3 Hacks Before the First Bell

Back-to-school season doesn’t have to mean scrambling every morning. These three simple hacks — tested by my daughter Cora, age 7 — take just a few minutes to set up and can save you a lot of stress once the school year gets rolling. You can also view the live segment on Mass Appeal WWLP News Channel 22 below.

1. The Emergency Kit

A tiny “just in case” pouch that lives in your kid’s backpack, ready for whatever the school day throws at them.

Materials:

• A small zip pouch or pencil case
• 1 spare pencil
• 1 eraser
• A couple of bandaids
• Travel-size hand sanitizer
• Optional: a couple of tissues, a small snack, a spare hair tie

Instructions:

1. Fill the pouch with the items above.
2. Zip it up and tuck it into a front pocket of the backpack so it’s easy to find.
3. Check in every few weeks to restock anything that’s been used.

Why it works: It saves the mid-class scramble when a pencil breaks or a knee gets scraped — no need to interrupt the teacher or feel embarrassed asking around.

2. The Pre-Pack Snack Station

Grab-and-go snack bags that make weekday mornings faster and cut down on decision fatigue.

Materials:

• Small reusable bags or containers
• A variety of snacks (pretzels, grapes, crackers, cut veggies, etc.)
• A bin or basket to store them in

Instructions:

1. On Sunday (or whenever works for your week), portion snacks into individual bags.
2. Store all the bags together in one bin in the fridge or pantry.
3. Each morning, kids grab a bag on their way out the door. No thinking required.

Why it works: It shifts the effort to one calm moment on the weekend instead of five rushed moments during the week, and lets kids build independence by picking their own bag.

3. The Crayon Sort (and Homework Desk Cleanup)

A five-minute organizing trick that turns a jumbled pile of crayons into a tidy, easy-to-use system. If you are like us, things got a bit messy this summer!

Materials:

• A cup or bin of mixed-up crayons
• Silicone cupcake liners (one per color group)
• A shallow tray, shoebox, or small bin to hold everything

Instructions:

1. Set out the cupcake liners in a shallow tray or box.
2. Have your child sort the crayons by color, one liner per color.
3. Keep the liners inside the tray or box so it becomes a permanent caddy — no need to pour the crayons back into a messy cup.
4. Store the whole thing on the homework desk or a low shelf so kids can grab and put back colors themselves.

Why it works: Sorting by color makes it easy to find what you need, and because the system stays visible and low-effort, kids are more likely to actually put things back where they belong.

The Takeaway

None of these hacks require special supplies or a lot of time — just a few minutes of setup that pays off all year. Try one, try all three, and see what sticks for your family!

Want more ideas for families and kids for back-to-school? Check these articles out as well:

Tips to Combat Back-to-School Anxiety

Books to Get Ready for the New School Year

2026 Afterschool Club Offerings