Most parents can agree that one of the hardest parts about beginning a new school year is getting into the groove of it all. After a laid back, leisurely summer the back to school struggle is real. But these local mamas have discovered ways to make the transition easy as ABCs and 123s. Check out their ideas and use them to rock your own school year!

Photo: Maria Jose Ovalle

Bargain Shop Like a Boss
“I first shop at the dollar store for supplies to keep costs down and second hand stores for clothing before buying brand new. At this age, kids wear things for one season so you can find great pieces that are practically brand new! Also I see what they still have and can be reporpused from the year before (for instance, we have TONS of unused glue sticks).” –Maria Jose Ovalle, Very Busy Mama blog

Photo: Kate Hougen via Shelly Han Photography

Make (and Document!) Last Minute Memories
“Be sure to get a last visit (or two!) in at nearby parks’ spray grounds. My favorite is the one on Columbia Pike in Arlington. Try and clean out the inbox and upload summer pics before School starts… Feels so much better! Plus, going thru the summer pics is always a fun activity with the kids and reminds us all of what we are grateful for and enjoyed about the summer.” –Kate Hougen, Founder & Designer, Mira Jean Designs

Photo: Maurisa Potts

Prep Snacks the Week Before
“I pre-pack snack bags for the week. I get brown paper bags and label them Mon., Tues., Wed., etc. And then I fill the bags every Sunday night so that  every morning, all I do is grab and go.” –Maurisa Potts, CEO of Spotted Marketing and Public Relations

Photo: Danielle Larkins

Boost Wardrobe Staples…and Back-to-School Confidence
“We love the uniform store in Vienna, Va. called The Dress Code. It’s cute, they are incredibly helpful, and I had all my clothes ready same-day. Bonus tip: I read my kids positive books about how fun school is. It gets them (and me) excited about it.” –Danielle Larkins, Typed blog

Photo: Rebecca Anderson

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
“We bring our back-to-school lists to Upcycle first (they just moved from Del Ray to Old Town near the King St. metro in Alexandria, Va.)  Since I am a member of Upcycle, all of the supplies are free and included in the membership. They have almost everything my elementary school kids need: pencils, makers, pencil box, even composition books and scissors. It’s a great lesson for my children on reuse. Then at the end of the year we bring our extra school supplies that have been sent home from school to Upcycle.” –Rebecca Anderson, Old Town French

What’s your back-to-school hack? Tell us in the comments section below. 

–Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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