As summer draws to a close and the new school year approaches, parents face the annual challenge of getting their children ready for the academic year ahead.
From purchasing supplies to organizing schedules, there’s much to do! Here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure a smooth transition back to school.
The stress of back-to-school season
Airtasker conducted a national survey and concluded that more than half of US parents (53%) have reported that back-to-school season is the most stressful time of year.
Nearly ⅔ of parents who took our survey, at 62%, are the primary parent and handle 100% of back-to-school chores themselves with no additional help, hired or otherwise.
The high cost of supplies, the overwhelming number of items to buy, and the time it takes are some of the top stressors. 60% of parents dislike the rising cost of back-to-school supplies, 48% feel overwhelmed by the number of items that need to be purchased, and 32% find the time commitment of getting it all done challenging.
School supplies shopping
While only 9% of US parents reported that they actually liked back-to-school shopping and prepping for the Fall, we’ve made a list of things you can do to check off your list and ways a Tasker might be able to help.
- Make a list of required school supplies based on the school’s guidelines.
- Look for deals and discounts both online and in stores.
- Organize your list based on shops you need to visit or hire a Tasker to complete those errands with your shopping list and budget.
- Label and organize supplies for each child, or have a Tasker help with this task, especially if you have more than one child returning to school.
Organizing the study space
Nationally, 22% dislike decluttering old items. However, this is a key part of getting ready to return to school for parents.
- Take the time to declutter their study areas and get rid of any unnecessary or old items. If you’re short on time, a Tasker can help organize the space.
- Not handy with a hammer? Hire a handyperson to install new shelving or build storage units for all those supplies and books.
- Want to spring for a new desk and chair? Have that built in no time and create an effective study environment.
Updating wardrobes
About 18% of our parents surveyed reported disagreements about what should be purchased. Save those discussions for another time, and tackle this task with a helping hand.
- Go through your child’s wardrobe and identify clothes that no longer fit, or ask a Tasker to sort out clothing by size for an easy scan of what can be moved out of their closet.
- Make a list of needed items, and have a Tasker handle shopping for new clothes, ensuring they fit within your budget and style preferences.
- Sort all donations and have a Tasker drop them off, or even organize a sale of all your old belongings.
Meal planning and prep
When it comes to meal planning and making lunches, 19% said they would want to pay to outsource this task to someone else, so why not a Tasker?
- Task the Tasker with creating a meal plan based on your family’s preferences and dietary needs.
- Have them handle grocery shopping and meal prep.
- Prepare and freeze meals ahead of time to save time during busy school weeks.
- Pack lunches, and stock up and organize the pantry with easy-to-grab snacks.
Organizing transportation
Regarding carpool pick-ups and after-school extracurricular activities, 10% of our parents surveyed stated that they already outsourced transportation to others. Meanwhile, 20% said they would like to outsource transportation for their children.
We get it! If you can’t arrange carpool schedules with other parents, consider the following:
- Arranging for a Tasker to drive your kids to and from school
- Have a Tasker take them from home to their school bus route.
Make back-to-school prep easy-peasy!
We found that nearly ⅔ of parents (66%) would like to outsource their back-to-school tasks to outside help within their budget. With a well-thought-out plan and a little help, it can be a smooth and stress-free process.
Preparing for the back-to-school season can be overwhelming. Whether you prefer to tackle these tasks on your own or enlist the help of a Tasker, getting organized ahead of time will set your child up for a successful school year.
Happy planning, and best of luck for the new school year!
