, sunglasses, hats, and outdoor toys. Move hats/gloves and winter boots either up on higher shelves or into bins stored in a basement or garage. This keeps in-season items contained and accessible.
Add a Camp Command Center: Dedicate a space for camp forms, weekly schedules, and pickup/drop-off checklists so you're not scrambling every morning. These command hook clips work great on the inside of cabinets or doors, or try stacking paper trays on counter tops.
3. Get Organized for Pool Days and Camps
If your kids are headed to camp or you’re planning frequent pool days, preparation is everything.
Create a “Camp Prep” Station: Use a rolling cart, carve out space on a shelf in the drop zone or hall closet to organize daily essentials like labeled water bottles, hats, and bug spray. Prep a week’s worth of outfits in labeled bags like these A6 bags to save morning stress.
Pool Bag Protocol: Keep a packed pool bag ready at all times. Restock it every evening with clean towels, snacks, and pool passes. Store it in the drop zone or your car for grab-and-go convenience.
Weekly Calendar Sync: Use a shared calendar app like Google, a posted printed calendar, or visible digital calendar so the whole family is on the same page for the camp schedule for the week. Set calendar appointments for pick up/drop off times and use task features to list out what needs to be brought for the next day’s activities.
4. Maintain Your Sanity (and Systems)
Even with the best intentions, the season can unravel quickly without maintenance routines. Set aside 15 minutes each Sunday to reset systems: clear out clutter from the drop zone, refill the pool bag, and update the camp station.
If you don’t have the time or bandwidth to build these systems yourself, a done-for-you professional organizing service like How Neat! By Dana can save hours and give you peace of mind. Remember, an organized home isn't about perfection—it’s about creating systems that make things easy and save time so you can focus on what matters most- those summer memories!