School’s Out! 5 Smart Tips for a Calmer Summer

As a former teacher turned professional organizer, I believe the end of the school year is the perfect time for a household refresh. It’s a natural transition point—routines shift, new schedules are created, and kids come home with bags full of stuff. Rather than letting the chaos take over, this is your opportunity to reset and prepare your home for a calmer summer and smoother fall.

Let’s break it down by category: artwork, schoolwork, clothes, toys, and books.

1. Artwork: Keep the Treasures, Let Go of the Clutter

The end of the year often brings a flood of finger paintings, dioramas, and glitter-covered masterpieces. While it’s all adorable, it’s just not practical—or necessary—to keep it all.

• Sort with your child: Ask them to choose their favorite 5–10 pieces from the year. This helps them learn decision-making and gives you insight into what’s most meaningful to them.

• Display with intention: Use frames, a rotating gallery wall, or a string with clips to highlight a few important creations.

• Digitize the rest: Take photos of large or bulky items. There are apps like Artkive that can turn these into custom photo books—less clutter, same memories. Pro tip: Have your child hold the item in the photo!

• Recycle guilt-free: It’s okay to let go of the extras. You’re not erasing the memory—you’re curating it.

2. Schoolwork: Create a Simple Archive System

Those folders full of spelling tests, math worksheets, and writing prompts can pile up fast. Here’s how to tackle it:

• Quick Sort: Pull out anything with personal reflections, creative writing, or work that shows major progress. Recycle the rest.

• Use a file bin or accordion folder: Have one per child and label one folder per school year. The size of the container and the files within act as your built-in boundary.

• Digitize if you prefer: Scan or take photos of standout work and store it in a cloud folder by year.

3. Clothes: Declutter and Prepare for the Next Size Up

Kids grow fast—and often unpredictably. The end of the school year is a smart time to review their wardrobe.

• Do a quick try-on session: Make it fun with music or a fashion show vibe.

• Sort into three categories: Keep (fits now or will soon), Donate (good condition but outgrown), and Toss/Textile Recycling (worn out or stained). Pro Tip: Keep two bins in your child’s closet— one for outgrown and one for next size up. This makes it easy to keep on top of what fits and what doesn’t!

• Make a summer list: Take note of what they need for summer—swimwear, sandals, shorts—and shop intentionally.

This also creates space for back-to-school clothes in a few months, without the clutter creeping in.

4. Toys: Less Is More for Summer Play

With more time at home during summer, kids often rediscover old favorites. But that’s hard to do when everything is jumbled and they’re overwhelmed.

• Declutter by category: Sort toys into like groups—puzzles, building sets, dolls, etc.—and have your child help decide what to keep.

• Use bins and labels: Clear containers with labels (or photos for younger kids) make cleanup easier and more likely to happen.

• Rotate toys: Store half of their toys out of sight and swap them out mid-summer. It keeps things fresh without buying more. Pro Tip: Add a reminder on your calendar to do the switch!

5. Books: Make Room for Summer Reading

Books often get scattered across shelves, nightstands, and backpacks. Now’s a great time to refresh your home library.

• Pull out anything too young or no longer interesting: Donate or pass along to friends or younger siblings.

• Create a summer reading shelf or basket: Make books visible and accessible. A themed basket (beach reads, animal stories, graphic novels) adds excitement.

• Visit the library together: Encourage reading by letting kids choose what excites them. Tie it into activities—books about nature before a hike, or cookbooks before making summer treats.

Final Thoughts

Organizing at the end of the school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it’s one of the best gifts you can give yourself—and your kids. It creates space (literally and mentally) for a slower, more intentional summer. And when fall rolls around, you’ll be steps ahead with systems already in place.

Start small. Pick one category, enlist your kids, and celebrate progress—not perfection. You’ve got this!